via email from Maneck Bhujwala distributed to a newsgroup. Mahatma Gandhi had great respect for all communities and religions, including that of the Parsi Zarthushtis. Some examples that come to mind are: * In chapter 11 “Tolerance, i.e. Equality of Religions”, of his book (originally written in Gujarati) translated by Valji Govindji Desai into english,… Continue reading Mahatma Gandhi’s Respect for the Parsis
Category: History
The Parsis of South Bombay
By Aakar Patel No Indian community internalised the civilising mission of the British as did the Parsis. Only 50,000 remain, mainly in South Bombay, the most disciplined and cultured part of India. In South Bombay, the cutting of lanes by drivers is punished, jumping a red light is impossible, parking is possible only in allotted… Continue reading The Parsis of South Bombay
The journey of the holy fire
India’s western coastline boasts of vast stretches of untouched beaches dotted with gently swaying palm and coconut trees. It is also home to several imposing forts that have been witness to several invasions and migrations over the years. The pastOne of the most fascinating tales of immigrations is that of the Parsis, who came to… Continue reading The journey of the holy fire
Satara Agiary: The tale of a fire temple and two families
The agiary may not attract many devotees, but those that come are full of faith SATARA: Situated in the heart of the district town of Satara, some 300 km from Mumbai, stands a grand old Parsi fire temple. The holy fire especially brought by sea from Iran in 1901 remains lit round the clock, the… Continue reading Satara Agiary: The tale of a fire temple and two families
Iran: A Call to the Emperor
Recently we linked to a National Geographic article on Persia. Here is a further analysis of the same by regular Parsi Khabar reader Zubin Wadia National Geographic (awesome photos) ran a story on Iran and focused on the country’s legacy, people & culture. The Iranian people are fiercely independent thinkers, and place a serious premium… Continue reading Iran: A Call to the Emperor
The Harbour That Gave the Name ‘Bombay’ to Mumbai
Mumbai harbour has been the gateway to the world for commerce and travel since the British took control of the island city from the Portuguese in 1660s. However, the group of seven islands acquired the name ‘Bombay’ from the Portuguese, the first Europeans to set their foot on these islands. In 1508, the Portuguese explorer… Continue reading The Harbour That Gave the Name ‘Bombay’ to Mumbai
Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran
The August 2008 issue of the National Geographic has “Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran” as its cover story. I just finished reading the printed issue. The photographs as usual are fantastic. The stories are very interesting in a very non-political way and brings out the remnant traces of the glory that was Persia. If you… Continue reading Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran
The Last Parsis: Tales of Survival and Extinction
Kaevan Umrigar, a filmmaker, and good friend of Parsi Khabar runs his own blog. His latest article in on Uran Next on my itinerary was Mora Bunder at Uran, a small fishing village across the harbour from Bombay. The agiary wasn’t far from the jetty, and as I walked towards it I saw a couple… Continue reading The Last Parsis: Tales of Survival and Extinction
Shahnameh: The Great Poem That Came Out of Persia
By ROYA HAKAKIAN My earliest memories of the Shahnameh, the greatest work ever written in the Persian language, belong to my childhood in Iran. I and other girls in my elementary school recited verses of the epic poem, rounding out our chests and puffing our cheeks in our best effort to strike the pose of… Continue reading Shahnameh: The Great Poem That Came Out of Persia
