A few facts about the history of our community as recorded in the History of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat 1860-1960, by Sapur Faredun Desai.
This is an excerpt from a book commissioned by the Bombay Parsi Panchayat called the History of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat 1860 to 1960 by Sapur Faredun Desai.
“In the beginning of the present century the air was again rife with rumours of conversion and Jehangir Bomanji Petit and Jamshedji Bomanji Wadia forwarded to the Trustees on 13.7.1903 a requisition signed by 2300 Parsis informing that as there was talk of admitting people from other religions into our religion an influential Committee of Parsis of education, wealth and status be formed with a view to give guidance on:
- whether looking to the present religious and social condition of the Parsis it is advisable and proper to admit non-Parsis into Zoroastrian fold.
- if advisable, what criterion should be followed to gauge their aim, fitness, etc. for admission.
- before being admitted to whom should they apply, which class of priests (i.e., Dastur or ordinary Mobed, Ervad, Herbud) should perform initiation ceremony, by whose order he should do so, and what ceremony he should perform;
- in what way should such admissions be recorded in the books of the community.
- generally, to examine all cognate questions for guiding the community and protecting its interests.
In their meeting of 24.7.1903 the Trustees decided that it would be proper if the Anjuman appointed such a committee and called a meeting of the Anjuman on 2.8.1903 at 5 P.M. in the Albless Baugh.
Ere the Anjuman meeting, another requisition signed by 769 Parsis was received from one Ardeshir Jehangir Banaji under cover of his letter dated 30.7.1903 informing the Trustees about the civil marriage of Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata with a French lady first in France and then, after six months, getting her Navjote performed by the Dastur of the Anjuman Atash Behram and getting married under Zoroastrian rites. The requisitionists wanted the Trustees to take the opinion of the Anjuman if such a convert had a right to take advantage of places of worship and dokhmas. They also wanted to know why Dastur Kekhushroo should not be deposed, just as a Kadmi Dastur was deposed for getting performed a marriage between aunt and nephew, an incest, against which the Parsis have always been strongly set.
The Trustees decided to consider the matter after the Anjuman meeting. At the Anjuman meeting the President, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, advised the Anjuman to deliberate on the question with patience and care. Opinion should be expressed, he said, after lengthy and mature consideration of the past, present and future condition and circumstances of the community. He also advised that in a matter of this sort small differences should be forgotten and such steps be taken as would conduce to the common good of the community. He suggested that the Committee that the Anjuman appointed should consist of educated, practical-minded persons holding ‘old’ and ‘new’ views (i.e., orthodox and reformist). The Anjuman then appointed a committee of about 150 persons with power to coopt.
The above-mentioned Mr. Banaji was then informed that as the Anjuman meeting of 2nd August 1903 had done the needful it was not necessary to call another Anjuman meeting.
The Committee appointed by the Anjuman met on 27.8.1903 and appointed a sub-committee of 35, who in their turn at their meeting held on 3.9.1903 ap-pointed a smaller Sub-Committee of 11 scholars as below to spoor the question from the religious standpoint and report:
Ervad Edulji Kershaspji Antia
Dastur Kaikhushroo Jamaspji
Ervad Kawasji Edulji Kanga
Sheth Khurshedji Rustomji Cama
Sheth Jamshedji Dadabhoy Nadirshah
Shamsh-ul-Ulema Ervad Jivanji Jamshedji Modi
Shamsh-ul-Ulema Dastur Darabji Peshotanji Sanjana
Sheth Pestonji Cooverji Motiwala
Sheth Behramgore Tehmuras Anklesaria
Ervad Bomanji Nusserwanji Dhabhar
Ervad Sheheriarji Dadabhoy Bharucha
The smaller sub-committee reported on 9.2.1904. It recommended that there was not only no bar against proselytism but on the contrary, there was injunction to proselytise those born in another faith. The Committee of 35 had adopted this report by 10 against 2 at its meeting held on 10.3.1904.”
These are our highly respected and most knowledgeable priests, who were amongst the first students of K R Cama. The K R Cama Oriental Institute was established in 1916 through funds collected from the citizens of Bombay to perpetuate the memory of this renowned oriental scholar, linguist, social reformer, and educationalist who passed away in 1909
(Picture from Parsi Lustre on Indian Soil by Darukhanawala 1939.)
PARSI WEDDING CERTIFICATE OF RATAN TATA AND SUSAUNE BRAIRE
In 1903 it was accepted that conversion was a tenet of our religion. Dastur Kaikhusru Jamaspi, Head Dastur of the Anjuman Atash Behram converted a French Christian lady and then performed her Parsi wedding to Ratan D Tata. (wedding certificate under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act) The Panchayat wanted to take steps to make a proper system for accepting converts and appointed a committee to advise them.
As recorded in the book History of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat, our scholars and priests have reported that there is an injunction in our religion to proselytise (convert from one religion to another) those born in another faith. That means all are welcome to practice the religion.
Then the questions need to be asked-
Why are children of intermarried Parsi women who have decided to bring their children up in the Parsi religion(in an interfaith marriage the parents can choose which religion their children will follow) facing discrimination and being prevented from practicing their religion?
If Ratan Tata (father of JRD Tata) had not gone to court in 1905 to establish the rights of converts, wouldn’t we be following the recorded opinion of our priests, “there is an injunction to proselytise those born in another faith”?
To be continued….
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