"The rationalization of rites”
I wish to convey my heartiest congratulations for the well-articulated editorial "The rationalization of rites” (Parsiana, May 21-June 6, 2024).
Rather than emphasize the glorious past, what we need today is a discussion on the present crises and the means with which to deal with them. Your editorial focuses on the role of the priestly class, and how demanding their work is. We need discussions, and above all else a clear direction to follow, if we are to save both the priests and the rituals.
For instance, I would like to read editorial comments on mixed marriages and why they are on the increase; navjotes of the offspring of such unions and why we are opposed to them; conversion; and adoption. Despite all the head priests observing during the trial following the navjote of the French wife of Ratan Tata that conversion is an essential part of our religion, why are so many against it 100 years later? YEZAD KAPADIA
Gurgaon
yezad.kapadia@gmail.com
he editors reply:
The editors reply:
We touch upon the topics mentioned regularly. Many of the clergy and the anjumans/punchayets oppose change. Traditionalists speak of quality over quantity. Today we have neither.
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I am responding to the Editorial Viewpoint, "The rationalization of rites” (Parsiana, May 21-June 6, 2024).
In the 1990s as a young trustee of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman I was deputed to attend many meetings of The Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI). At those meetings the then leaders of our community (most anjumans as well as the Bombay Parsi Punchayet), despite knowing that they were staring at the beginning of a rapid decline, merely brushed aside these issues and chose to spend time and money fighting with each other. Fast forward 30 years to the present — and those issues have become a stark reality.
Some programs which were in their infancy then (for e.g. behdin pasbans) are now being encouraged and lay people are working in several fire temples. This is a positive sign. The current leadership should take bold steps on all other issues such as mixed marriages, adoption, etc and not pass the responsibility to the next generation or it will be another 30 years too late. The clock doesn’t stop ticking.
ADIL NARGOLWALA
Delhi
adil@nargolwala.com