"Peace is absence of discord or conflict and celebrating unity in the diversity of thoughts and beliefs,” says Noshir Dadrawala, chief executive officer of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy and a former trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. He was responding to Parsiana’s request for details on the panel discussion he participated in titled "Christmas: God’s message to give peace a chance” on December 17, 2023.
Noshir Dadrawala (3rd from r) with Cardinal Oswald Gracias (center) and other religious leaders
Peace is also agreeing to disagree "without behaving in a disagreeable manner and the absence of violence in thought, word and deed… (It is also) not keeping silent but speaking out in the face of injustice and attaining happiness by making others happy.”
One maintains peace "by imparting right knowledge and correct information; promoting good values, especially among our youth; building strong, open-minded and compassionate communities,” Dadrawala says. There needs to be encouragement of interfaith dialog to promote better understanding of different belief systems and "a realization that we are one earth, one big human family and have one collective future.”
Organized by The Bombay Archdiocesan Inter Religious Christmas Celebration at the Holy Name School Hall, other faiths were represented by Fr (Prof) Peter Gonsalves (Christianity), Swami Dayadhipananda (Hinduism), Dr Zahir Kazi (Islam), Brahma Kumari Anjali, Dr Surinder Kaur (Sikhism), Dr Bhadant Rahul Bodhi Mahathero (Buddhism) and Swami Devendra Brahmachari (Jainism).
A note from Archbishop House stated that Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, inaugurated the Christmas crib by placing the statue of Baby Jesus in the manger. The choir of St Michael’s Church brought in Christmas joy, with The Story of Christmas presented by the students of Gloria Convent High School. The note summed up that "all the panelists said God wants all of us to give peace a chance!”