One remark by Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute (DAI) demonstrates the the rift between the traditionalists and progressives in the community. In an interview with Parsiana on this January 8 he stated, "I am hoping to be a catalyst in providing yozdathregar mobeds (those who are trained to perform higher liturgical ceremonies) to the community... Mobeds who are on the right side of the religion (see "The seminary’s centenary," pg 30)." He did not define "right" but the implication was a traditionalist mobed. One who would refuse to perform the navjote ceremony of children of interfaith marriages, not bless the marriage of interfaith couples and decline to perform funerary services of those opting for cremation or burial where a dakhma exists.
This conditioning would effectively result in excluding the 40% of interfaith married couples, their children and the 11% or so of Bombay Parsis who opt for cremation. When one of our editors casually inquired from a young mobed called overseas to perform a wedding, if both partners were Parsis, he replied in the positive and was almost offended that we could even think it possible that he could perform such a "sinful" act.
With such indoctrination imparted at the only surviving Zoroastrian boarding seminary, any possibility of having a new generation of liberal minded priests or any discussion on changing norms is remote. The madressa acquaints the students with the rituals, customs and scriptures of the religion, as the institution interprets them to be. The students’ secular education at the nearby Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School would largely follow the government syllabus, one that fosters rote learning, emphasizes attendance, stresses on passing exams and prioritizes acquisition of degrees. Any intellectual growth is secondary and usually a result of the student’s own endeavors, a thoughtful and concerned teacher/principal, or parental influence. Exposure to liberalism is most likely taboo.
As Surat born Dastur Maneckji Dhalla wrote in The Saga of a Soul — An Autobiography, first published in 1942, "I had entered Bombay (from Gujarat or Karachi) as a conservative." After studying at the madressa, "Three years later I was leaving (Bombay for Columbia University in New York) still a conservative."
After four years at one of the leading liberal universities in America located in one of its greatest cities, Dhalla "began to look at life from a fresh angle. My religion took a new turn... My ability to think, to discriminate, to observe, to assimilate and to discuss had matured... In 1905 I had set foot on American soil as an orthodox. Now in 1909 I was leaving the shores of New York as a reformist." His higher education had taught him to think rationally, unfettered by religious bigotry, racism and sexism.
Several members of The North American Mobeds Council received their priestly training in the Indian madressas. But living in a western democracy whose constitution forbids gender, race and religious bias, they initiated dialogs on contentious religious issues. They also took the bold step of permitting women to be mobedyars (friends of the priests), albeit with limited ministerial authority. The Council members’ outlook and thinking may have been shaped by their earlier years but was not shackled by them. They did not turn their backs on the needs of the community. Iran first took the lead in inducting women mobedyars to the priestly fold even though women are traditionally denied many rights in that theocratic, Islamic state. The once conservative Vatican, under the stewardship of an enlightened Jesuit Pope, is reforming and becoming more inclusive. Why are the Indian Parsis lagging behind?
DAI does not admit girls. In a survey by the reputed Hansa Research Agency of Bombay Parsis in 2013 commissioned by Parsiana, 81% of the respondents opposed "permitting women to become mobeds." Perhaps seven years later the opposition may be less. Many religions are opening their doors to participation by women. The Washington Post carried a report in their July 28, 2018 issue titled, "In a break with tradition, Orthodox Jewish women are leading synagogs." The article stated, "Taking on positions as clergy in a tradition where women have never been clergy before, they have adopted a variety of titles. Some call themselves rosh kehilah, meaning ‘head of the community.’ Some go by maharat, rabbanit, rabba. And even rabbi." Though small in number, they are "becoming far more significant in Orthodox Jewish life." While Orthodox Jews constitute around 10% of American Jews, "the far larger and more liberal denominations have ordained women as clergy for decades," the write-up notes.
Muslims do not formally ordain religious leaders, Wikipedia notes. The imam serves as a spiritual leader and religious authority. Women serve as imams but in many cases their congregation comprise women only. The International Forum of Women Ulamas (Muslim religious scholars) held in Indonesia around three years ago issued fatwas (non binding religious edicts) "against child marriage, sexual abuse and environmental destruction," noted assistant professor of sociology Rachel Rinaldo of the University of Colorado Boulder on theconversation.com in June 2017.
Speaking at the DAI centenary celebrations, ironically held at the hall of a Christian educational institute on December 13, 2019, Dastur Khurshed Dastoor lamented that Parsi priests were not accorded due respect by the community. He claimed this was not the case in other religious congregations.
The priesthood as a whole is viewed with a mixture of awe, reverence, skepticism, contempt and even hostility. Communist countries greatly restricted and continue to fetter religious activities. The State is supposed to be all powerful, all knowing, the source of succor and well-being. Even in democracies we find particular minority faiths being targeted, the Jews and Muslims predominantly. Christian churches are also set afire, priests assaulted, nuns violated. King Henry II had the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket killed because he did not do his bidding. And that occurred about 900 years ago!
Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal, despite his traditionalist views, is feted by all sections of the community because of his scholarship. A 726-page lavishly published book funded by the Wadia Group, The Collected Scholarly Writings of Dastur Firoze M. Kotwal was published in his honor by the Parzor Foundation. On the other hand Dastur (Dr) Framroze Bode, a "reformist" priest was ridiculed and maligned. Crowds cheered as a speaker at an orthodox gathering in a public hall around 30 years ago stated, "He is not dastur, he is not doctor, he is not ervad. He is (pause, waiting for the gathering to chant) ‘Mr Bode.’"
If the priests are to earn the respect of the community they cannot turn their back on sections they view as heretics. Who one marries, how one’s body is disposed, what religious practices to follow are all personal choices. In a democratic state, and India still remains one despite occasional aberrations, individuals have the freedom of choice. The Zoroastrian religion talks about choosing between good and evil. If the Parsi priesthood is to remain relevant, the priests have to make the appropriate choices. May they do so wisely.