Discuss, Don’t Cuss!

Dear Readers,

Once again we find our community vociferously stepping up the heat on social media about multiple issues – the most aggravated one being the outrage of our community members regarding the annual Doongerwadi Heritage Walk, where a small group of students studying Comparative Religions is educated about our final rites at the Doongerwadi, led by our erudite religious scholar, Er. Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia. These walks, which have been an ongoing practice for eight years since 2007, didn’t rake up a storm until now. Sentiments of a few community members seem to have been offended, as they believe this is tantamount to the desecration of our final place of rest and an invasion of privacy of grieving family members of the deceased.

While it is important for any community’s progress that its members speak up and make their voices heard, it is even more imperative that we examine the basic premise of any controversy, before lending our support to it. Though some of us share concerns about the Doongerwadi issue, others question the basis of the angst, wondering if there is any truth to the reason for this unrest, especially since the matter has been laid to rest by none other than our highly acclaimed and respected religious scholars and priests, Vada Dasturji Firoze Kotwal (see pg. 1) and Er. Dr. Ramiyar Karanjia, who clearly state that this walk, in no way compromises any religious aspects or sentiments of the community.

So the question then remains, is this misplaced ire really about preserving the sanctity of our religion? Or are some controversies created and fuelled simply to undermine and eventually split our community’s unity? Both sides took to social media with a vengeance, resulting in an unbecoming exchange of angry, unpleasant words. Could this issue not have been discussed in a cordial manner, instead of resorting to attacking each other?

Another controversy that had its share of cold-communication was BPP’s recent decision to call it quits with its youth wing, ZYNG – unfortunate but probably oncoming, in keeping with the sense of complete disconnect between the parent body and its wing, further worsened with an allegedly brazen show of disrespect by a few senior ZYNG members. Looks like the BPP will continue organizing its youth welfare programs and engaging/motivating the youth directly for now.

And finally, the last couple of days saw our community’s uproar yet again making its way to the mainline media, over the controversial proposal to sell off a portion of the 132-year-old Parsi legacy, The Ripon Club. The Club’s EGM on Thursday saw a thumping majority vote in favour of empowering the trustees to negotiate with the landlords for a possible settlement of a 2010 suit, including surrender/sale on mutually acceptable terms, of a portion of the premises presently occupied by Ripon Club as tenants.

Whether we choose to support or oppose these concerns, the question arises, will our community learn how to resolve issues respectfully, if not amicably, behind closed doors via sensible debates and discussions? Especially, before airing contradicting views in front of the nation, and increasingly tarnishing our image as an intelligent, peace-loving and progressive community?

Wish you all a happy weekend!

 

-Anahita