WHO ARE THE PARSEES?

この文章はムンバイで大変お世話になった「ペルヴィーズ・アゴールヴァル」さんの講演されたものです。ぺルビーズさんはムンバイのパルシー婦人会の役員をされている方で、パルシー文化の保存・紹介に力を尽くしていらっしゃいます。女性らしく、パルシー料理とか「織物」なども紹介されていて興味深い内容となっています。パルシー社会の一面を理解するために格好の文章となっています。 

(Speech delivered by Mrs. Perveez Aggarwal on Feb 02, 2005)]

Long, long, ago, about 1300 years ago, a weary group of travelers landed in Sanjan, a small port city, on the West coast of India. Three leaders amongst them were sent to approach King Jadi Rana, to ask permission to land and settle in his kingdom. When the king saw tall, fair strange foreigners, he tried to turn them away. With typical Indian politeness, he showed them a glass full to the brim with milk, to indicate that there was no place in the land. The leader of the group, sprinkled some sugar over the milk, to illustrate that the milk had been sweetened, but that it did not over flow. It also signified that his people would sweeten and enrich his land. The King welcomed them.

The group were Zoroastrian by religion were known as Parsees, because they hail from a region "Parsa" in Southern Iran.

The Parsis worship fire, as a symbol of purity and divinity. It represents that heavenly light, which dawns within man's soul, when he yields his heart and mind to God.

King Jadi Rana saw in the worship of fire, a similarity with his Hindu religion. At the King's suggestion, the Parsis adopted the manners, customs, dress and language of Gujarat. They even included verses of Sanskrit prayers in their prayer ceremonies including in Parsi wedding ceremonies.

Zoroastrians are the followers of the great Iranian prophet, Spitaman Zarathustra. Zarathushtra lived more than 3000 years ago - 1200 B.C.

Iran, at the time of Zarathushtra's birth, was a land where many pagan Gods and Godesses were being worshipped through ignorance and fear. The Zoroaster through his hymns, the Gathas, revealed to mankind that there is one, supreme all knowing eternal God - Ahura Mazda, who is wise, good and just.

For over a thousand years, from 55 BC to 651 AD, the religion flourished as the State religion of three mighty Iranian Empires ― The Achaemenians (550-330 BC), the Parthians (248 BC - 224 AD) and the Sessanians (224 AD - 65 IAD).

Like Gautam Buddha after him, Zarathushtra wanted to discover the mystery of life. Why was there death and suffering in the world? What was the origin of evil? He became filled with a deep longing for justice, for a moral law, that would allow mankind to lead a good life in peace. He turned his back on the world and retreated to live in the mountains, where he meditated for ten years, communing with nature and his inner self. He finally received enlightenment from Ahura Mazda, the wise lord above.

When he was 30 years old he descended from the mountains and preached a new way of life, which still has relevance to us thousand years later.

Zoroastrians believe in one divine power, we call Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Being. In the world there are both good and evil in almost all human situations. The Zoroastrians duty is to strive against the evil. A life of active good towards others - people, animals and nature, is the essence of his preaching. He gave us a simple creed to follow –

Humato - Good thoughts

Hukhta - Good words

Huvarshta - Good deeds.

Our religion teaches us to be happy. Because by being happy within, we project happiness and harmony in the environment. Later religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam all borrowed freely from his teachings.

Zoroastrianism propounds five fundamental principles :

1. Goodness being godliness, one must always be good and openly recounce evil, in   thought, humata, word, hukhta and deed, hvarshta.
   　

2. Unity in the midst of troubles, so that one is a peacemaker among quarrelsome people.
    

3. Freedom of faith - a licence permitted by Zoroaster. Our religion was never promulgated with the force of arms, even when Persian kings extended their empire. It appealed to one's reason and needed no force.
     

4. Self-denial is a Zoroastrian virtue, evident in the many Parsee charities. A Parsee is supposed to dedicate everything, even his body, to God, and use his gifts as a trustee here on behalf of God. Self-denial implies altruism (concern for others). 
   　

5. Absolute purity, integrity and innocence are to be cherished as essential virtues of a Zoroastrian in all his dealings with others.

The rise and spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries covered most of Middle East. The Zoroastrian Sassanians of Persia, fared extremely badly when they went to war against the Arabs and Islam was imposed upon the vanquished people. Religious persecution followed. Rather than accept conversion, they left their homes and went to the mountains of Khorasan, where they stayed until persecutions followed them. They fled to the island of Hormuz and then set sail for India in seven junks, they first landed in Diu and later decided to sail to the Western Coast of India, landing in Sanjan.

Our first contact in India, with the Western world, was in the port town of Swat, in Gujarat, where in the 15l Century, the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch had been given permission by the rulers (Mughals) to establish trading factories. Surat provided an ideal opportunity for Parsis to engage in occupations, that they had never attempted before. For example, Farmers became traders, carpenters become shin builders, etc.

The first Parsis came to Mumbai in the 17th century at the invitation of the East India Company when it was but a small group of islands set in a marshy wilderness. Since that time about 500 years ago, Parsis and the city have nurtured one another, grown together hand in hand. Parsis helped build the city - its roads, causeways, harbors, ships, institutions and charities. The city in turn rewarded them with peace and prosperity.

They helped build Bombay Port. The master ship builder Lovojee Nusserwanji built the ship "The Queen" for the East India Company. The Wadia's built the HMS Cornwallis in 1800s, it was purchased by the British Navy and used in the battle of Trafalgar. The family controlled the shipyard for over a 100 years.

Parsi entrepreneurs began springing up in all fields. They also entered new professions and were enormously successful.

As our fortunes changed, so did our names. Names that sounded strange to English ears became easier to remember. Thus some names changed to what we did, E.g. Lawyers, Doctor, Paymaster, Engineer, Banker, Confectioner, Readymoney (first to loan money to the British) are all common Parsis surnames.

By 1800 Parsis owned half of Mumbai and were even renting out their magnificent houses to the British. Sir Jamshedji Jeejabhoy's home boasted English, French and Chinese dining rooms. Legend has it that Ming Vases were used as waste paper baskets.

Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy - Starting life as a bottle-washer, Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy rose to be one of the world's richest men, establishing a trading empire. An extraordinary philanthropist, he gave away almost two-thirds of his immense wealth during his lifetime.

At sixteen he was orphaned and, with a small gift of food from a neighbor in Navsari he walked to Bombay in search of work.

There, Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy worked in his uncle's bottle business. Later, a cousin was trading between China and India and hired him as a cashier. He then went into the China trade himself, taking cotton and opium to China, returning with silks and other goods. The business continued to flourish, with Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy eventually owning a fleet of ships, trading between India, China, Siam (now Thailand), Italy and England.

Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy now started to use his wealth to help others and in 1822, the year of his eldest son's marriage, he freed all the men in a debtor's prison by paying their debts.

In 1837, a fire in Surat, on the coast of Gujarat, India, destroyed twenty thousand homes. Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy immediately sent a ship to the stricken city with a cargo of food, clothing and money. He paid for the building of many public water systems, Bombay's first hospitals, the famous Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy School of Art.

In 1850 Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy visited Navsari, where the local prince ordered that drums be beaten continuously in his honour during the time he was there. Although initially flattered, Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, soon had to send a messenger to the prince asking for the drummers to stop so that everyone could get some sleep! Before he left he found the woman who, in 16799, had given him food for his journey to Bombay, and rewarded her a thousand times over for her gift.

In 1827, he was the first Indian juror and in 1834 he became the first Indian magistrate. He also started one of the first Indian-owned newspapers, which later became the Times of India.

Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy's good works extended to Europe. He sent large sums of money to Ireland in 1822 and 1846, when the population faced starvation. He also sent money to France in 1856 when there was severe flooding.

He was an unusual man for his time, a supporter of female education and emancipation and, by introducing his wife and daughters to society, outraged many more traditional Indians who thought that women should not be seen in public.

In 1841, he became Sir Jamsetji then, in 1855, was given the Freedom of the City of London, receiving the honour in the same year as the famous explorer and missionary, David Livingstone. In 1877, Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy was made the first Indian Baronet, a hereditary knight. Two years later he died in Bombay.

The Parsees played an important role in forming the Indian National Congress which worked towards gaining Indian independence. They provided the only three Indian members of the British Parliament - Dadabhoy Naoroji, Sir M.M. Bhownagree and Mr. S Saklatvalla.

Madame Bhikaji Cama, a radical fire brand, was exiled by the British and live in France. She fought abroad, for Indians freedom. She was the first person to create and hoist the Indian National flag at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart in Germany on August 22, 1907 which was attended by nearly 1000 delegates from different countries. Her speech exposed the atrocities of the British. To raise the rebel flag in front of an international gathering required defiant, courage of a high order. This she had in ample measure.

There are scores of statues all over Mumbai of Parsi gentlemen who contributed to the city and country, Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Jamshedji Tata, Cowasajee Jehangir, Banaji Petit and what is called the "Standing Parsi" at Byculla Bridge.

Parsi leaders include –

･ Nuclear Scientists Homi Bhabha and Homi Sethna.

･ First Indian Field Marshall Sam Maneckshaw, Air Marshall Engineer and Admiral Khushedji commanding the Navy.

 ･ Cursetjee Furdumjee Parikh (1812 -1896) was a wealthy merchant, who traded with China. He built Flora Fountain, in the middle of Mumbai business district.

 ･ Sir Pherozeshah Mehta - he was the first Mayor and he had three terms as Mayor .   He was associated with all the developments that took place at that time. He is considered the father of the Bombay Municipal Corporation. He was called "The Lion of Bombay".

 ･ JRD Tata - a keen aviator was the first Indian to start a national airline (Tata Airlines) that later became Air India. The TELCO Coach Factory, in Jamshedpur, Taj Mahal Hotel, Tata Oil & Mills, Bombay Dyeing.

･ Cornelia Sorabji was the first Indian practicing women lawyer.

･ Jamshedji Madan, pioneer of the Indian film industry.

･ A Parsi syndicate created the Bombay Times in 1838 which later was re-named as the Times of India. He also gave substantial help to start the Mumbai Samachar in 1822 and the Jam-e-Jamshed press in 1829, two newspapers that exist till today.

･ Zubin Mehta, famous music conductor.

･ Our late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, husband of the now popular

   and famous Sonya Gandhi was a Parsi (Indira Gandhi's husband was a Parsi, Feroze Gandhi).

･ Editor of Times of India today is a Parsi lady - Dina Vakil.

･ Jamshedji Tata - launched steel production in India a 100 years ago. He also started the first cotton textile mills in Nagpur. The Indian Institute of Science. The Taj Mahal Hotel is also a Tata enterprise. He also started factories for producing heavy chemicals and transport vehicles. The latest venture from the House of Tatas is Indica, a passenger car indigenously produced under the present Chairman of the House of Tatas - Mr Ratan Tata


Parsi Cuisine

Parsi food has to be experienced to be appreciated It is now a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Portuguise, Dutch, French and British culinary traditions, which they experienced after landing in India.

They brought with them recipes from the original country, Iran These were influenced by their ancestors conquering vast areas of the Middle East The Persian Empire stretched from Palestine in the West to the Indus Valley in the East Contact with all these cultures gave them the impetus for the introduction of exotic dishes to what must have been simple nomadic fare.


Our religion is the only one I know of where no fasts are necessary.

It is stated in our religious book , the Vendidad, that fasting serves no good purpose at all. No one who does not eat has strength to do works of holiness, strength to do works of husbandry, strength to beget children. By eating, every material creature lives, by not eating, it dies.

While you are in Mumbai, do try to go to a Parsi Navjote or wedding. It is a splendid experience.

Let me tell you about the sit down dinner we arranged at one of the pre-wedding celebrations for our son's wedding.

Lagan-Nu-Bhonu : Wedding feasts are traditionally served on plantain leaves. Potato wafers, aachar (pickle) are served as appetizers, followed by :

Saas-ni-Machhi - Pomtret cooked in a sweet and spicy white sauce with cherry tomatoes, flavoured with sugar, green chillies, vinegar, thickened with rice flour.

Sometimes the fish dish in Patra-ni-Machhi - piece of de-boned fish covered in a spicy green coriander and coconut chutney, wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed.

Chicken or Lamb with apricots and potato crisps accompanied by mutton Pulao and masala dal (cooked lentils). Other side dishes such as Bharuchi Akuri, Kid Ghosh, lamp cooked in cashew nut gravy and coconut are also served. Laga-nu-Custard is a sweet served with the main meal, and dessert is served in the end.

There is a story how the Parsis protected their religion by their expertise in producing fine food and wine. The Portuguese Roman Catholic Missionaries were determined to convert the Parsi community living peacefully in the region of Thana until the 17th century to Christianity. They issued an ultimatum to the Parsis. Seeing that resistance would be futile, if not fatal, the elders of the Parsi community approached the Portuguese Governor, declaring their eagerness to be converted. They asked for 2-3 days during which they would worship their sacred fire one last time and celebrate their rosy future.

Pleasantly surprised the Portuguese declared that no one should interfere with their festivities. The Parsis prepared a sumptuous feast to which they invited all the important officials. Wine flowed freely accompanied by music and dancing. The Parsis took the opportunity of making their exit out of the city. They re-settled in nearby Kalyan away from Portuguese rule and preserved their religious freedom.

Textiles:

Parsis were excellent weavers who produced beautiful textiles. TUN CHOI is a fine brocade silk with floral designs woven into the fabric. During 1750 -1850 when trade with China was brisk, three Parsis brothers learnt the secret of weaving this beautiful fabric during a visit to China. The fabric is called Tun Choi - Tun means three and Choi means Chinese.

The fame of this weaving center reached Mahatma Gandhi, who admired their art, told them that when India was independence, he would invite the Joshi family to introduce this art all over India. Before he died, Joshi lived to see the Tanchoi Sari woven in centers from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari.

To conclude, we Parsees did fulfill our ancient promise to be the sugar in the milk of kindness offered to us by the Hindu King who gave us refuge. Ever loyal to the land that gave us sanctuary, we have and will continue to give our all to the country.