Readers' Forum
We are the parjats
Our community is heading towards extinction in India. According to demographic studies, our numbers will be down to 20,000 by 2050, if not earlier.
So if you wish to wake up from khavasni, pivasni and suvasni (good food, good drinks and good sleep) start calling yourselves Indian Zoroastrians. Our forefathers came to India as Zoroastrians. We were referred to as Parsis by others. We are all Zoroastrians originally and not Parsis. Since we are Indians, we should be known as Indian Zoroastrians just like Indian Christians, Indian Jews, etc.
We must also remove the word parjat (outsiders) from our minds and language. Actually, we are the parjats, while the Hindus and many others are the original inhabitants of this country.
Many Parsis greatly relish the "sugar in milk” story from the Qisse-i Sanjan and the promise given to Jadi Rana. If the milk has to be sweetened, should not the sugar melt in it? Stop trying to keep the sugar separate — the milk will not be sweetened. Therefore, if your daughter is marrying a non-Parsi, she is actually helping to sweeten the milk! So, please do not disown her and throw her out of the community. Instead, accept the reality and her marriage. Perhaps she will bring up her children as good Zoroastrians.
KERSEE KABRAJI
Poona
kerseekabraji@gmail.com
So if you wish to wake up from khavasni, pivasni and suvasni (good food, good drinks and good sleep) start calling yourselves Indian Zoroastrians. Our forefathers came to India as Zoroastrians. We were referred to as Parsis by others. We are all Zoroastrians originally and not Parsis. Since we are Indians, we should be known as Indian Zoroastrians just like Indian Christians, Indian Jews, etc.
We must also remove the word parjat (outsiders) from our minds and language. Actually, we are the parjats, while the Hindus and many others are the original inhabitants of this country.
Many Parsis greatly relish the "sugar in milk” story from the Qisse-i Sanjan and the promise given to Jadi Rana. If the milk has to be sweetened, should not the sugar melt in it? Stop trying to keep the sugar separate — the milk will not be sweetened. Therefore, if your daughter is marrying a non-Parsi, she is actually helping to sweeten the milk! So, please do not disown her and throw her out of the community. Instead, accept the reality and her marriage. Perhaps she will bring up her children as good Zoroastrians.
KERSEE KABRAJI
Poona
kerseekabraji@gmail.com
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