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Parsis

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A Parsi is:

  • A person from Pars (the middle-Persian word for Fars) in Iran, the original homeland of the Persian people. The word Persia itself derives from Persis, the Greek form of Pars.
  • A member of the close-knit Zoroastrian community from or in India, and are descendants of people who, in the 8th century, emigrated to India from Persia to escape religious persecution. Indian census data (2001) records 69,601 Parsis in India, with a concentration in and around the city of Bombay. There are 5,000 Parsis in Pakistan. The number of Parsis worldwide is estimated to be less than 100,000.

See also the article Persian language where "Parsi" is:

  • The Persian language term for the Persian language itself.
  • The Persian language term for a speaker of the Persian language.

"Parsee" is the British colonial English spelling for "Parsi".

Ethnic origins of the Parsis of India

Although the Parsis of India originally emigrated from from Pars, they no longer have social or familial ties to Persians. Whether Parsis are Persians is a matter of dispute (the two terms are certainly not equivalent or interchangeable). It is however generally accepted that the Parsis are decended from Proto-Indo-Iranian (Aryans) societies which precede both Vedic and Iranian cultures. Contemporary anthropology holds that the Parsis of India are descendants of the Magi (see also: The Maga in India).

 
Parsis in traditional dress

In the 1200 years since the first Zoroastrian emigrants arrived in India, the Parsis have integrated themselves in the tapestry of that which is called "Indian", while simultaneously maintaining their own customs and traditions (and thus identity), to which they feel bound by the promises rendered in the 8th century in exchange for asylum. This in turn has given the Parsi community a rather peculiar standing - they are Indians in terms of national affiliation (and as as the number of notable Parsis in the Indian Independence Movement attests), but non-Indians in terms of race, ethnicity, traditions and customs.

Definition of Parsi in the context of the Zoroastrian community in India

The definition of who (and who is not) a Parsi is is a matter of great contention within the Zoroastrian community in India.

Generally accepted to be a Parsi is a person who a) is directly descended from the original Persian emigrants; and b) has a Parsi father and c) has been formally admitted into the religion. However, many mobeds (priests) will not perform the Navjote ceremony (i.e. the rites of admission into the religion) for children from mixed-marriages (ie, when the father is a Parsi, but the mother is not).

(Descendants of) Emmigrants from Persia/Iran - irrespective of whether they are Zoroastrian or not - that are not Parsis are generally called Iranis. Irani is however also a Parsi surname.

The legal definition of a Parsi is based on a 1909 ruling (33 ILR 509 and 11Bom. L.R. 85) by Justices Dinshaw Davar and Frank Beamon. The 1909 ruling not only stipulated that a person could not become a Parsi by converting to the Zoroastrian faith (which was the case in question), it also stated that "the Parsi community consists of: (a) Parsis who are descended from the original Persian emigrants and who are born of both Zoroastrian parents and who profess the Zoroastrian religion; (b) the Iranis from Persia professing the Zoroastrian religion; (c) the children of Parsi fathers by alien mothers who have been duly and properly admitted into the religion."

In 1948, Justice Coyaji, as presiding judge of the Parsi Matrimonial Court, upheld an Irani Zoroastrians' contention that Iranis professing the Zoroastrian religion are not Parsis (and therefore, not governed by the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act). This contention was again upheld in appeal by Justices Chagla and Gajendragadkar [(1950) 52 B.L.R. 876]. Referring to the passage from the 1909 ruling (quoted above), Justice Chagla noted that "[The] observation of Sir Dinshaw Davar, undoubtedly a very great authority on Parsi law, is an obiter because the question he and Mr. Beamon had to consider in that case was whether by conversion to the Zoroastrian faith, a person could become a Parsi.", and as such was only a collateral opinion, and not legally binding. In 1966, Justice Mody affirmed the 1948 ruling and concurred that the 1909 statement had been an obiter [(1966) 68 B.L.R. 794]: "Now so far as that part of the Judgement is concerned, Chagla C.J. has pointed out that it was obiter....."'

History of Parsis in India

  • Arrival of Maga priests in India, possibly during Kushana dynasty
  • Arrival of Parsis in India from Khorasan
  • Settlement of Sanjan
  • Establishement of Panthaks in 1290 AD.
  • Sacred fire Iranshah moved to Navsari, 1419 AD.
  • Emergence as international traders
  • Intervention on behalf of local Zoroastrians in Iran, 1857-1882
  • Discovery of Zoroastrian texts by western scholars in late 19th century
  • Migrations to the western world

Prominent Parsis in Science and Industry

founder-director of the Investment Corporation of India; first Indian chairman of the Bank of India and the New India Assurance Company

Prominent Parsis in the Arts

Prominent Parsis in Law, Government and the Indian Nationalist Movement

Prominent Parsi families in India

Prominent Parsi families in other parts of the world

See also

Parsis with Wikipedia articles

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