Zoroastrian News – اخبار زرتشتیان

It is a few years that, upon proposal of the Culture Commission of Kerman Zoroastrian Anjuman, education of the ‘Din Dabireh’ script, Shahnameh stories, customs and traditions, and in addition, this year, the history of Zoroastrians, has been added to the religion textbooks of Kerman Zoroastrian students.
Since Khordad (June) is the month for examinations, it is necessary that, as the students reap the results of one year work, we likewise, evaluate the result of adding the above mentioned subjects to the religion classes. The religion classes in Kerman are held every Thursday, from 3 pm, starting with group prayers in front of the ‘Atash Behram’ in the Fire Temple, and ending at 5 pm.
Due to addition of the new subjects to the religion lessons 30 minutes have been added to the timing of the classes. In the beginning, parents were not agreeable to adding 30 minutes to the class timing. But now, after one year has passed, we had a study of the opinions of parents and teachers and came to the conclusion that all are satisfied with its usefulness. One of the teachers says: “The children like these lessons very much and the variety of the subjects does not let boredom come over the children. And not only adds to their general knowledge but also creates pride in their country and religion and also interest in knowing more.”
Another teacher says: “The Shahnameh recitation classes have gone better into the memory of the children because this class is followed by play classes. Therefore, if these lessons are joined with practicals they will give better results.”
It is interesting to note that some of the mothers are worried about their children’s knowledge of Iranian history and customs becoming more than theirs and are proposing to hold such classes for the mothers also, so that their children do not take the lead.
When Bahram Khademi, a third class primary school student, asks his teacher, Niloofar Bakhtiari, to allow him to teach the ‘Dari’ dialect to the students of the religion class, during the few minutes left at the end of the class, I feel deep pride in me, because I know that our children and adolescents are truly trying to guard whatever is left of our country’s ancient culture. Some time ago, when I was teaching Zoroastrian history to the students and was reminding them that just as at present we have lost many of our ancient languages and scripts there is the fear that in future there will be no trace of the Dari language in Kerman, I asked them to create the determination to teach this language to each other and everyone should try to learn it. The result was that most students decided to show more interest to learn Dari.
Once, I spoke in the class about a holy place in Kerman called Pire Sabz which no more exists and only a few of our elders remember this place and said: “To prevent our other ‘Pirs’ from suffering the same fate in Kerman, ask your elders about them and tell each other your findings in the class. The students started telling beautiful stories that they learned from their mothers and grandmothers in the class, and as a result, besides learning more, they created happy moments in the class.
Outside the classes the story is different. One or two of the families say: “The children are constantly asking us about the Dari language and the Pirs (shrines) of Kerman and we do not know what answer to give them How much do you think the subjects on religion had value during our time? It is better to keep to the same religion books.” I showed them the students who were going towards the library in search of history books and said: “Our present religion texts cannot respond to these children’s needs.”
On the other side, the Anjuman members say: We want the children to enjoy their religion classes and I think what joy is more lasting and more beautiful than the joy of learning new subjects?
I was always fearing that our negligence will cause others to know about the value of our rich culture and civilization and exploit them to their advantage and our hands would remain empty. Now that I see the Kermani students are learning subjects over and above the religion subject, with great zeal, I remember the day when we were discussing about Manekji Limji Hatteria. Students who upto that day, would pass by the Anthropology Museum every week, on their way to the religion classes, and would never go inside, now visit the museum with amazing interest to see the sculpture of Manekji and after visiting the museum come out even thirstier than before., “wish we were told before about the knowledge hidden in the museum.”
I feel proud and know that with such children and such faith and efforts, our religion and culture will stay on. It is the duty of our families to decide to try, together with the religion teachers, to make this zeal in our children persistent.

Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour