I have been reading Parsiana and am interested in the topics and subjects covered in the magazine. I wish to suggest that a Farsi language section be added to both the magazine and your website.
The Zoroastrian community all around the world is divided into three main groups. The largest group is that of the Parsis of India who emigrated from Iran and have strong cultural ties with Iranian culture and heritage. Just by looking at their names we can see a lot of Farsi influence as Farsi is the national and official language of the land they came from and their ancestors maintained links with. To be honest, it is a little strange to see people calling themselves Parsi while not knowing the Farsi language. Farsi is definitely a part of their heritage and identity.
The second largest group of Zoroastrians is in Iran for whom Farsi is their native and natural language. So, adding a Farsi language section to your magazine and website will facilitate better ties with them and help create a worldwide union of the believers of Mazdayasna and Zoroastrianism. Not having a Farsi section is somehow ignoring their existence.
And finally, the third group is the recent converts to Zoroastrianism. This is the only group of Zoroastrians that is growing in numbers and if aided properly will keep the faith of our ancestors alive. Most of these people who are interested in joining the religion are Iranians whose ancestors were Zoroastrian. Some do not call them converts but "returners.” Farsi is a very useful tool to communicate with them. Even the people of Kurdistan who have recently shown interest in Zoroastrianism are ethnically Iranians and are largely familiar with Farsi. And for those new converts who are not Iranian, the English language can serve well for now.
If adding a Farsi section to your magazine will add to the publishing costs, I suggest that you only add a Farsi section to the online version and website which really won’t cost much. FARID JAFARI
Tehran, Iran
fjafarighods@gmail.com
The editors reply:
An online section could be considered and Parsiana is in correspondence with Jafari concerning the possibilities.