The Parsi community is progressive. The word dastur implies religious leadership. The lost sheep of the community are fortunate to now have a Religious Council to decide religious matters and problems. The Council has announced that it has only six dasturs. The names of these priests, who are learned scholars and have authority in religious leadership, have been declared.
There are eight first grade atash behrams in India. The head priests of all these fire temples are required to be members of the Council. Other scholars and religious institutions too should be represented to offer a wider perspective.
The Council must be confirmed by the Samast Anjuman in an open meeting. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) should take the initiative to call such a public meeting where the Council’s constitution must be declared in a white paper. The community has the right to know the Council’s agenda. Scriptural vision will be necessary for taking the right decisions; personal opinions should be set aside. Trustees are not dictators and a firm stand needs to be taken against their fatwas.
Every five years leadership of the panel should be rotated. Since Iranshah has a special status, two priests must be given priority to preside over the panel. The gaadi (seat) of Meherjirana of Navsari should be similarly respected. All anjumans should respect the Council.
Fire temples, religious institutions and wealthy sethias should contribute their willing and substantial support to raise a corpus fund. Audited accounts should be published along with the annual report of their activities. The religious council (Majlis Mazhab) in Iran is successful and fully authorized to provide religious guidance, so why not in India? The anjumans should accept the Council’s verdict without hesitation.
The BPP should take guidance from this panel in all religious matters, never mind the WAPIZ (World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis) stand. The trustees are only caretakers of charity funds, institutions and properties. There must be sincere efforts to enhance peace, harmony and right understanding.
Who will begin the exercise of following the useful suggestions to make the Religious Council more efficient so that it has the authority to guide and create better understanding among its followers? Let us all unite in this project. Hamazori is good progress for a small, intelligent community. I wish the Religious Council good luck.
NOSHIR DABOO
Ahmedabad