“Mobed empowerment”

My hearty congratulations to Dr Shernaz Cama and her team of dedicated enthusiasts for the introduction of Phase II of the Jiyo Parsi program initiated by the Government of India (GOI) "to reverse the declining trend of the Parsi population.” I am confident that the three new schemes introduced in this phase will go a long way in attaining the Jiyo Parsi objectives.
We must appreciate that it is the Parsipanu of this community, in the form of their contribution to society, which the nation wants preserved. Their philanthropy, honesty, integrity, industriousness, including a little bit of their well-meaning madness and all the other qualities and quirks which the community is blessed with. The country wants more of our community’s contribution to medicine, science, education, industry, law, health, fine arts, performing arts and umpteen other facets of human existence. The country knows that no other community comprising of such few has done so much for so many. And this is only because of our age old practice of exclusivity and ethnicity.
It was heartening to note that the Jiyo Parsi scheme has decided to dissociate itself from the mobed empowerment workshops ("Mobed empowerment,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, April 7, 2018) for whatever reason, and will now concentrate on the very purpose for which it was set up with the assistance of the GOI. This scheme was put in place primarily for the increase in the population of Parsis in India, with no religious connotation attached to it.
The recent notification by Dastur Khurshed Dastoor and Dinshaw Tamboly states that the mobed empowerment workshops were "met with enthusiastic support from members of the clergy and laity.” Who initiated this project and who has drawn up the contents of these workshops? Were the other Vada Dasturs involved or consulted? One finds it difficult to accept the oft-repeated excuse that they are too old and feeble to contribute in any way.
I may be faulted and accused for raising these issues pertaining to these workshops, but my apprehensions stem from the perceived thought process and statements reportedly made in public fora by those involved in this program on issues like accepting into the Parsi community children of Parsi ladies married to non-Parsis.
Empowerment is authorization, which in itself is disconcerting and worrisome. Empower-authorize the mobeds to do what? I quote from Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia’s lecture series on those who want to do away with exclusivity: "If their contentions are to prevail, the ruin of the community would be accomplished in as many days as it has taken generations to attain that position of prominence and prosperity which the Parsis of India have now achieved.”
Cmde MEDIOMA BHADA (Retd)
mrbhada@gmail.com