“Contours of a community”

With reference to the article "Contours of a community,” (Parsiana, February 2004), Hilla Guzder writes about "one jarring note” which did "no credit to those who participated in it.” She is absolutely right.

For those of us who had come to enjoy a pleasant, social evening with fellow Zarathushtis from around the world, it was jarring to hear the octogenarian Dr Keki Grant launch into a tirade against our ancient rituals and traditions.

It was felt that Grant abused his privilege as a co-host and instead of uttering a few words of welcome he started lecturing the audience — comprising of many young, impressionable minds — on the merits of conversion, on our "meaningless” rituals, etc. And what made it more "jarring” was that all this was said in the precincts adjacent to the holy fire-temple.

The concerned paragraph in the article is very aptly titled "Sense and sensitivity” as clearly there was lack of both items in the short speech we were forced to hear.

Democracy is not a one-way street and when one point of view is expressed there should be an opportunity for the other point of view to be heard from the same platform as well. This was not the case as even the function’s organizers were caught off-guard.

Let us hope and pray for better "sense and sensitivity” from our community elders in future.

KHURSHED J. GOVADIA

Poona