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Around 25 to 30 members of the Parsi community were among the myriad guests who attended the unveiling of a gleaming bronze statue of Prophet Zarathushtra at Poona’s iconic World Peace Dome on October 2, 2024 at the MIT World Peace University campus. The date was significant for two reasons: firstly, because it marked the birth anniversaries of two apostles of peace — Mahatma Gandhi and the erstwhile Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri — and also because it preceded the 10th World Parliament of Science, Religion and Philosophy being held at the same venue from October 3 to 5. 

The force behind the installation of the statue was Dr Meher Master-Moos, president of the Sanjan based Zoroastrian College. She presented a large Asho Farohar to Dr Vishwanath Karad who set up MIT in 1983 with the emphasis on imparting holistic education to students and encouraging youth to think about the benefits of peace. 

  as Sir Cowasji Jehangir (9th from l), mobeds and MIT  World Peace University officials look on

Seated in the two front rows were the chief guest Sir Cowasji Jehangir, chairman of Poona’s Jehangir Hospital, his wife Lady Jasmine Jehangir, Mehernavaz Vakil, trustee of the Sardar Sorabji Patel Agiary, Thrity Poonawalla, managing director of the Dorabjee’s chain of supermarkets, amongst others. The statue was unveiled under a shower of rose petals and the blowing of silver conches with Ervads Arzan Keki Khambatta, Arzan Minoo Khambatta, Hoshedar Randelia and Ardaviraf Sinor performing the Tandarosti (blessings) prayer.

Speaker after speaker extolled the teachings of Zarathushtra. Cowasji praised the University for its profound faith in all religions and its acceptance of differing philosophies and beliefs of spiritual role models and gurus. Referring to it as "a temple of everlasting harmony of all religions,” he added "may it continue for eternity.” 

Master-Moos thanked Karad for installing the statue, "so that our Prophet’s message would go out from this Dome to the world.” She presented Karad a small electric afarganyu to place in front of the Prophet’s statue and keep it lit "so his light can shine forth always.” 

Karad pointed out that the world peace monument is dedicated to the public and intended to be a center of wisdom, knowledge dissemination and social transformation. He added that the Parsis are role models and Zarathushtra’s message of good thoughts, good words and good deeds can show the way to the world. Commenting on the current conflicts raging in various parts of the world, he remarked that "violence will never succeed.” Prominently displayed on the stage was a quotation from Swami Vivekananda, a monk, philosopher, author and religious teacher, which read: "The union of science and religion/spirituality alone will bring harmony and peace to mankind.” It was a telling reminder that saints, religious leaders, philosophers and scientists have all had similar thoughts and beliefs. Their paths may have been different, but the ultimate goals have been the same — to make the world a better place. 

The World Peace Dome holds pride of place on the MIT campus, spread over 65 acres, where peace studies form a major part of its unique pedagogy. The 160 ft in diameter and 96 ft tall Dome is currently said to be the world’s largest, standing atop a palatial building that houses the World Peace Prayer Hall and Library. The sprawling indoor area — spread over 20,000 sq ft with a seating capacity of 3,000 — is open to all and is dedicated to promoting world peace. 

"Placing of the statue at the Dome was an extremely good recognition given to our community. It has nothing to do with idol worshipping. The hall also contains statues of philosophers and scientists alongside those of spiritual leaders,” stated Arzan Khambatta, responding to criticism that the statue installation amounted to "idol worship.”

During last year’s Peace, Science and Spirituality Conference held at the University, Master-Moos pointed out to Karad that there was not even a painting of Prophet Zarathushtra in this pantheon of greats. Karad immediately set out to rectify this omission, leading to the life-size statue of the Prophet being unveiled in the grand hall under the Dome. A statue of Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar who visited India in the 7th century AD, was also unveiled at the same event. 

The University has succeeded in establishing a culture of peace and sustainable development which are at the heart of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s mandate. Karad has made it his life’s mission to promote peace and humanitarian understanding and to live up to the Vedic principle of "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (the world is one family).”