The defenders of the Flame

Nothing could have better demonstrated the high regard the country holds the Parsi and Zoroastrian community in than the three grand, government funded exhibitions inaugurated by several union ministers in New Delhi from March 19 to 21, 2016. Speaker after speaker extolled the community’s virtues and their strong desire that the race and religion survive. And whether that desire is possible or not, for those few magic days one felt a certain pride that the central government had so thoughtfully budgeted Rs 14 crores (US $ 2,112,274) for The Everlasting Flame International Programme.

The band of volunteers put together by ParZor founder director Dr Shernaz Cama performed miracles. They toiled for days and nights to see everything operated like clockwork. While they had government assistance for the exhibitions, nearly all the running around, chasing, organizing, coping with formalities were done by the ladies. That a group comprising largely of volunteer women could put up such a complex and vast project reinforces the statement made by the speakers that the community has made worthy contributions.

Across the seas a similar exercise in excellence was executed by the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York, the Iranian Zoroastrian Association and the Dar-e-Mehr Zoroastrian Temple whose members inaugurated their spanking new Dar-e Mehr designed by architect Dinyar Wadia and put up at a cost of US $ 5,000,000 (Rs 33 crores). Again here the fund-raising and the execution of this remarkable project was done by volunteers. Using the facilities of modern and low priced electronics they beamed the inauguration live to the entire world, Parsis and non-Parsis alike. All one needed to view the momentous occasion was a smartphone or a computer. And by any yardstick, the opening was a gala, impressive and solemn occasion. The associations in the West are run by members from their homes and offices. The North American associations have built their community centers from scratch, through dint of hard work, imagination and intelligence. The story of the early Parsi settlements in India is being repeated in the New World.

But why is it we see excellence in Delhi and New York but find the same lacking in many parts of the old world? One reason could be that in India we are still tied down by the baggage of traditions and property. Where there is no dakhma, the dispute over disposal of the dead does not arise. Where there are no consecrated fire temples, the question of who is a Parsi is not a major bone of contention. In the West the children of Parsi women married to non-Parsis are welcomed into the fold. Even in Delhi and Karachi they can enter the fire temple.

In the rest of India every attempt is made to deter the entry of interfaith married women’s children on grounds they will pollute or desecrate the holy fires. The Valsad anjuman has even gone to court to bar women who marry outside the faith entry to the fire temple and doongerwadi. A sign outside the Banaji Atash Behram in Bombay states "Parsee ladies who are married to non-Parsis visit the Atash Behram with their children. They are requested to refrain from such visits."

The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) fittingly held its meet in this fire temple’s annex hall on April 2 and 3, 2016. The FPZAI has not only turned down repeated efforts to form a world body but now want to amend their rules and regulations barring "liaison" membership to any overseas Zoroastrian association that admits as members Zoroastrians who are not the offspring of at least one Parsi parent. This would exclude many such associations in the West from membership. Ironically not a single overseas association has bothered to apply in the past 47 years or so for such membership.

All the energies that should go into creating and strengthening institutions are channeled into disputes over race, gender, dogma, territorial rights and supremacy.

In contrast the newspapers in Bombay are carrying front page stories indicating the courts and the Maharashtra government will not permit the Shani Shinganapur temple to discriminate between men and women regarding the right of entry. Hindu women are fighting for their rights. Parsi women sadly are not.

The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) is bogged down with managing around 5,500 to 6,000 flats and other estates. When the new board of trustees recently put out a call for volunteers, BPP trustee Kersi Randeria stated the response was poor, if non-existent. Property and dogma appear to have alienated the well meaning and socially conscious Parsis. The BPP rejected by a three to three vote (with the chairman’s casting vote) the application of a child of a Parsi mother married to a non-Parsi admission to the Holiday Programme for Youth.

It’s not that these issues don’t exist elsewhere. Delhi also has its share of traditionalists as does New York. But in the final analysis they are able to amiably resolve their differences and work for the commonweal. The Return to Roots program barred the children of Parsi women married to non-Parsis. It is only when donors specified there could be no discrimination on account of gender, the program dropped the ban (those children however, may not enter fire temples). That was being pragmatic. A more dogmatic management would have refused the donations and thereby impaired the objective of acquainting youngsters, especially from abroad, with the traditions and heritage of the community in India.

Let the community draw inspiration from the events in Delhi and New York, where people overcome their differences and work together to create marvels. In an age where we bemoan the loss of role models, the community now has two to follow.