Largely ignored by political parties as a vote bank, the Parsi community in Jamshedpur has reserved their votes for a candidate who can bring a Central government scheme, that promises to save their community, to Jharkhand.
Launched by the previous UPA regime in 2013, Jiyo Parsi – a scheme to revive the dwindling Parsi community in the country – the Modi-led government repackaged and launched the programme with a series of ad campaigns.
Residents of the Parsi colony in Jamshedpur’s Subarnarekha Link Road said that though candidates rarely bother to visit them, they are willing to vote for the one who promises to save the dwindling community.
“I don’t want to comment on any party or leader. However, we support the Jiyo Parsi,” said Karshid S Patel, a teacher with Baug-e-Jamshed school. “It is not everyday a government pulls out a scheme for us.”
“I remember that in the 50’s, Jamshedpur had more than 1,000 Parsi families. Now, there are just 150-200 families. Most are elderly couples,” she said, adding that she was not even sure if there were Parsi families left in Patna, Bihar.
For Varun Gazder, owner of Jamshedpur’s only Parsi restaurant, the scheme itself is not enough. The scheme only addresses a miniscule of the community’s problems, he said, adding that the state government should take more steps for the welfare of the community.
The Parsi colony, which is part of the Jamshedpur West constituency, is poised for a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP in the second phase of polls in Jharkhand on December 2.
Dear Sir, the plight of the Parsees has now become a serious matter (not that it wasn’t before) but letters from Jharkand only express their plight in a gentle way & draw the attention of the community that something must be done for their survival & their descendents. A census taken every TEN years cannot give a proper number because a lot can happen in TEN years. I do not know whether the Anjumans of Madhya pradesh (EXCEPT) for Mhow have given any figures. The numbers in JABALPUR, KHANDWA, Katni, Raipur, Mhow & many other small cities have decreased considerably & it would be a very helpful exercise to get the exact figures from the secretaries or the presidents from ALL the towns where Parsees may EXIST but we know nothing about them. Having meetings, conferences, etc. held in the Metros, particularly Bombay & abroad are of little interest to people staying outside these large places where the Parsees feel secure & safe. About 50 or 60 years ago this safe feeling was existing in most of the towns where the Parsee population was satisfactory & safe. They went for Navjotes & ‘Lagans’ & Jasans in large numbers. This is not the case now because the youngsters cannot find jobs & prefer to emigrate & the older & retired generations are left ALONE to die. They are grateful even if a casual passer by raises his hand to say Hi. In the South the great majority of the population do not know who or what a Parsee is. !!!!!!!!!!!!. I don’t think we we should be referred to as the rich or well educated “PARSEES”. Those days are gone when we stood out & did a lot of charity, In certain places the Anjuman properties are not being allowed to be sold by the local authorities because there aren’t enough parsees to occupy them.(e.g.MHOW). Some years ago our late President Group captain Marker had started a campaign of “MHOW”. chalo. Nothing came of it in spite of low rents etc. A storming session to find an answer should now be organised every SIX months consisting of Only interested Parsees.