Dear Readers,
19th December, 2019, made for Indian history, as nationwide protests were held by citizens calling for the Government to withdraw the Citizen’s Amendment Act. In a grand show of unity, over forty thousand Mumbaikars – including numerous students, women and even senior citizens – took to the streets, in a thankfully peaceful protest, at the August Kranti Maidan.
As Parsis, but moreso, as responsible Indian citizens, it is our obligation to understand what the CAA actually stipulates, and thereby, signifies. Most haven’t, and as an outcome, confusion is rife, even as television channels take sides based on their own philosophies – with some supporting and cheering the protest, while others lamenting its futility and unnecessary fear-mongering… and citizens, accordingly follow suit.
While the Act touches on multiple issues that need to be considered before taking a stand, a prime issue which seems to have gotten lost in all this buzz is the state of our crumbling economy. According to some sources, this could very well be a diversionary tactic to create a distraction from focusing on the nation’s dangerous economic slowdown, with the price of basic consumables hitting unbelievable, nay, unaffordable highs. Another school of thought claims that the nationwide outrage is the culmination of years of dissatisfactory government stances – with the CAA playing the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back. Yet another says this is all opposition-triggered, vote-bank-based politics and the citizenry is being misled.
Whichever of these appeals to your sensibilities, ensure that your stance is one that is well-informed, and not based on hearsay, faaltu forwards and media meddlings. If you wish to be guided by the truth, please take the effort to get to it.
On a more upbeat note, next weekend marks the third chapter of the glorious Iranshah Udvada Utsav 2019! Hope you’ve registered yourselves for this mega-event which provides a global platform for Zarthostis from India and the world over, uniting in celebration of our Parsipanu, culture and ethos in the lively atmosphere promoting camaraderie and sprinkled with fun and edutainment! I look forward to seeing you in Udvada!
Season’s Greetings and Merry Christmas to all!
– Anahita
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