Parsis

The Parsis or Parsees are a Zoroastrian ethnic group living mainly in the Indian subcontinent. They are descendants of Persian people who moved to India during and after the Arab-Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century. At that time, Zoroastrians were treated unfairly by new leaders, so many chose to leave their homeland.

The word Parsi comes from the Persian language and means “Persian.” Today, Parsis live not only in India but also in countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

According to an old story called Qissa-i Sanjan, when the Parsis arrived in India, a local king worried there was no space for more people. In response, a Parsi priest showed sugar mixed in milk, symbolizing how they would blend gently into the local culture and enrich it. Over time, Parsis became well known for their roles in trade, industry, culture, and helping others. Famous Parsis include Jamsetji Tata, Freddie Mercury, Homi Bhabha, and Cyrus Poonawalla.

Definition and identity

The Parsis are a group of people in India who follow the teachings of the ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster. They are descendants of Persian Zoroastrians who moved to India to escape religious persecution after the Muslims took over Persia in the 7th century. Today, most Parsis live in Mumbai and a few other cities like Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Although they are not part of the Hindu caste system, they form a close-knit community.

The word "Parsi" means "Persians" and was not used by them to describe themselves until the 1600s. Before that, they called themselves "Zartoshti" or "Vehdin," meaning people of the good religion. The Parsis first settled on an island called Hormuz in the Persian Gulf before moving to India around the 8th or 9th century. They first lived in Diu and later moved to South Gujarat, where they stayed for many years as a small farming community.

Origin

In ancient Persia, a wise teacher named Zarathushtra taught that good and evil are two opposite forces, and everyone must choose to follow the light. The Zoroastrian holy book, called the Avesta, was written in a special language called Avestan.

The story of the Parsis' journey to India from Iran is told in a tale called the Qissa-i Sanjan. It says they fled to find religious freedom and were allowed to settle in India thanks to a kind local prince. They had to follow three rules: speak the local language, follow local marriage customs, and not carry weapons. After showing how their beliefs were similar to local traditions, they were given land to build a fire temple.

Over time, the Parsis became part of Indian society but also kept many of their own special customs and traditions. This made them unique—they are mostly Indian in language and history but still keep many distinct practices.

The question of who is considered a Parsi has been debated within the community. Most agree that a Parsi is someone directly descended from the original Persian refugees and formally admitted into the Zoroastrian religion through a special ceremony. Some have argued that only children of Parsi fathers should be allowed, but this view goes against the belief in equality and has been challenged over time.

Population

See also: List of countries by Zoroastrian population

According to the 2011 census of India, there are 57,264 Parsis in India. The National Commission for Minorities says many reasons cause the Parsi population to decline, such as fewer children and people moving to other places.

The Parsi population grew by 233 people between 2013 and 2020.

One reason for the drop in numbers is that many Parsis move to live in other countries. There are large Parsi communities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Another reason is that Parsis have fewer babies than the number of people who pass away. In 2001, over 30% of Parsis were older than 60, while only about 5% were younger than 6. This has caused concern about the future of the Parsi community in India.

Ties to modern-day Iran

Parsis have also moved back to Iran, their traditional home. Though only a small number have returned, their presence has helped connect the Zoroastrian communities in Iran and India. Parsis played an important role in helping Iran become more modern, especially in the 1900s. They reminded people in Iran of the country's ancient history. The Parsis showed that it was possible to be modern and still keep one's culture.

Leaders like Reza Shah and Muhammad Reza Shah asked Parsis to invest in Iran and help its economy grow. They welcomed Parsis back to Iran. Reza Shah even invited a Parsi leader named Dinshah Irani to visit Iran and talk about working together.

Other demographic statistics

As of 2001, there were slightly more females than males in the Parsi community. Parsis have a very high literacy rate; about 99% could read and write, which is higher than most groups in India at that time. Almost all Parsis lived in cities, unlike many people in India. The Parsi language is Gujarati. In Mumbai, where many Parsis live, some Parsi women and men choose not to marry.

In 1891, the British Census counted 89,904 Parsis in India. Most lived in Bombay, with others spread across cities like Surat, Navsari, and Karachi.

History

Arrival in the Indian subcontinent

The Parsis are a group of people who follow the Zoroastrian religion. They came from ancient Persia (now Iran) to India many centuries ago. After facing tough times in their home country, they moved to India to live peacefully and keep their beliefs alive.

According to stories passed down, the first Parsis arrived in India and were allowed to stay by a local ruler. They had to speak the local language and follow some local customs. They settled in a place called Sanjan and built a community there. Over time, more Parsis came to join them. These early settlers became known as Parsis and kept their unique traditions while also mixing in some local ways of life.

Early years

After settling in India, the Parsis faced many challenges. They had to learn new ways of living and find ways to support themselves. Over the years, they spread out to different parts of Gujarat, a region in western India. They set up schools and built places for their religious practices. They also started trading and other businesses, which helped them grow stronger as a community.

Age of opportunity

In the 1600s and 1700s, the Parsis began to take advantage of new opportunities. With the coming of the British to India, they found jobs in trading and other industries. They became known for their skills in business and education. Parsis helped build up cities like Bombay (now Mumbai) and set up many important institutions. They were also involved in charity work, helping the poor and supporting education.

Indian Air Force Service

Parsis have also played important roles in India's defense, especially in the Indian Air Force. Many Parsis have served with distinction, rising to high ranks and contributing to the country's military strength. Their cultural symbols and values have also inspired many in their service to the nation.

Change in religious education

Main article: Criticism of Zoroastrianism

In the 1860s and 1870s, a scholar named Martin Haug changed how people understood Zoroastrian writings. He used ideas from Christianity to explain the Zoroastrian beliefs, comparing certain holy beings to angels.

At that time, the Parsi community in India, which follows Zoroastrianism, faced strong criticism from Christian missionaries. These missionaries argued that Zoroastrian beliefs were not as good as Christian ones. Because Zoroastrian leaders were not available to defend their faith, Haug's new way of explaining things was very helpful and accepted by many.

Over time, Haug's ideas became widely known and accepted, even outside of India. This change helped Parsis keep their religious practices strong. Today, many people still use Haug's way of explaining Zoroastrian beliefs.

The Parsis brought their religion to India, but sometimes had trouble remembering all the teachings. This led some to travel to Iran to learn more. However, some believe that after a big change in their country, Zoroastrian teachings changed a little to be more like the new religion around them.

The main ideas in Parsi Zoroastrianism include keeping things clean, special ceremonies for children, daily prayers, visiting special temples for worship, and following good thoughts, words, and actions.

Religious practices

The Parsis follow special rules to keep things clean and pure, which they believe is very important. They have special ceremonies for children to join their religion when they are old enough to understand. These ceremonies include prayers and special clothes.

Marriage is very important to Parsis, and they have beautiful wedding ceremonies. Sadly, there are fewer women choosing to get married now because many are very educated and have good jobs.

When someone passes away, Parsis have special ways to honor them without using graves. They have ceremonies with fire and prayers, and the body is placed in a special tower where natural cleaners take care of it. Friends and family remember the person for four days and often give to charities in their name.

Parsis also have special temples where they meet and worship. Some of these temples have very special fires that are prepared for a whole year before they are lit.

Factions within the community

Until around the 12th century, all Zoroastrians used the same 365-day religious calendar. Over time, this calendar no longer matched the seasons because it did not account for the extra fraction of a day in a full year. Between 1125 and 1250, the Parsis added an extra month to fix this, but they were the only Zoroastrians to do so. This caused the Parsi calendar to differ from others by about thirty days.

In 1745, Parsis around Surat switched to a different calendar called the Kadmi calendar, believing it was more correct. In 1906, a new calendar called the Fasli calendar was introduced, which matched the seasons perfectly, but most Parsis did not accept it because it did not follow traditional Zoroastrian rules.

Because some prayers refer to specific months and times, the calendar disagreement also affected religious practices. In the 1780s, strong feelings about this led to some violent incidents.

The Ilm-e-Khshnoom is a special way of thinking about Parsi-Zoroastrian beliefs. Followers believe they follow the teachings of a hidden group called the Saheb-e-Dilan who live in the mountains. They are very private and prefer to stay separate from others, even other Parsis. Most followers live in a part of Bombay called Jogeshwari, where they have their own fire temple and community area.

Traditionally, Parsis place their deceased in special areas called Towers of Silence where birds called vultures help to clean the bodies. This is done because they believe earth, fire, and water are sacred and should not be touched by the dead. However, vulture numbers have dropped in places like Mumbai and Karachi due to changes in the environment, making this practice harder. Some places have tried using solar panels to help, but it is still challenging. Most Parsis continue this tradition, seeing it as a final act of kindness.

Archaeogenetics

Genealogical DNA tests have shown different results. Some studies say that Parsis have kept their Persian roots by not marrying people from local groups.

A study using special DNA information showed that Parsis are more similar to Iranian people than to their neighbours in South Asia. They share many genes with Iranians today, and their mixing with Indian groups happened about 1,200 years ago. Parsis are also more similar to ancient Iranians than to modern Iranians, who have mixed with people from the Near East more recently.

More recent studies looked at the DNA passed from mothers and found that Parsis share genetic lines with both Middle Eastern and South Asian people. This shows that the first Parsi families who moved to India had mothers from both regions. Other studies found that Parsis have about three parts Iranian and one part Indian in their genes. Even though they are a small group, their DNA shows a lot of variety, meaning they did not lose many genes over time.

Notable Parsi people

Main article: List of Parsi people

Parsis have made many important contributions to India despite being a small group. They are well known for their kindness and support of others. Many Parsis have become leaders in different fields such as science, business, and the arts.

Some famous Parsis include scientist Homi J. Bhabha, business leaders J. R. D. Tata and Jamsetji Tata, and writer Rohinton Mistry. They have also played important roles in India's history, with leaders like Pherozeshah Mehta helping the country gain independence.