Time to change the rules

Religion has always been dominated by the priests. At times even the scriptures are misinterpreted to establish their power. Professional priests do not have the level of spirituality that saints acquired through deep meditation. Though all religious scriptures glorify women, in real life women are considered subordinates to men. We are now witnessing strong agitation against gender discrimination which does not permit women to enter certain temples and mosques to offer prayers. Even among Parsis, an enlightened community, gender-biased rules apply.
All religions have taught a message of love and equality, compassion and tolerance, truth and non-violence, to establish peace and harmony in the world. It is unfortunate that those who claim to be scholars of religion should misinterpret the scriptures and spread dogmas in the name of religion. Belief in the superiority of one’s own religion is the cause of religious conflicts.
There have been recent agitations about the navjotes of children born of interfaith marriages. The matter had been resolved in the High Court over 100 years earlier, but it was gender-biased, favoring only men. With the current acceptance of equal status for all, it is high time we change the rules. The pure blood we boast of has already been mixed with the blood of many different communities. We do not allow conversion, and shall never accept outsiders in our community, but when we have accepted children having at least one Parsi parent, it makes sense to accept the children of intermarried Parsi mothers as well.
Last December a reference to the matter by former advocate general of Maharashtra Darius Khambata in Udvada created resentment among a section of the community. Why did the community not raise its voice or challenge the century old order years ago if it was so keen to protect its purity and exclusiveness?
A mother has the more important role to play in the life of a child. A child is nurtured in the womb of the mother for nine months and nourished with her blood. It is the mother who brings up and has more influence over the child. We have already lost our unique identity as we accept children born of mothers from other communities who follow different faiths. How are these mothers going to impart the culture, values and traditions of a religion that is alien to them? For over 100 years the children of non-Parsi mothers have mingled in our faith, adulterating the so-called pure blood. Why did the traditionalists, the great scholars of our religion and the high priests who are guardians of the divine faith, not dissent more? Are the children of intermarried Parsi women different from those born to non-Parsi spouses of Parsi males?
We all are aware of the navjotes performed of illegitimate children of Parsi landowners at Vansda many years ago. We have accepted them and can see them working inside Parsi agiaries.
We believe in gender equality; we celebrate the birth of daughters no less than that of sons, so why this disparity? We all wish for our children to marry within the fold. But after all it is their life, and if the outmarried women want their children to be brought up in their faith, we should accept them just as we accept the children born of intermarried Parsi fathers. What difference does it make? They are still our grandchildren, the progeny of our sons or daughters.
PIROJA HOMI JOKHI
piroja.jokhi@yahoo.com