Date: Feb 16, 2008 3:23 PM
Subject: NOTICE:- Zoroastrian Vada Dasturjis (High Priests) and
Scholars publicly declare that "Acceptance/Conversion" is not part of
the Zoroastrian religion
To: TZML <TraditionalZarathushtris@yahoogroups.com>
PLEASE PASS ON NEWS OF THIS HISTORIC AND SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT IN SAVING
OUR RELIGION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
HUMATA HUKHTA HAVARASHTA
16 Feb 2008
Dear Zarathushti humdins,
cc: Vada Dasturjis,
cc: Ervad Sahebs,
cc: The Parsee Voice,
cc: Zoroastrian Studies,
cc: Parsi Pukar,
cc: Dini-Awaz,
cc: Prominent Zoroastrians,
cc: TZML
cc: TMYZ officials
As expected, the public meeting of Vada Dasturjis, Ervad Sahebs
(priests), Scholars and teachers of the religion held in Mumbai on
15th February 2008 was a great success.
The distinguished men of our religion clearly gave references to show
that conversion never formed part of the Gathas or other scriptures.
We were glad to know that over 800+ people attended, and it was a case
of "House-Full", some people standing throughout the meeting because
of this. This shows that the common Zarathushti men and women do care
for their religion and are very concerned about the mis-truths and
mistrust propounded by groups like ARZ, AIMZ and lately by Kersey
Antia of Chicago.
We were told that the meeting was a thumping success for the following reasons:
* Not just in terms of the attendance of community members (It was a
HOUSEFULL with over 800 attendees, some standing throughout the
meeting) but also because the community members present UNANIMOUSLY
passed a Resolution REJECTING CONVERSION/ACCEPTANCE as sought to be
propagated by the likes of ARZ and AIMZ.
* Because it received the support and blessings of ALL THE PRESENT
VADA DASTURJIS. Those of them who could not attend for reasons of
sickness/old age/pre-occupation, sent in their messages of support to
the meeting and the Resolution passed thereat.
* Because ALL THE TRADITONALS GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY PITCHED IN AND
ENSURED THAT THE MEETING ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES.
* Because TRUTH prevailed and MISINFORMATION was shown the door.
Gracing the function were Dasturjis Peshotan Hormuzdyar Mirza of
Udvada and Cyrus Noshirwan Dastoor of Surat, Scholar Priests Ervads
Rooyintan Peer, Ramiyar Karanjia, Parvez Bajan and K N Dastoor. The
meeting was compered by Mr Adi Doctor. Mrs Pervin Mistry, who
initiated and spearheaded this whole show was also present on stage.
In the audience were present amongst others, Dinshaw Mehta, BPP
Trustee and three ex-Trustees, Ms Nellie Noble, Mr Eruch Desai and Mr
Rustom Tirandaz. A handful of people from the opposition were also
present but sensibly decided that discretion was the better part of
valour and chose to maintain a discrete silence rather than expose
their irreligious leanings.
Both the Dasturjis, with great fervour and eloquence, forcefully
decried the attempts made to legitimise Acceptance/Conversion and gave
very lucid explanations and references from the scriptures for the
same. This was in stark contrast to the charade made a fortnight ago
by Kersey Antia, who chose to promote conversion but COULD NOT OFFER
EVEN ONE AUTHENTIC REFERENCE FROM THE EXTANT SCRIPTURES for the same.
Their talk was accompanied by several rounds of thunderous applause.
The Scholar Priests too gave very effective rebuttals to the
pro-conversion theories of ARZ, AIMZ and others. Ervad Ramiyar gave
references to show that conversion never formed part of the Gathas or
other scriptures.
Ervad Peer gave a historical perspective of the community's stay in
India and how over the centuries the community had acted to save its
religion and traditions rather than succumb to the evil of conversion.
Ervad Bajan gave references from the works of Late Dasturji Hormuzdyar
K Mirza to show that conversion was a myth and never formed a part of
the scriptures.
Ervad K N Dastoor explained the scheme of things in nature and why it
was spiritually harmful to indulge in conversion. He also indicated
that legally every community had a right to practise its own religion
and no court of law had the authority to intervene in these beliefs or
grant any reliefs to persons who sought to go against these practices.
He also debunked the various claims made by Antia in his earlier talk.
The Resolution passed UNANIMOUSLY at the said meeting is attached.
The whole event was a success thanks to the untiring efforts of those
involved in it.
So there we have it, dear Zarathushti humdins. Once again, our Vada
Dasturjis, Ervad Sahebs, sincere Zarathushti scholars and ordinary and
sincere Zarathushtis who rallied around to save their religion and
community from misguided groups.
We hope that now ARZ stop their misleading campaign in the Parsee
press and instead use their resources and talents to help the
youngsters of our community to marry within, marry early and increase
the population by having many many Zoroastrian children.
With best wishes
TZML Admins
(see below for the Resolution passed)
Resolution passed by the members of the Parsi-Irani Zarthushti
community present at the Public Meeting held on Friday February 15th
2008 at the Framjee Cawasjee Institute, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai.
This Public Meeting held on Friday February 15th 2008, at the Framjee
Cawasjee Institute, Mumbai, of the Parsi-Irani-Zarthushti Community
hereby condemns and puts on record its strong protest against the anti-
Zarthushtrian activities of 'acceptance'/conversion perpetrated and
propagated by certain anti-religious groups and against the speech delivered
by one Dr. Kersey Antia from U.S.A. at Y.B. Chavan Auditorium, Mumbai
on 2nd February 2008 on the subject named as 'Acceptance', and hereby:
1. "RESOLVES that the Parsi community affirms and asserts its full
faith and belief in the tenets, traditions and practices of the Zarthushti
Religion observed for thousands of years and reiterates its
commitment to maintain its distinct identity and preserve and practice
the Zarthushti Religion as handed down to us by our ancestors.
2. FURTHER RESOLVES that the Parsi community firmly declares that
the Zarthushti Religion forbids 'acceptance'/Conversion by any
method including adoption of non-Parsi-Irani-Zarthushtis to our
religion and considers such an act to be a religious sin.
3. FURTHER RESOLVES that the Parsi community strongly deplores
and condemns the anti-religious attempts being made by the
Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ), Association of
Intermarried Zoroastrians (AIMZ) and other misguided individuals to
subvert the tenets and traditions of the Zarthushti Religion and spread
a distorted version of its sublime teachings as enshrined in the Holy
Avesta.
4. FURTHER RESOLVES that this Meeting strongly condemns and
disapproves Dr. Antia's views on 'acceptance'/conversion as it
grossly deviates from the established religious norms and the opinions
of the Vada Dasturjis expressed by them from time to time.
5. FURTHER RESOLVES that the Parsis who have lived in India for
centuries are grateful to the Hindu Community and the Hindu
Religion for allowing us to preserve and follow our religious
disciplines and practices and to protect our religious institutions.
6. FURTHER RESOLVES that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to
the Parsi Punchayat, Athornan Mandal and various Anjumans and
Associations of India".
PLEASE PASS ON NEWS OF THIS HISTORIC AND SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT IN SAVING
OUR RELIGION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
