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 No world body please, we're Parsis!
The Eighth World Zoroastrian Congress ended last week and with it all current dreams of forming a representative world body of Zoroastrians.
The orthodox revolt led by Khojeste Mistree of Zoroastrian Studies and Belgaum Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman fame succeeded in blocking any chance the host association, the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe Inc had of pulling off a coup and overseeing the creation of a 45-year-old dream.
Perhaps like the European Union which is floundering as member countries negate the pan European constitution, so too the Parsis and Zoroastrians are not ready to come together under a common umbrella.
Is it a lack of will, unfounded fears or genuine concern?
The European Union, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the North and South American free trade agreement, the Organization of African States were all created to better the economic and political well-being of the citizens in each country, while at the same time respecting the individual country's autonomy.
Of course to qualify to join the associations one had to ensure that certain fundamental human rights existed. Economic development was not the sole factor. The rule of law and acceptable norms of international justice had to be observed.
As far as Zoroastrians are concerned the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) was formed to further the community's global economic interests. But why did the orthodox lobby not oppose the formation and continuation of WZCC? After all Parsi concerns with non-Parsi directors or partners can join. So can all the associations and anjumans that enroll as members non-Zoroastrian spouses and the progeny of Parsi women married to non-Parsis. Why wasn't a Business Alliance of Parsi Irani Zoroastrians (BAPIZ) formed to stymie WZCC? What happens if a Parsi Irani Zoroastrian (PIZ) firm merges with a non or neo-Parsi Irani Zoroastrian (hereafter referred to as NOPIZ) owned company? Would this cross merger be then termed a CROSPIZ firm? Would the orthodox claim this is like mating thoroughbred horses with donkeys, or pandas with monkeys? Would the goods manufactured be considered substandard due to the "dilution?" Would this result in disqualification? Should PIZ sell their products and services to NOPIZ firms?
Is it that when it comes to economics we will turn a blind eye to alienage but not so to politics or religion?
Christian missionaries may scour the earth in search of souls to save and Mullahs may spread the word of Allah all over the world but we want exclusivity: "Stay out and keep out." No mingling, only dwindling.
In a world, where leave aside countries, even continents have to come together to compete and survive can the Parsis and Zoroastrians scattered all over the globe exist as isolated units? The orthodox answer is we have survived 8,000 years (the figure is closer to 3,500 years) we shall, through divine intervention, continue to exist for an equivalent period if not more. This overlooks the fact that historically we were concentrated in Iran and the west coast of India. In both places external forces prevented us from intermingling. But today we have settled all over the world. In Bombay one in three marries out, elsewhere the figure is higher. If we didn't need a world body before, we certainly need one now.
The holding of world congresses in Bombay, Tehran, Houston and London is itself evident that we are a global community. And should not a global community have a global body? Who will raise an effective voice if our co-religionists face persecution in some remote corner of the world? Whose cry will be heard in the capitals of the world and in the international media? The Belgaum Anjuman's or a truly international Zoroastrian body's?
If in India where we are at our strongest the need for an all-India body was felt, does not the same logic hold globally? And if in India the anjumans of Delhi and<
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