A five-point plan

Recently I read an e-mail titled "I am not irreligious” by Ervad Khushroo Madon in which he has stated his views. I sup- port the good work being done by Madon and also appreciate the various initiatives of the Bombay Parsi Pun- chayet (BPP) to promote marriages within the community, develop entre- preneurship, provide housing, etc.

I am not a scholar of the Zoroastrian faith. I am only interested in seeing our religion flourish and contribute to the growth of the countries where it is prac- ticed. So without fuelling the prevailing controversies I suggest the following five-point plan which should be consid- ered by all concerned.

OPriests should be allowed to carry out all prayers for departed souls (who do not opt for dakhmenashini) from the first day at their agiaries. There is no need to insist on having the ceremonies at the Towers of Silence alone.

OWe cannot discriminate against chil- dren born to Parsi mothers married out- side the community. If the parents want to bring them up as Zoroastrians, we must welcome them into our fold. OAnybody who of his own free will wants to become a Zoroastrian can be initiated into the faith, but will not be considered as a Parsi.

OWe should recognize that all Parsis are Zoroastrians but all Zoroastrians are not Parsis. This would take care of the fear of converted Zoroastrians taking advan-

tage of trust funds set up only for Parsis. OAllow ashirwad ceremonies to be per- formed for mixed marriages but do not register them under the Parsi Marriage Act.

Any steps taken by our learned lead- ers to debate and implement any of these suggestions will only benefit our en- lightened community.

HOMI BHABHA homifbhabha@yahoo.com