Fleeing Iran from invasions and persecution, Zoroastrians, followers of Zarathushtra (about 1200 B.C.), set sail for India and arrived in Sanjan, Gujarat in 936 A.D. Legends tell us that when the local ruler sent them a jarful of milk, their leader added sugar to it conveying that the immigrants would sweeten the country with their good deeds. And over the centuries, while the peace-loving and progressive Parsis, as the Zoroastrians in India are known, retained their religious beliefs and customs, they harmoniously settled in and integrated themselves with the local culture. Through their virtues of hard work, honesty and philanthropy the small-in-numbers community contributed — and continues to contribute — exponentially to their adopted homeland.

Primarily agriculturists for several centuries after their arrival, Parsis gradually moved to other towns in Gujarat, and when Mumbai’s (formerly Bombay) potential as a harbor was being explored many Parsis moved to the islands in the 18th century, though the first Parsi Dorabji Nanabhai had arrived here about 1640. Entering commercial, industrial, and mercantile avenues, they steadily took root on the islands, and their success and growth runs parallel with that of the burgeoning city. By the beginning of the 19th century, Parsis owned ships, shipyards, shipping companies, and puffed by the winds of profit their vessels set sail to China to ply a lucrative trade in opium and cotton so much so that small pockets of Parsis emerged in ports from Aden to Hong Kong. Their assimilation of western education, culture and lifestyle brought them closer to the British than other Indians: a factor often singled out as being responsible for a relatively smoother interaction between Indian and European businessmen in Mumbai than in other cities, such as Calcutta.

Even as the Parsis actively built their trading, shipping and banking networks, they ensured their entrepreneurship was matched by philanthropy. Hospitals, institutions, schools, libraries, drinking water fountains flowered from their nurturing donations. They also established newspapers (The Bombay Samachar, Asia’s oldest newspaper was established in 1822 by a Parsi followed by others); theatres; contributed to literature and their patronage of arts is best seen in their portraits (executed by British, Chinese and Indian portrait painters) and collections of fine furniture, porcelain and textiles. Responding to the needs of the growing city Parsis stepped in to participate and lead Mumbai’s civic development and legislation, and moved on to broader issues of assisting Zoroastrians in Iran (exemplified by the tireless efforts of Manekji Limji Hataria) towards equality in society, opportunities of education and religious freedom; and joined in the country’s struggle for freedom through varied channels cut by Dadabhai Naoroji’s, D. E. Wacha’s and Pherozeshah Mehta’s faith in constitutionalism as well as the more confrontational stand taken by Madame Bhikaiji Cama, Shapurji Saklatvala and Veer Nariman.

Post-independence, Parsis have migrated from India to countries across the world, contributing to their new homelands even as they preserve their ancient beliefs and rituals as well as links with home in India. And Parsis yearning to learn more about their roots, the holy land where their prophet Zarathushtra was born and preached, can find much solace and enlightenment in “A Zoroastrian Tapestry: Art, Religion and Culture”, a compilation of thirty-nine articles by scholars and experts, edited by writers Pheroza J. Godrej and Firoza Punthakey Mistree. A lavish hardbound volume of 762 pages and over 1200 visuals (covering illustrations, photographs and maps) with detailed captions it is authoritative and interesting.

Reviewed by Brinda Gill.

NOTEBOOK: A Zoroastrian Tapestry: Art, Religion and Culture edited by
Pheroza J. Godrej and Firoza Punthakey Mistree is published by Mapin
Publishing Pvt. Ltd in India, 2002; www.mapinpub.com. It is distributed in North America by Antique Collectors’ Club, Market Street Industrial Park, Wappingers’ Fall, NY 12590. Tel: 800-252-5231; www.antiquecc.com; ISBN: 81-85822-71-9.