The sad story of Parzania ("Caught in the crossfire,” Parsiana, February 7, 2007) should be a wake up call, especially for those Zoroastrians who have a holier than thou attitude. These people do not want to accept the reality that though the world is getting smaller electronically, ghettoism is being strengthened. This is especially true in Bombay where in some residential societies membership is denied to people from other communities, while some people aren’t allowed to purchase flats because of their food habits. In one locality in south Bombay all hotels serving non-vegetarian food had to close down as the majority there deemed it unsuitable. In most religion based colonies, you cannot purchase a flat if you do not belong to that community. If you are a spouse then you must convert to the religion of your partner so that if there are riots the society will not be caught in a crossfire...
During the riots in Bombay the Parsis felt secure as we are known to be peaceful and non-converting. The Parsis placed ‘Parsi business’ signs at their shops. Suddenly all those who mock the sudreh and kusti began to wear them with such fervor that it must have perplexed Ahura Mazda himself!
A state in India has passed a bill implementing Shariat law because the majority there wants it. Isn’t this so that a community can protect its identity? Riots like those in Gujarat which had support from some citizens exposed the hatred that the majority community is capable of. The mood and religious sentiments of common people swing like a pendulum and small communities like ours will be ignored by the majority in their efforts to save themselves. We could be wiped out in a single large scale riot especially since we do not have a strong world body like the Vatican which flexes its muscles when Christianity is in danger.
But now we have ‘do-gooders’ who, apart from wanting to close down Doongerwadi want to open up agiaries to all. How can these holier than thou Parsis turn a blind eye to the communalism around them and yet dub orthodox Parsis as being like the Taliban?
It is said that it is better to have a wise enemy than foolish friends, which seems apt for those who want to rudderlessly change Zoroastrianism for the sake of change.
RUSTOM JAMASJI
Why do I get the feeling on the Parzania issue that director Rahul Dholakia is shooting from a Parsi family’s tragedy burdened shoulder?
We are totally against any kind of bans, whether on cinema or Valentine’s Day or whatever, and if the ban on Parzania goes unopposed it would set a wrong precedent. However, though one did live with occasional communal disharmony earlier, after the Babri Masjid demolition followed by the Bombay riots, the Godhra episode and the Bombay train blasts, a change has swept through the country.
Parsis have always considered themselves as being part and parcel of India and Gujarat is, so to say, our karmabhumi (sphere of activity) and janmabhumi (motherland). Because of the way we have mingled and interacted with other communities we have always received respect and affection and been allowed to prosper. But the riots following the Godhra carnage have to some extent altered the psyche of the people and changed things for the worse. The first time we realized this was when we were asked whether we were Muslims because our surname is ‘Hakim.’ We explained that we are ‘Parsi Hakims’ and saw the relief on their faces! Of late we have needed to specify this more often, which is irritating. During the Gujarat riots our neighbors asked us to remove the nameplate from our gate as crazed mobs would not be aware that we are Parsis. Such things were totally unheard of earlier.
It is because of this mindset that the visual impact of Parzania could reopen wounds that still fester and ignite a simmering spark. Just a handful of miscreants could create bedlam. This is why I feel that we should not rake up such issues. Isn’t it time we sought to heal these wounds instead of reopening them? Black Friday is being shown in Gujarat without any protest. Why? Because Gujarat is not directly involved. But Parzania showcases the other side of the so far resilient and non-violent Gujaratis!
The story revolves around the stray case of a Parsi child being lost. What about the many people from other communities who have lost entire families? We need to help the Modys to find out about their son and go all out to reunite the family, but not at the expense of having the horrible scenario being reenacted. My only plea for not screening the movie in Gujarat at this stage is that we have found peace and progress which could be shattered by watching the movie.
RODA D. HAKIM
Baroda