TO understand why Iranians are so proud of their culture and civilisation, I was repeatedly told, one must visit a few places besides Tehran, especially Shiraz, and Isfahan, regarded as the country’s most beautiful city. It would be a gross understatement to say that my visits to these were well worth the time. In Shiraz… Continue reading Roots of fear and hubris
Category: Heritage
Meet Malabar Hill’s senior-most citizen!
Trees are dust collectors, sound dampeners and homes for birds and animals… Incredible it may seem, but it’s true. In this concrete jungle of Mumbai, bang in the heart of South Mumbai, stands silent an proud, an ol’ banyan tree. And, for the very first time children from various schools gathered along with parents and… Continue reading Meet Malabar Hill’s senior-most citizen!
Let vultures live for our death: Parsis
A motley crowd of Parsis and nature-lovers listened with rapt attention as Dr RD Jakati, Chief Wildlife Warden of Haryana, spoke at length on his pet subject, vulture conservation. The topic, of course, was close to the heart of the city’s Parsi community. The “garbage man” of the skies has not been sighted in Mumbai… Continue reading Let vultures live for our death: Parsis
Lost in time
Down a narrow lane from my school was a candy shop. It was actually a general store but a range of mouth-watering chocolates and candies in colourful wrappers were displayed on the racks visible from the street — as kids we were oblivious to anything else in the shop. A Parsi gentleman, a former freedom… Continue reading Lost in time
Anglicisation Of The Parsis
by Polly Noshir Chenoy My mother’s contention is: “British gayan ne’ opre vadhare British thai gayan” (We have become more British after the British have left). This, she attributes mostly to the fact that the Parsis; especially the younger generation speak no other language except English and have no knowledge of any Indian language. But… Continue reading Anglicisation Of The Parsis
Endangered vultures put Parsis in a fix
Hundreds of vultures once circled above a sacred area in one of India’s poshest suburbs, waiting to feed on the remains of followers of an ancient religion that does not allow its dead to be buried or burned. Older members of the small-but-prominent Zoroastrian Parsi community of Mumbai say it usually took only half an… Continue reading Endangered vultures put Parsis in a fix
The secret of embroidering a Parsi ‘gara’
The secret of embroidering a Parsi ‘gara’ is now being taught to those willing to learn, as a part of a five-day workshop at Khareghat Colony Parsi gara embroidery, which is a specialty of the Parsi community has long been appreciated by the fashion industry all over the country. History suggests that this beautiful silk… Continue reading The secret of embroidering a Parsi ‘gara’
