The Committee of The World Zoroastrian Organisation, London, wishes to congratulate Goolrookh Gupta and her sisters for the interim order from the Supreme Court of India ("In search of justice,” Parsiana, December 21, 2017) permitting them to attend the funerary ceremonies of their elderly parents in the event of their demise. We also note that this decision was arrived at after the respondents (the Valsad Parsi Anjuman) conferred with the high priests and the trustees. Simple humanity on the part of the trustees would have saved time, community funds and heartaches. We sincerely hope that the petitioners will win on the other important points also at the final hearing.
Most of the Parsis around the world have seen the television debate concerning this case ("The highs and lows,” Editorial Viewpoint, Parsiana, November 7, 2017) and must have witnessed the poor performance of some of the participants, particularly those who kept repeating the mantra of "custom and practice.” How long will these dinosaurs repeat the "mantra” that was in practice over 100 to 150 years ago when there was not much intermingling of communities?
Parsis call themselves "educated.” If truly so, they and their ecclesiastical and social bodies would by now have dropped their age old customs and practices, and allowed Parsi ladies to marry persons of their choice and bring their spouses and children into our community and places of worship. Our manashni (good thoughts) and humanity should lead us to this conclusion. It is a question of reform and flourish or stagnate and perish.
The elders of our community have to eschew the past and embrace the future, first for sheer survival and then hopefully for an increase in numbers. Relying on the Jiyo Parsi project is pointless. Let us hope and pray that even at this 11th hour we can turn the corner and prosper as a community. SHAHPUR F. CAPTAIN
Chairman, The World Zoroastrian Organisation
London, UK
shahpur.captain@btinternet.com