Category: Opinion

A ‘half-Parsi’ explains why Parsis must end their insistence on only marrying within the community and open the doors of their religion to the rest of the world. Born a little over a hundred years ago in Uttar Pradesh, my grandmother was both a devout and a highly-liberal Parsi; she wrote books on Zoroastrianism for children and railed… Continue reading Parsis May Want to Look to the New Pune Fire Temple to Keep the Flame Burning

The court is showing that it is all too eager to meddle in the affairs of religions. Article written by Dinsha Mistree | Indian Express While many voice concern over Narendra Modi and the Hindu Right, it is ironically the SC that seems keen to interfere with religious practice. My Parsi-Zoroastrian ancestors came to India… Continue reading Who is a Zoroastrian?

Navsari, once a sleepy town with magnificent buildings, sprawling lawns and wide roads but is fast turning into a ghetto Kersi K Deboo’s eyes light up when he starts talking about the Parsi connection of Navsari, a small city located 37 km south of India’s textile capital, Surat. “Navsari is the Mecca of Parsis. It… Continue reading Dwindling population in Navsari, Mecca of Parsis

“You knew what you were getting into.” “A child inherits his father’s name and religion, not his mother’s.” “Women with non-Parsi spouses will have their kids navjoted only to avail of housing and monetary benefits from our wealthy community trusts.” “Our religion does not allow intermarriage or conversion.” Article by Sanaya Dalal | NDTV “Recognising… Continue reading Sanaya Dalal: A Parsi Woman’s Perspective On Being Denied Basic Rights

In his words: “I am just a professional writer, which means I don’t do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write.” The Parsis gathered in numbers at this well as it is regarded by some as sacred and reputed to make wishes come true. Article by Farrukh Dhondy | Asian Age Mumbai… Continue reading Farrukh Dhondy: An open letter to my fellow Parsis

Debates over the Uniform Civil Code usually zero in on one kind of personal law: Muslim matrimonial law. What gets less airtime is Parsi matrimonial law. We assume that it lacks the gender asymmetries of Muslim personal law. There is a long history of Parsis being held up as a model minority, by implied contrast… Continue reading Many think Parsis are a model minority. Are they?

When I read ‘This is how USA treats Indian Military Veterans’ by Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi in the May 2017 issue of “Fauji India”, I could not help but write about the experiences of my husband and I over the last 20+ years. Article by Zenobia Panthaki It was the 28th of May, 2008  We… Continue reading Honour or Undermine: Your Choice

As a little girl in Iran, I loved Nowruz, the first day of spring, known as the Persian New Year. It was the only time when grown-ups seemed joyful and full of hope. Even my most morose relatives somehow came to life, revealing a sunnier side of themselves kept dormant during the rest of the… Continue reading An Iranian Holiday That’s Perfect for Americans

Dr. Roshni Rustomji-Kerns, a renowned author, was nine years old in 1947. She lived in a building full of diverse tenants, in a Parsi family that espoused the ideals of acceptance, integration and justice. Her teachers at school were Satyagrahis, who supported the nationalists’ demand for independence from the British. In the context of these… Continue reading Dr. Roshni Rustomji and the Diversity of Karachi