Faith and fellowship

What is wrong with us Parsis? We are passing through a veritable storm. And instead of standing firm and united we are being torn apart by the members of our own community. Our elders, who ought to know better, are busy fighting over non-issues. This is the time for the story of the father who on his deathbed gave his sons a bundle of sticks and told them to break it into small pieces. One by one they tried to do so but the bundle could not be broken. Then he separated the bundle and told them again to break the sticks. All the sticks broke. "See my sons, united you will be able to face the storms of life, but the day you decide to separate, the family will break.”

And that is what is happening in our community noted for its bonhomie, its charity, its munificence, its ability to get on with one and all, irrespective of caste or creed. Who is causing this discord? The trustees, the high priests, the orthodox, or all of us ? Why can’t we live and let live? Why do we have to force our viewpoints on others? Why distinguish between dakhmas and cremation? Why call the progeny of non-Parsis "bastards” and hurt their feelings? Why can’t we show the delightful sense of humor for which we are so famous and let families decide what is in their best interest?

I know this sounds easy on paper but it is worth giving a try. After all with all the public squabbling we have done, we have not solved a thing. Why not calm down and let things be?

Time has a way of solving many prob­lems if we can sit and talk (just talk, not scream and shout and hire goondas to sabotage meetings which do not agree with our viewpoint). Our very alive Zoroastrian faith which has survived all these centuries will show us the way, if we have faith and the courage to trust our fellowmen. Maybe God Himself wants us to change and adapt to a different viewpoint. More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of!

Let us pray to Him and ask Him to show us the way. Mushkil Aasaan Behram Yazad and all the holy saints will help us if we ask them in humility and pray to them to shower their grace on us.

GOOLOO MEHTA