Jiyo and jaago Parsis
Besides low fertility there are a dozen other factors contributing to a decline in numbers
Though demography and decline in our community have been subjects discussed over many years and at several congresses, amazingly, there are some who still emphatically believe we are not declining. Former Chief Justice J. C. Shah once said: "There is a dust that follows the flying feet of the years which prevents men from seeing clearly happenings close at hand.” How true!
Though the count for Parsis for census 2011 is not available, the National Commission for Minorities, sanctioning Rs 10 crores over four years, launched the "Jiyo Parsi” scheme on September 23, 2013 which will be implemented by Parzor Foundation. This scheme is meant to contain the decline of the Parsi population by a concerned Government to whom we are indeed very grateful. Are we likely to succeed? To a marginal extent, yes, but significantly, no for the decline is due not only to the low fertility rate which is being addressed by this scheme.
The only constant in this world is change and with a fast changing world of technology, whether one likes it or not, dealing with change is a must.
Our decline is due to:
High literacy leading to late marriages and even a desire for no marriage if it interferes with a career.
Intermarriage where non-Parsi spouses are not accepted which leads also to a loss of their children into our fold.
Fewer children by choice due to economic constraints.
Fewer joint families where children are taken care of by some family members while parents go out to earn.
The sanatorium system where due to lack of permanent housing and constant shifting every few months, couples undergo stress and limit the number of children to one or two.
More divorces and single parents.
Emigration.
No to adoption
More concern for the dead than the living, forgetting, to quote Alfred Lord Tennyson, that "The old order changeth yielding place to new/ And God fulfils himself in many ways/ Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.”
Restricting the choice of our own disposal. When prayers for the departed are denied, especially when our dakhmenashini system does no longer work properly, we fracture our community.
The lack of a leader to lead his fold and the lack of scholars and priests to speak with one voice.
Inability to recognize that social and attitudinal changes cannot be ordered and orthodoxy must also have limits.
Widespread decline
There is loss of vast lands belonging to Parsis who have either died without issue or whose children have migrated.
Fire temples are not in much use and hence difficult to maintain.
There are fewer mobeds and even fewer full-time practising priests.
Parsi founded schools and colleges have more cosmopolitan students.
Due to migration from south to north Bombay, community institutions suffer.
It is difficult to compete with an ocean of humanity and hence we lose out on scholarships and jobs.
Some trusts which are restricted to Parsis are unable to fulfil their objectives.
Due to the stress of today’s life both the young and the old while adhering to our religion are also turning to yoga, meditation and the teachings of other faiths — an absolute taboo by our orthodox! But teachings of all prophets who were high souls inspire us to evolve and grow spiritually in order to return to the Oneness. Bigotry can have no place in matters religious. We are given a choice to realize our higher purpose and the Divine Plan.
"All founders of Great Religions speak with a fullness of Divine Wisdom which we ordinary mortals have but the faintest conception,” wrote Dr Irach Taraporewalla. This is why the riddle of life continues to elude us, more so as our clergy do not counsel those in need.
Way forward
Where then lies our solution? Neither in an orthodox nor a reformist, but a middle-of-the-path attitude, knowing that only through wisdom and dialogue can we determine the areas where change is necessary.
One thing however is clear. Even if we still do not see the writing on the wall and die out, our pristine Zoroastrian religion will continue to survive without us.
Jaago (wake up) Parsis! It is time we reflected on the Universe of the Great Designer.
Trustee and joint honorary secretary of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute Homai Modi is also trustee of the Foundation for Development of Udwada that set up the Information Centre cum Museum in Udvada. She additionally assisted in the setting up of the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy Memorial Museum in Navsari. She was honorary secretary of the Fourth and Fifth World Zoroastrian Congresses held in Bombay and also contributed to the success of the Sixth Congress in Tehran and Seventh Congress in Houston. She is joint honorary secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society, Maharashtra State Branch overseeing 34 district and sub-district branches, and also of the Bombay City Branch. At the Bel-Air TB and HIV Sanatorium and Hospital and the Ayurvedic and Naturopathy Centre in Panchgani she serves as honorary secretary. For seven years she was selected by the Governor of Maharashtra as the Chancellor’s nominee on the Senate of the University of Mumbai.