Hello World! by Gulshan Pagdiwala and Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi. Published in 2018 by Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi, 6473 Wynkoop Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA. Pp: 28. Price: Rs 1,220, US $ 17.99.
This well-illustrated book is an attempt to bring the Zoroastrian creation story as described in the Bundahishn, to children between the ages of five and 10. The Bundahishn is a major Pahlavi work which details the cosmogony and cosmography based on Zoroastrian scripture as understood in Pahlavi times.
The story line begins with Ahura Mazda existing always in the endless light and Ahriman in the abode of darkness — First the sky was created then the sun, moon and other heavenly bodies. Next is the creation of waters, land, plants, animals and ultimately primordial man Gayomard (no mention of the first woman!). Finally fire was created on earth (the concept of the sun as a ball of fire, perhaps not contemplated by the writers of the Bundahishn). This was an ideal state until Ahriman looked out from the darkness and saw the peaceful, beautiful creation of Ahura Mazda. Filled with anger and jealousy, Ahriman started creating his ominous creatures.
Gulshan Pagdiwala (left) and Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi
Illustrations in the book
To combat this Ahura Mazda created the six Amesha Spentas (holy spirits). In this book there is a greater emphasis on the relationship of the Amesha Spentas with natural creation than the spiritual qualities of Amesha Spentas as attributes of Ahura Mazda.
Ahriman polluted each of Ahura Mazda’s creations and in the conflict Gayomard was killed. From the spot where Gayomard was killed, a rhubarb plant grew and from this the first man and woman, Mashya and Mashyani, emerged and were given their souls or fravashis to guide them. In the reviewer’s mind this story becomes even more fanciful than the Old Testament story of Adam and Eve. Every human being, according to this story is the progeny of this first couple, who promised Ahura Mazda to live a life of good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Keeping this promise leads to a world that is good, while not doing so leads to the opposite.
The Notes at the rear show the authors, Shazneen Rabadi Gandhi and Gulshan Pagdiwala, have an understanding of the contradictions inherent in the story of creation. Teachers who use this book should emphasize that this is a story and not scripture, though some of it is based on Pahlavi scripture.
Gandhi has been a religious class teacher and at one time wrote a regular column for children in the FEZANA Journal. She has considerable experience working with, and writing for, children. She is a member of the Zoroastrian Association of California.
Pagdiwala has done a good job of illustrating, especially the depictions of earth and nature. Presenting the Amesha Spentas in human form is not advisable, but how they should be illustrated for children remains a question mark.
Dr LOVJI CAMA