Readers' Forum
“Hear… the great truths”
"Hear… the great truths,” and "Separating facts from fiction.” (Parsiana, March 7, 2014) not only made interesting reading but hit the nail on the head. It has called the bluff of the fascists, frauds and know-alls, who have taken it for granted that what they say or rather babble is the last word on Zoroastrian religion, and no one can dispute or raise any question about their half-baked knowledge, their fekology and mumbo-jumbo.
Of course this has ruffled a lot of feathers and even at the 10th World Parsi khava piva ni (eat and drink) conference, one pope and one scholar were up in arms.
Maharashtra’s Advocate General Darius Khambata like a true general led from the front and gave an insightful account delving into history, facts and truth to show that the Zoroastrian religion is not a monopoly of pachchamboodhya akkal na dooshman baboochuck palav-daar (wise after the event, enemies of reason, inane) Parsis, and never was. He rightly hoped that the bawas will shift their minds from their palav-daar plate and read and think about our great religion. He repeats the oft quoted words: "Hear with your ears the great truth, consider them with clear thoughts, deciding between the two and choosing man by man each one for himself.”
Khambata cited the legal history of Sir Dinshaw Maneckji Petit vs Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, where a French lady was converted to Zoroastrian religion by Dastur Kaikhooshroo Jamaspi. Justice Dinshaw Davar, who was from the priestly class, and Justice Frank Beaman opined in no uncertain terms that the Zoroastrian religion not only permits but actually enjoins conversion. What more do you want?
Khambata lamented today freedom to worship is being actively denied to many true and good Zoroastrians who are not Parsi Zoroastrian or indeed Parsi Zoroastrians married outside the community, rightly opining, "To monopolize Zoroastrianism is to kill it.”
And Khambata posed a million dollar question "Whether Zarathushtra himself, born of parents who were neither Parsi nor Zoroastrian, would be able to get admitted today to an agiary as a matter of right. He even suggested that a separate agiary be consecrated for non-Parsi Zoroastrians. But our Guruji Mystery (Bombay Parsi Punchayet tustee Khojeste Mistree) was most upset and up in arms at this. In his speech he told Zoroastrians not to listen to lawyers but only to scholars who know everything about everything!
Another bombshell at this grand party was fired by archeologist Rukhshana Nanji who called the bluff of the most touted Qisse-I Sanjan, and said that though much is right about it, there is some romanticization. She claims it was an informed and well researched decision to go from Iran to India. You could not simply sail off. Her findings show that bawas first landed at the port of Diu and not Sanjan. She also claims that Sanjan was a thriving port and an already established part of the Indian Ocean network, and certainly was not built by bawas.
Her factual findings and research showing that we could not have established Sanjan but we could have lived there, nor did we land there, upset Pope Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza who objected to these archeological claims and the debunking of Qisse-I Sanjan.
BEHRAM AGA
behram_r_aga@yahoo.co.in
Of course this has ruffled a lot of feathers and even at the 10th World Parsi khava piva ni (eat and drink) conference, one pope and one scholar were up in arms.
Maharashtra’s Advocate General Darius Khambata like a true general led from the front and gave an insightful account delving into history, facts and truth to show that the Zoroastrian religion is not a monopoly of pachchamboodhya akkal na dooshman baboochuck palav-daar (wise after the event, enemies of reason, inane) Parsis, and never was. He rightly hoped that the bawas will shift their minds from their palav-daar plate and read and think about our great religion. He repeats the oft quoted words: "Hear with your ears the great truth, consider them with clear thoughts, deciding between the two and choosing man by man each one for himself.”
Khambata cited the legal history of Sir Dinshaw Maneckji Petit vs Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, where a French lady was converted to Zoroastrian religion by Dastur Kaikhooshroo Jamaspi. Justice Dinshaw Davar, who was from the priestly class, and Justice Frank Beaman opined in no uncertain terms that the Zoroastrian religion not only permits but actually enjoins conversion. What more do you want?
Khambata lamented today freedom to worship is being actively denied to many true and good Zoroastrians who are not Parsi Zoroastrian or indeed Parsi Zoroastrians married outside the community, rightly opining, "To monopolize Zoroastrianism is to kill it.”
And Khambata posed a million dollar question "Whether Zarathushtra himself, born of parents who were neither Parsi nor Zoroastrian, would be able to get admitted today to an agiary as a matter of right. He even suggested that a separate agiary be consecrated for non-Parsi Zoroastrians. But our Guruji Mystery (Bombay Parsi Punchayet tustee Khojeste Mistree) was most upset and up in arms at this. In his speech he told Zoroastrians not to listen to lawyers but only to scholars who know everything about everything!
Another bombshell at this grand party was fired by archeologist Rukhshana Nanji who called the bluff of the most touted Qisse-I Sanjan, and said that though much is right about it, there is some romanticization. She claims it was an informed and well researched decision to go from Iran to India. You could not simply sail off. Her findings show that bawas first landed at the port of Diu and not Sanjan. She also claims that Sanjan was a thriving port and an already established part of the Indian Ocean network, and certainly was not built by bawas.
Her factual findings and research showing that we could not have established Sanjan but we could have lived there, nor did we land there, upset Pope Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza who objected to these archeological claims and the debunking of Qisse-I Sanjan.
BEHRAM AGA
behram_r_aga@yahoo.co.in
It is necessary for every Parsi to read "Hear... the great truths” by Darius Khambata (Parsiana, March 7, 2014) as it has knowledge backed by a selfless motive to bring us back on track. Though I wonder if we really wish to be brought back!
It’s time we took cognizance of the truth instead of the half truths and white lies that have so far been doled out to us by pseudo scholars.
It is each individual’s choice and one’s conscience that asks one to follow a particular path. Zarathushtra proclaimed: "Hear with your ears the great truth consider them with clear thought deciding between the two. Choosing man by man, each one for himself.” Why then has this democratic right been eroded and our choice tyrannically stifled?
When Justices Dinshaw Davar and Frank Beaman said the "Zoroastrian religion permitted conversion” this was never talked about except in whispers lest it go against the orthodox ideology, and throw the so-called purity of our religion to non-Zoroastrians. Doesn’t this smack of a Hitler-like superior race theory? What race, pray, when we are dwindling into oblivion? What use are the so-called benefits and trust money meant for Parsis only?
Don’t we need to save our beautiful and simple religion for Generation Next? How can we do so when the orthodox have a copyright on "Only for Parsis?”
I loved the line "to monopolize Zoroastrianism is to kill it!” It sums up our downslide. No wonder then we now look to our future in the diaspora abroad as what future and hope is left here?
Khambata wondered "whether Zarathushtra himself, born of parents who were neither Parsi nor Zoroastrian, would today be able to get admittance to an agiary as a matter of right. This is at once both farcical and tragic.” This is why we need to fight our battles even when we feel we are banging our heads against a brick wall.
"I have not seen anything that establishes that presence of a Zoroastrian born of a non-Parsi father and Parsi mother in an agiary desecrates our holy and powerful fires.” This notion has been fed to us since childhood, and without any logic or reason thrown in, to substantiate their so called ‘Only for Parsis’ claim. I myself often wondered how the powerful fires in our temples can be only for us? Are they so limited that they cannot be shared? Fire is a gift from God to mankind and no caste or community has a monopoly over it.
"The keepers of the flame must not lock it in their embrace and extinguish it!” said Khamabta. Beautiful, simple, and to the point!
"May we be the ones who will make this world splendid. Mindful ones and Ye Lords, bringers of change, and Right, as our minds come together where insight is fluctuating” — Yasna: 30. This evokes a sense of tolerance and respect and a freedom of choice to receive the truth. To end, Khambata uses the words of Lord Wavell: "Without courage there cannot be truth and without truth there can be no other virtue.” A masterpiece of an article with sincere thought provoking matter that needs to be addressed by all of us Parsis. To end with the words of Nelson Mandela: "May your choices reflect your hopes, not fears!” RODA D. HAKIM
Baroda
vadhakim@yahoo.com
It’s time we took cognizance of the truth instead of the half truths and white lies that have so far been doled out to us by pseudo scholars.
It is each individual’s choice and one’s conscience that asks one to follow a particular path. Zarathushtra proclaimed: "Hear with your ears the great truth consider them with clear thought deciding between the two. Choosing man by man, each one for himself.” Why then has this democratic right been eroded and our choice tyrannically stifled?
When Justices Dinshaw Davar and Frank Beaman said the "Zoroastrian religion permitted conversion” this was never talked about except in whispers lest it go against the orthodox ideology, and throw the so-called purity of our religion to non-Zoroastrians. Doesn’t this smack of a Hitler-like superior race theory? What race, pray, when we are dwindling into oblivion? What use are the so-called benefits and trust money meant for Parsis only?
Don’t we need to save our beautiful and simple religion for Generation Next? How can we do so when the orthodox have a copyright on "Only for Parsis?”
I loved the line "to monopolize Zoroastrianism is to kill it!” It sums up our downslide. No wonder then we now look to our future in the diaspora abroad as what future and hope is left here?
Khambata wondered "whether Zarathushtra himself, born of parents who were neither Parsi nor Zoroastrian, would today be able to get admittance to an agiary as a matter of right. This is at once both farcical and tragic.” This is why we need to fight our battles even when we feel we are banging our heads against a brick wall.
"I have not seen anything that establishes that presence of a Zoroastrian born of a non-Parsi father and Parsi mother in an agiary desecrates our holy and powerful fires.” This notion has been fed to us since childhood, and without any logic or reason thrown in, to substantiate their so called ‘Only for Parsis’ claim. I myself often wondered how the powerful fires in our temples can be only for us? Are they so limited that they cannot be shared? Fire is a gift from God to mankind and no caste or community has a monopoly over it.
"The keepers of the flame must not lock it in their embrace and extinguish it!” said Khamabta. Beautiful, simple, and to the point!
"May we be the ones who will make this world splendid. Mindful ones and Ye Lords, bringers of change, and Right, as our minds come together where insight is fluctuating” — Yasna: 30. This evokes a sense of tolerance and respect and a freedom of choice to receive the truth. To end, Khambata uses the words of Lord Wavell: "Without courage there cannot be truth and without truth there can be no other virtue.” A masterpiece of an article with sincere thought provoking matter that needs to be addressed by all of us Parsis. To end with the words of Nelson Mandela: "May your choices reflect your hopes, not fears!” RODA D. HAKIM
Baroda
vadhakim@yahoo.com
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