“Uzbekistan Anjuman”

In the item "Uzbekistan Anjuman” (Zoroastrians Abroad, Parsiana, May 21, 2010), Dr Khodayar Attaie, chair of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce, Iran chapter was quoted as stating: "The Uzbekistan Zoroastrian Anjuman has been officially registered with a membership of 7,000 Zoroastrians.”

Apparently, more and more persons all over the world are giving up their God-given religion at birth and converting to the Zoroastrian religion! Many of them are Muslims. There are many Parsi Zoroastrians by birth who have converted to or are now converting to other religions. Why are these persons doing this? Is it because the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence? Do they sincerely believe in the religion they are converting to? Do they derive any material or monetary advantages by converting? Who is persuading people in other countries to convert to the Zarathushti religion? Are the leaders of such groups trying to start cults?

What can the Parsis do about this mass conversion to our religion? Should we send missionaries to these countries to teach them the proper prayers, rituals and ceremonies? Should we welcome the increase in the number of Zoroastrians in the world? Should we admit their children to our empty madressas and train them to be proper navars and maratabs? Should we ignore them? What is the opinion of our High Priests, the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis, etc? Can anyone give correct and intelligent answers to my questions?

JAL S. DESAI

jaldesai@hotmail.com