Readers' Forum
Orthodox obstinacy
I write this letter as a concerned liberal Parsi who values his sense of belonging to the community and identity without being xenophobic about it. For someone who grew up in the tolerant environment of Delhi, the fanaticism of sections of the orthodox and the apathy of so many liberals in Bombay are both deeply disturbing.
If liberal Parsis in Bombay ever want real change it is time for them to confront the tyranny of social exclusion imposed by the self styled defenders of the faith. Hoping for a change of heart is something we have waited for too long but to no avail. In fact, as the Goolrookh Gupta case shows, sections of the orthodox group are perhaps only getting more intolerant with time.
Liberal Parsis would do well to stop pandering to the sentiments of a number of the orthodox. If orthodox sentiments are hurt by our propagation of gender equality, we liberals should have nothing to fear in hurting such sentiments and letting them know our thoughts. Our faith teaches us to reason and distinguish between right and wrong. Tradition which goes against reason does not right a wrong. And also, what about the offense caused to the sentiments of rational and thinking people by the views of a number of people on intermarriage (as exemplified by the notice outside the Banaji Atash Behram) and ceremonies around death in particular?
It is imperative to set up social organizations in the city which would make views of the orthodox irrelevant to those of us who disagree with them. These organizations should function to inform children about the tenets of the faith and celebrate our traditions in an inclusive manner as is done with the youth in Delhi as well as organize social functions to enable like-minded Parsis and their friends to interact freely without fear of social prejudice and ostracism on occasions such as Navroz and during gahanbars.
Finally, intermarried Parsis and others who object to the exclusion of the former and their children should set up prayer halls which can be single rooms at three or four locations in the city so that they many be enabled to practice their faith without any interference. These rooms can have an atash which need be lit only on occasions and would not need full-time priests to tend to it. There are a number of people in the community who are liberal and are in many cases married outside the community who have the means to contribute. While many among the orthodox will in all likelihood pooh-pooh these as fake agiaries, we need not worry since the purpose served by this cause is one of justice and equity.
If liberal Parsis in Bombay ever want real change it is time for them to confront the tyranny of social exclusion imposed by the self styled defenders of the faith. Hoping for a change of heart is something we have waited for too long but to no avail. In fact, as the Goolrookh Gupta case shows, sections of the orthodox group are perhaps only getting more intolerant with time.
Liberal Parsis would do well to stop pandering to the sentiments of a number of the orthodox. If orthodox sentiments are hurt by our propagation of gender equality, we liberals should have nothing to fear in hurting such sentiments and letting them know our thoughts. Our faith teaches us to reason and distinguish between right and wrong. Tradition which goes against reason does not right a wrong. And also, what about the offense caused to the sentiments of rational and thinking people by the views of a number of people on intermarriage (as exemplified by the notice outside the Banaji Atash Behram) and ceremonies around death in particular?
It is imperative to set up social organizations in the city which would make views of the orthodox irrelevant to those of us who disagree with them. These organizations should function to inform children about the tenets of the faith and celebrate our traditions in an inclusive manner as is done with the youth in Delhi as well as organize social functions to enable like-minded Parsis and their friends to interact freely without fear of social prejudice and ostracism on occasions such as Navroz and during gahanbars.
Finally, intermarried Parsis and others who object to the exclusion of the former and their children should set up prayer halls which can be single rooms at three or four locations in the city so that they many be enabled to practice their faith without any interference. These rooms can have an atash which need be lit only on occasions and would not need full-time priests to tend to it. There are a number of people in the community who are liberal and are in many cases married outside the community who have the means to contribute. While many among the orthodox will in all likelihood pooh-pooh these as fake agiaries, we need not worry since the purpose served by this cause is one of justice and equity.
Dr ZUBIN CYRUS SHROFF
New Delhi
shroff.zubin@gmail.com
shroff.zubin@gmail.com
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