I have some reservations about your editorial "Taking the lead” (Parsiana, July 21-August 6, 2022). Why do you insist on referring to Neha Gupta as Goolrookh? She has of her own free will converted to Hinduism when she married Mr Gupta. No one forced her. I have no issue with that. But now she cannot turn around and say that I am a Parsi and I want all the privileges as a Parsi. And people like you encourage her.
Parsiana has also turned political. Why in your column "So they say” (August 21-September 6, 2022) have you included a statement by Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament? This is nothing but interest in politics, which I did not like.
Your solution for the falling population is absurd. You advocate intercaste marriage to increase the population of Parsis. If our forefathers who landed in Sanjan had the same idea, there would be no trace of Parsis or Zoroastrians left. And there would be no World Zoroastrian Congresses. The letters to the editor also have mention of the prime minister, i.e. political. In "Events and Personalities” you write about Smriti Irani, a minister. Again political. Please refrain from getting political.
The editors reply:
In the court documents filed by the lady, her name appears as Goolrookh Gupta. She stated in court that she has not converted and continues to practice Zoroastrianism. If you have any documents or proof to the contrary please forward them to us.
Our "So they say” column contains quotes, we believe, are pertinent to our readers. The release of the convicted murderers and rapists, their felicitation by members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Gujarat and the honorific nomenclature "Sanskari (cultured) Brahmins” should cause revulsion to anyone, irrespective of their faith or ethnicity.
We touch upon political issues because there is a Parsi angle or because we believe it is relevant to the community.
Nowhere in Parsiana have we ever "advocated intercaste” or interfaith marriage. If you have any copy of the magazine where Parsiana has stated this, please forward it to us. People are free to marry any spouse of their choice.