Readers' Forum
Charter for co-existence
Rarely does the Supreme Court repeatedly ask warring parties to choose the path of mediation. Yet, that is what the august body did recently in the matter of the "renegade” priests. This wise and sagacious move on the part of the learned judges gives our community a second chance at making a new beginning. It is over three years since the reformist and conservative factions in the Parsi community have knocked at the doors of the courts. For a second time (actually third – editors) the court has felt it best for the community to resolve the dispute internally.
This recent development should be an eye opener for all well-meaning Parsis. It is quite evident that underpinning the visible dispute on the "renegade” priests is the fundamental divide between the beliefs of the reformists and conservatives on a range of religious customs. When it comes to adjudicating on matters of beliefs, a plethora of very sensitive issues emerge that do not fall within the realm of civil or criminal law. The matter becomes all the more grave when the high priests of the community are among the parties involved. It is high time all sections of leadership in the community took responsibility for working out an acceptable resolution to this conflict without further delay.
So far we have gone down the wrong path of trying to browbeat the other side into accepting our personal beliefs. This is surely an exercise in futility. It is not anyone’s prerogative to compel others into accepting what is not acceptable to them. In every community, over time, some members have protested against the then prevailing customs and emerged as a separate sect following modified customs. The Protestants within the Christian community are a case in point. They fought bloody wars for decades till they accepted co-existence as the final solution. They have been practicing their respective beliefs independently in their own churches under the over arching umbrella of Christianity. We have no option but to do likewise.
It may be that protracted conflict has got our litigating members into a mindset of fighting to the finish and they would love the court to admonish the opposite side and score a legal victory. But such misplaced fervor can irreparably damage the fair name and reputation of our community not to mention cause serious injury to the morale of either section.
The time for bitter tirades, unseemly media battles and running to the courts is over. We need to evolve a charter for co-existence with two systems co-existing with harmony and following one great religion. It is a time for reconciliation with reality and a time for healing — not opening up more wounds. The learned judges have reposed great confidence in our community to be able to resolve our internal disputes. Let us with good sense find a new equilibrium without hurting the beliefs or sentiments of either faction. We badly need to keep our energies for addressing many more pressing issues of the community. ADI ENGINEER
Poona
adiengr@hotmail.com
This recent development should be an eye opener for all well-meaning Parsis. It is quite evident that underpinning the visible dispute on the "renegade” priests is the fundamental divide between the beliefs of the reformists and conservatives on a range of religious customs. When it comes to adjudicating on matters of beliefs, a plethora of very sensitive issues emerge that do not fall within the realm of civil or criminal law. The matter becomes all the more grave when the high priests of the community are among the parties involved. It is high time all sections of leadership in the community took responsibility for working out an acceptable resolution to this conflict without further delay.
So far we have gone down the wrong path of trying to browbeat the other side into accepting our personal beliefs. This is surely an exercise in futility. It is not anyone’s prerogative to compel others into accepting what is not acceptable to them. In every community, over time, some members have protested against the then prevailing customs and emerged as a separate sect following modified customs. The Protestants within the Christian community are a case in point. They fought bloody wars for decades till they accepted co-existence as the final solution. They have been practicing their respective beliefs independently in their own churches under the over arching umbrella of Christianity. We have no option but to do likewise.
It may be that protracted conflict has got our litigating members into a mindset of fighting to the finish and they would love the court to admonish the opposite side and score a legal victory. But such misplaced fervor can irreparably damage the fair name and reputation of our community not to mention cause serious injury to the morale of either section.
The time for bitter tirades, unseemly media battles and running to the courts is over. We need to evolve a charter for co-existence with two systems co-existing with harmony and following one great religion. It is a time for reconciliation with reality and a time for healing — not opening up more wounds. The learned judges have reposed great confidence in our community to be able to resolve our internal disputes. Let us with good sense find a new equilibrium without hurting the beliefs or sentiments of either faction. We badly need to keep our energies for addressing many more pressing issues of the community. ADI ENGINEER
Poona
adiengr@hotmail.com
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