New Year vision

Our Navroz was once again here,/Some truths we need to face without fear,/Mutthibhar we were when India took us in,/With our holy fire we settled in./From there on it was a steady climb to prosperity,/We pioneered industry and business abundantly,/Never did we miss the land we left behind,/We are proud Indian Parsis, we need to keep this in mind./My wish for this Navroz is that we are free,/From pettiness, diktats, dogmatism and orthodoxy./May every Parsi have his home and family,/A good job or business, whatever he wants to be,/May our dasturs come out of their self inflicted isolation,/Be more friendly, caring in their communica­tion./May they simplify the application of our beautiful reli­gion,/Make it more tolerant with a progressive vision./May no one be denied the prayers or shun,/A Parsi who opts for a burial or cremation./May the navjote of all children with one Parsi parent be done,/This way we will increase our numbers, whether daughter or son./May all darkness from our life be dispelled immediately,/Through Ahura Mazda’s encompassing light on you and me./This then is my prayer this New Year,/May Lord Zarathushtra bless everyone who is near and dear.

RODA D. HAKIM

Vadodara