Did You Know Type 2 Qs – Save Parsi Irani Foundation

Did You Know? Type 2 Qs

Type 2 - What Parsi & Irani have already noted previously, but been callously ignored by many.

On risks to Religio-Cultural survival / erosion / demise of Parsi identity, Mr. Sarosh J. Manecshaw rendered an alarming lecture in 2012 in Mumbai about his experiences living in North America.

“Our Identity is what binds us and differentiates us from others. We Parsis have a unique identity comprised of Religion, Ethnicity, Culture and Traditions. We have been an Ethnic Religion for over 3000 years, both when our Ancestors ran an Empire and when seeking refuge in India. Although, the influence of western education led to some Religious reforms, our Ethnicity remained unchanged”

“At the rapid rate of Zarathushtees abandoning Traditions, Sudhreh, Kushti and in-faith marriage, Parsi Identity could disappear in as little as within two (2) generations”.

On the risks of the loss of many elements of Parsi Zarathushti Identity, are concerns expressed by Mr. Rohinton Rivetna at the 10th World Zarathushtrian Congress in 2014, as reported by Ms Shernaz Engineer in the Jam-e-Jamshed of 5th January 2014. Reportedly in his presentation Mr. Rivetna cites the misplaced practice of Anglicised names and abandonment of Sudreh-Kushti to our detriment.

Mr. Rivetna who has probably spent half a century in North America asserted that we are an Ethnocentric community with our Ethnicity and Religion being intertwined. Mr. Rivetna has also been known to have said words more or less to the effect “the experiment to openly accommodate mix-faith marriage couples into the wider community in hope of retaining them and their children within the Zarathushtee faith have failed”.

Furthermore, on the risks of the loss of Parsi Identity, the following commentary is gleaned from Ervad Jal Birdy, USA, in a book co-authored by Mobed Fariborz Sohrab Shahzadi of Iran and Scholar Mr. Khojeste P. Mistree. Please note, Ervad Birdy is an Engineer by trade.

“Sociologists have always maintained that for any small community to survive in a sea of people from different backgrounds, it must practise certain exclusive rules, preferably based on Religion. Parsis have proved this theorem admirably by surviving almost intact in India (as have Irani-Zarathushtees in Iran) mainly by adhering to certain tough, exclusive, time-tested rules devised by their forbearers...”

“Unlike other larger communities, the microscopic Parsi community just does not have the mass needed to absorb mixed-marriages. If such marriages are openly accepted by the community, their rate will accelerate and there will soon come a time when outside influences in the families and community gatherings will become so pronounced, that not only the Parsi identity but also their Faith will become unrecognisable.”

Marriage Counsellor Mrs Binaifer Sahukar (a graduate of Tata Institute of Social Sciences) who has considerable experience in dealing with mix-marriage matrimonial problems, published a superb essay in the Jam-e-Jamshed during 2016:

“The scales towards greater strife in the relationship tip heavily towards those marrying outside the fold. As Counsellors, we hear bitter stories of sparring couples when libido wanes and reality rears its ugly head”.

“The greatest problem we hear of interfaith marriages are that, in fights, the real reason is buried under the paradigm of your faith v/s mine. There are just so many examples of Religious battle lines drawn over the most mundane of everyday stuff. The mathematical fight equation thus leads to one royal mess”.

Dr. Huzan Davar who has studied the problem of inter-caste marriages amongst Parsis for the Victoria University of Manchester says:

“I have observed through my research work that even though children of intermarried Zarathushtees are being “navjoted”, more often than not, being a real Zoroastrian is usually a temporary, often a 24 hour phenomenon for them – more for the emotional satisfaction and comfort of the children’s parents and grandparents. Due to lack of religious education, such children seldom end up as full-fledged enduring and contributing members of the Zarathushtee Religion and Community."

Dr. Davar recommends “If the community is to survive in the 21st century, the first thing we need to do is to get our priority straight. Our first priority should be Religious and Ethnic education, not just for children, but for all Zarathushtees”.

Writes Ervad Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia,

“As in health, so also in Religion, a holistic approach is necessary. A holistic approach to Religion includes 4 aspects–knowledge, practice, love & good deeds. Love towards Ahura Mazda, Prophet Asho Zarathushtra and our Holy institutions to be cultivated”.

It is simply not possible to maintain a true Zarathushtee lifestyle comprised of Religious protocols and traditions, while living with a life-partner from another faith. If one’s love for our Religion and Community/Culture is strong enough, one should overcome one’s attraction for life-partners from other Religions.

Mrs. Zarin Havewalla (Jame 14th Aug 2011) analyzed and raised harsh questions on how Parsi Parents are responsible for late/non-marriage of their children. Zarin says:

“Often a Parsi daughter is brainwashed into believing that she is the epitome of beauty and intelligence and that she deserves nothing less than a prince”.

Thankfully Zarin also offers thoughtful advise: “Educate your children by the time they are 21 to believe that they must settle down by the time they are 25. Tell them that arranged* marriages are as successful as love marriages, if not more so”.

*Zarin’s use of the word arranged, ought not to be misconstrued as arrangements in Bollywood tear-jerkers. Arranged in Parsi speak is typically a hook-up by a well-meaning Aunt, Cousin or Friend, simply to introduce two potential Zarathushtees to check each other out & get together.

Wrote Dr. Ava Khullar “As a sociologist studying marital patterns in Indian communities, I’ve discovered what when a youngster reaches marriageable age – 20 to 25 years – there is tremendous family, societal and peer pressure to settle down and start a family. This pressure is effective”. Dr. Ava Khullar’s recommends parents:

Arise and get out of your late-marriage mind set.
Encourage youth to marry a fellow Parsi early and start a family.
Two may be good, but better still three for the community.
Approach Jiyo Parsi for assistance if you cannot conceive.
Leave behind a thriving Parsi community (through responsible conduct).

To remedy all of the aforesaid communal failures, Erudite Ervad and Eminent Legal Luminary Solicitor Burjorjee Antia regularly pens articles & books alongside delivering thought-provoking lectures. In Why Marrying within the Community is Important (11th Dec 2017), he raises points that mix-marriage advocates would struggle to respond to:

“Some argue that the progeny of mixed marriages are healthier, more intelligent and more outstanding than the progeny of marriages between two Parsis. If so; Have any of these mixed marriages produced persons of the calibre of Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozesaw Mehta, Jamshedji Tata and others? What is their contribution to our Religious field by the progeny of mixed marriages? Have they written any book or even an article or given a talk on Zarathustrianism? Have they cared for or made any type of contribution for the protection of our Religious Institutions?”

How pompous have we become? asks Dr. Goolcheher D. Coyaji in her article “Who are we to reform”, in response to incendiary behaviour at Udvada Utsav. It is featured in the Jam-e-Jamshed of 24th Jan’ 2016 alongside further condemnations of such behaviour. True to her profession of several decades, Dr. Coyaji draws clinical attention to daily Kushti prayer wherein 2 sets of confirmations are contravened by so-called reformists.

On the drastic effects of mixed-marriage, Solicitor Mr. Homiar N. Vakil wrote an articulate treatise (Jam-e-Jamshed 18th Aug 2013). Vakil draws attention as to how people practicing other Religions are more devoted than the average Parsi. “A Muslim will not marry unless the prospective spouse is prepared to embrace Islam and convert before marriage. Apart from merely increasing our numbers, we need to motivate our Youth to become more dedicated so that we are Zarathushtees not only by birth but by conviction”.

Furthermore on matters of precedent & tradition, the wife of deceased Solicitor Mr. Eruch B. Desai had her good Samaritan’s writings re-published in the Jame dated 15th March 2015.

“Change should not be just for the sake of change. Change should be constructive, disciplined and should be made for the advancement and betterment of our community – within the demands and commands of our Religion... Let us therefore promise ourselves the following three valuable Farmans of our Religion – Manashni, Gavashni and Kunashni.”

Another pragmatist, Jimmy S. Doctor of Connecticut offers in the Jame of 4th Jan 2015, 10 things you can do to save our community. They include Learning about our History, Marrying within our community, Having faith in our Religion, Always wearing Sudreh-Kushti, Lighting Divos, Daily Prayer, Worshipping at our Atash-Behrams and Agiyaries, Being a Good Person and Giving Back.

Pathologist Dr. P. K. Antia also busts a myth floated by conniving Parsis that Parsi refugee settlers inter-married in India. Wrote Dr. Antia:

“Myth proponents overlook as to how Warrior Men of Honour who fought valiantly against Conversion could have left their Mothers, Sisters, Wives & Children to the mercy of Arab invaders, just so that they could secure refuge in India to retain their Zarathushtrian Religion... It is wrong to assume as many do, that after landing in India, Zarathushtees had to marry with the local Indian population and there was hybridization of Zarathushtees... This natural selection without hybridization has increased certain genetic traits manifested by proclivity to certain disease patterns. Interbreeding and mixing with other races would have led to dilution of these traits."

Ex-Canadian resident, Mrs Pervin J. Mistry, has graced our community with lucid articles. She quotes the late Dasturjee Khurshed S. Dabu regarding the hereditary qualification of being ‘born of Parsi parents’ by citing established theories of Genetics & Eugenics.

“If the Parsis have (to a great extent) preserved their distinct racial identity, they fear that in the midst of vast other races, their characteristics would get lost. This is not to boast of a superior type, but it does refer to certain ‘distinct hereditary trends’ which are well known and preserved with great care”.

Mr Jamshed Daboo, once upon a time CEO of Trent Hypermarket Ltd (Star Bazaar) had delivered two CEO quality articles in 2015 and 2016. He advises us to stop worrying and start doing something positive about generating the energy. Let us make sure that irrespective of our views & opinions we ensure that the Parsi way becomes stronger, more wide-spread and richer with the progress of time.

Writes Dr Dinyar Phiroze Patel, formerly of Harvard University: “The responsibility for what is wrong – and the responsibility for making it right, rests firmly on each of our shoulders. We, as a community, collectively need to do a much better job of protecting & preserving our rich past”.

Encourages Ms Shernaz Engineer, Chief Editor of Jam-e-Jamshed in a November 2012 article Faith overcomes Fate:

“Our Forefathers could easily have shrugged their shoulders and converted to another religion – blaming the Arab invasion of Iran on ‘destiny. Lesser men make compromises. But some boldly challenge even the most adverse circumstances and triumph in the face of the worst odds... The challenge, then, is to retain & leverage Brand Parsi, because it really is the currency that gives us enormous public equity and has been the touchstone of our intrinsic worth. There is no way we can ever afford to lose it”.

Herewith are amassed informative articles released by learned Zarathushtees:

Ref	Title & Author	Link
A	Inter-faith marriage is a Deadly Sin for the Zarathushtees	Read Article
B	Conversion caucus By Dasturji Dr. Hormazdyar Kayoji Mirza	Read Article
C	Religious implications of mixed-faith marriages Dasturji (Dr.) Firoze M. KOTWAL	Read Article
D	Historic Resolution Passed By The Mobeds of Poona	Read Article
E	Historic resolution by High Priests prohibiting inter-faith marriage	Read Article
F	The Bane of Mixed Marriages, by Ervad Jal N. Birdy	Read Article
G	Conversion is a non-Zoroastrian idea	Read Article
H	Conversion Not Prescribed In The Zarthushti Religion, Mrs. Pervin J. Mistry	Read Article
I	Poison of inter-faith marriage, Mrs. Pervin Mistry	Read Article
J	Intermarriage and Progeny of Intermarried Zarathushtees, Mrs. Pervin Mistry	Read Article
K	The myth of conversion, Mrs. Pervin Mistry	Read Article
L	Why Parsees discourage mix-faith marriage, Noshir H. Dadrawala	Read Article
M	Inter-marrieds have no business to misguide the community, Marzban Giara	Read Article
N	What is Bunak Pasbani, Nurgesh Irani	Read Article
O	Traditionals protest against disgusting Editorial of PARSIANA, January 2004	Read Article
P	Inter-faith marriages are destroying our community, Rohinton Rivetna	Read Article