"Daring to equalize"

I was very happy to read "Daring to equalize" (Editorial Viewpoint, Parsiana, October 7, 2018).

I believe very strongly that our Zarathosti din (religion) is based on truth and justice. Therefore under no circumstances can the woman be denigrated to a position lower than the man or be discriminated against in any manner. It goes against the very precepts of our religion. My parents were staunch Zarathostis, praying in the agiary every day, yet we were always taught to respect every other religion in the world.

My father respected my mother as an equal. He packed his own bag when going out of town for work and stitched the button on his shirt when it had come off. He made his breakfast when mom was not there. He never believed that it was his right to be served by his wife because she was a woman and he was the ‘superior’ of the two. It was a relationship of mutual love and respect. Having been brought up believing in the equality of sexes, my husband and I treated both our son and daughter equally. My husband was a true soul mate and equal partner helping me with all the domestic chores and not once making me feel inferior.

I agree wholeheartedly with the Supreme Court judgment lifting the ban on entry to women between the ages of 10 to 50 to the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. As stated in the Editorial Viewpoint, it will definitely strengthen the Goolrookh Gupta case before the Supreme Court and the Mehta-Vyas originating summons before the Calcutta High Court.

There is no excommunication in our religion. Nobody can tell a lady she is no longer a Parsi Zarathosti simply because she has married a non Parsi. She may continue to follow her religion if she so desires, pray in the agiary and attend the last rites of her family members at Doongerwadi. At the urging of the Supreme Court, the Valsad Parsi Anjuman will, on humanitarian grounds, allow Gupta to attend her parents’ last rites in case they expire prior to the final judgment.

There are so many Parsi Zarathostis all over the world who do not wear the sudreh-kusti, pray from our Avesta, nor follow the religion. Yet they are counted as Parsi Zarathostis. Those who follow the faith are considered outcasts simply because they have married non-Parsis. Is this acceptable in the 21^st century?

I am neither orthodox nor liberal. I am simply a Parsi Zarathosti and an Indian, proud of my religion and country. I do not wish to enter any controversy.

RATI DADY WADIA

wadia_rati@yahoo.com