One of the Asian Art Museum’s newest acquisitions is a solid-silver muktad bowl, a gift from the Zoroastrian Association of Northern California and several private donors. By Sunita Sohrabji | India West The rare, 5-lb. bowl, circa 1890, depicts scenes from Zoroastrian mythology, including an image of Darius standing with his foot on a defeated… Continue reading Asian Art Museum Acquires Rare Zoroastrian Bowl
Category: History
The Parsis, Once India’s Curators, Now Shrug as History Rots
In the course of over one year of archival research in India, I have been heartened to see how, in a few institutions like the National Archives, the country’s rotting history now has a fighting chance of survival. However, I have been deeply dismayed by one observation: the inability of my own community, the Parsis,… Continue reading The Parsis, Once India’s Curators, Now Shrug as History Rots
Remembering Parsi greats on Navroze
Today Parsi’s celebrate Jamshedi Nauroze and will engage in celebrations, largely featuring good food and drink. They are possibly the smallest but most visible Indian minority. You will find a Parsi in every nook and corner of the world. This community has many luminaries, the “firsts” in diverse professions, and it is not possible to… Continue reading Remembering Parsi greats on Navroze
2600 years of history in one object: The Cyrus Cylinder
A clay cylinder covered in Akkadian cuneiform script, damaged and broken, the Cyrus Cylinder is a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and multi-culturalism. In this enthralling talk Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, traces 2600 years of Middle Eastern history through this single object. The Cyrus Cylinder Link via @ZoroastrianZen
The curious case of vanishing Parsis in Hubli-Dharwad
A greatly civilised clan, which has made valuable contributions to the socio-economic growth of the twin cities, has seen such a sharp drop in its population that demographic experts fear the culturally rich heritage of the community would be wiped out if the decline is not arrested. By Raju S Vijapur | Deccan Herald There… Continue reading The curious case of vanishing Parsis in Hubli-Dharwad
A look at Mumbai’s dwindling Irani chai shops
UPDATE: Link to the documentary mentioned in this article is here. A lot can happen over chai. Once over 300 Irani tea-shops in Mumbai were as intrinsic to the city as streetside cafes are to Paris. During the 1950s-60s, the unfussy restaurants-cum-stores flourished, attracting a regular clientele of senior citizens, office-goers, campus students, writers and… Continue reading A look at Mumbai’s dwindling Irani chai shops
From Persia to Bangalore
Dinshaw Cawasji, President of The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman narrates the history of Parsees; how they took refuge in a small coastal town in Gujarat after agreeing to several conditions laid down by the then Maharaja of Sanjan. By Sudha Narasimhachar | Citizen Matters In the mid-eighties when I used to travel on Bellary Road… Continue reading From Persia to Bangalore
