Back To Basics

Dear Readers,

Thursday, the 16th of November, 2017, celebrated the establishment of the revered ‘stambh’ or Sanjan Memorial Column, and being the centennial celebrations, this Sanjan Day was all the more special. Built to immortalize the historic landing of our forefathers in India on the sacred soil of Sanjan, the auspicious stambh pays homage to the memory of our Persian ancestors who escaped Iran to protect and preserve the religion; it is a symbol of gratitude to the kind ruler, Jadi Rana (historical name: King Vijyaditya, who ascended the throne in 696 AD), for allowing our forefathers safe haven.

Our forefathers set brilliant precedents with their industriousness and achievements, and elevated our status from being mere refugees to the jewel in the crown brandished by India… in the obvious hope and belief that their descendants – our community – would take forward their immaculate legacy of greatness. Unfortunately, inspite of being born into this gifted platter of convenience, we seem to be failing them. What started out as gratitude – for being born into a community whose forerunners bequeathed ample resources and precedents of excellence to empower us into further greatness – has today morphed into an ugly sense of selfish entitlement. We have managed to convert an advantage into a handicap.

Maybe that’s because we have chosen to not imbibe, or worse, unlearn the lessons that our stalwarts symbolised – be it the unmitigated sense of unity as a community; incontestable selflessness towards a cause bigger than themselves; unconditional commitment towards the growth and progress of the collective – themselves and their environment; and their unwavering faith in our religion and its practice as per the words of our prophet Zoroaster as guided by our maker, Ahura Mazda.

Maybe it’s time to get back to the basics and re-learn by gleaning the thoughts, words and deeds of our ancestors. And maybe then, will we learn to unite and speak in one voice as opposed to bringing each other down; maybe then will we give up this egotistical sense of entitlement and embrace gratitude; maybe then will we learn humility and discard the garb of self-righteousness; maybe then will we work towards a cause greater than ourselves; maybe then will we have earned the prodigious inheritance of our extraordinary predecessors. Let’s work towards that.

 

Have a good weekend!

– Anahita