Reliable information

Dasturs and scholars are rainidars who cannot forsake their duties to guide those who are keen to get reliable information regarding our religious ideology, rivayets, tenets and traditions in the light of our scriptures.

I am neither an erudite scholar nor an ervad, but I have had opportunities to attend sarva dharma (multi-religious) seminars and given many interviews to the Press, TV representatives and learned personalities of other communities regarding our cultural heritage, problems and customs. I have found that other communities have a high regard for our ideology, nobility, amicable disposition and cultural behavior. All communities have conflicts and problems, but they are not crudely highlighted like ours are.

Other communities are impressed by our fair and transparent dealings and moral attitude. They appreciate our fidelity in maintaining promises given long ago and are curious to learn about our problems and their solutions. I find that there is misunderstanding and misguidance because of misrepresentation of deficient and faulty information. We have to admit our drawbacks and helplessness regarding solutions for problems created by advancing age, circumstances and a liberal lifestyle. Authentic information and guidelines can create better understanding.

I feel that reliable scriptural information is more effective when presented through pictorial literature, charts, slide shows, films, demonstrations, exhibitions and friendly discussions with an open mind. Only the essential, salient principles, traditions and fundamental ideals need be placed before learners.

Some persons have suggested that we should have information centers to remove misunderstandings. Fortunately, we now have an information center and museum on a small scale at Udvada, our place of pilgrimage, where we can get instant information about our religion, with glimpses of our cultural heritage with historical facts.

We perform Parsi comedies in front of cosmopolitan audiences. Though these provide entertainment, they convey a wrong message about the Parsi spirit and way of life. There must be some moral at the end of the show, or we will remain merely a laughing stock. NOSHIR DABOO

Ahmedabad