Latest news with #Zoroastrian
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
How community journals are soldering on against winds of change
MUMBAI: In a city where identities jostle as tightly as commuters on a local train, Mumbai's regional, community-based publications continue to thrive—quiet sentinels of memory, language and belonging. While 'Parsiana', the polished SoBo journal of Zoroastrian life, is perhaps the most well-known with its global readership, it is within the pages of the less celebrated but equally vibrant Marathi, Gujarati and Konkani periodicals that the city's diverse inner lives find an expression. While Urdu journal 'Shayar' folded up after a 93-year run in 2023, 'Kalnirnay' stands out as a rare success. Consider 'Marmik', the Marathi weekly founded in 1960 by Bal Thackeray. Initially conceived as a political cartoon magazine, it quickly transformed into a platform for Marathi pride and grievance—what the late Sena supremo described as 'anxieties of a community pushed to the margins of its own city'. It eventually galvanised a linguistic identity into a political force, showing the mettle of regional publications. But beyond political assertion lies a quieter world of Marathi magazines and journals. 'Society newsletters, temple magazines and monthly cultural journals continue to hum gently,' says Dr Vidyesh Kulkarni, a Pune-based scholar who chronicled these for his doctoral thesis in 1991. He points to titles such as 'Sahyadri', 'Antarpat' and 'Deepstambh', which offer poetry, short fiction, essays on saints and rituals, and commentary on theatre and literature. 'Produced by cultural mandals, these magazines circulate through homes, temples and libraries—carrying the scent of agarbatti and old paper. They are cultural bridges between generations.' However, Kulkarni notes a growing fragmentation. 'There's a tendency I call 'sociocultural meiosis and mitosis' — where every sub-group within a community demands its own platform. In the age of WhatsApp and social media, this proliferation is becoming unsustainable.' Among Marathi publications, 'Kalnirnay' stands out as a rare success. For 53 years, it has had a pan-Maharashtra presence. 'It began as a way to democratise the panchang, but quickly became more than an almanac,' says Shakti Salgaonkar, the current director. 'The back pages featured writers like Durgabai Bhagwat and P L Deshpande. We've included recipes, lifestyle columns, even train timetables.' So deeply woven is 'Kalnirnay' into the Maharashtrian ethos that its jingle is played on the shehnai at weddings and naming ceremonies. Mumbai's Gujarati-speaking communities offer a similarly layered ecosystem. 'Kutchi Patrika', a newsletter for the Kutchi Jain community, has run for over 60 years. 'It's our mainstay for news, obituaries and event updates,' says Kanji Savla Vamik, part of the team that produces and distributes it. 'It's particularly vital to the Kutchi Visa Oswal Jain community, whose ties stretch across the world.' Religious institutions also publish journals — 'Anand Yatra', 'Shree Yamuna Krupa', 'Vallabh Ashray'—distributing discourses, festival calendars, and moral reflections. 'We tried to keep the younger generation connected,' says Hemal Rawani, who edited 'Raghuvansham' till it shut in 2005. 'But it's a losing battle—they don't even want to learn the language.' His lament finds an echo in Hamid Siddiqui who recalls with anguish the folding up of the Urdu 'Shayar' after a 93-year inning. 'Despite being a top-notch literary publication, it was becoming increasingly unsustainable to produce and we had to stop in 2023,' he says, recounting how his family still 'has sack-loads of the mail' from the readers. 'I wonder why none of them came forward to keep 'Shayar' going…' Among Mumbai's Konkani-speaking communities—Catholics, Goud Saraswat Brahmins, and others—journals have long served as spiritual and cultural anchors. Weekly 'Raknno', printed in Roman-script Konkani since 1938 and distributed from Mangalore to Mumbai, blends religious reflection, fiction and news, often touching on migration, memory, and the sea. Closer home, 'Voice of GSB', a monthly GSB Konkani magazine, features articles on festivals, recipes, wedding traditions and proverbs. What binds these publications—across language, caste, and faith—is their intimacy. They are not driven by TRPs or algorithms. Their contributors are often retired teachers, community elders or enthusiastic youth. Their pages, modest in print and design, pulse with lived experience. 'They are guardians of language in a city where English and Hindi often drown out the subtler cadences of mother tongues,' says Dr Kulkarni. 'In their pages, Marathi, Gujarati and Konkani breathe—not as relics, but as living entities that argue, console and dream.' To read them is to walk the bylanes of Matunga, Dadar, Girgaon and Mahim, listening in on the inner life of communities that built this city long before it reached for the skies.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Poona Parsee Panchayat seeks minority status for Parsi students in admission forms
Pune: The Poona Parsee Panchayat on July 22 made a formal appeal to educational authorities, requesting the explicit inclusion of the Zoroastrian-Parsi community under the minority category in admission forms and policies across institutions. In an official letter to director of medical education and chairperson of National Commission for Minorities, advocate Marazban Irani raised concerns that despite being recognised as a minority community by the Government of India, the Zoroastrian community is often not listed in minority options during the admission process. A man touches the wall of a Parsi fire temple featuring huge carvings of ancient priests on the occasion of the Persian New Year in Mumbai, India, March 21, 2019. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY (REUTERS) The letter highlights that Zoroastrians, though one of the smallest religious communities in the country, continue to face exclusion in institutional minority listings. This oversight, the Panchayat argues, affects the community's representation and access to educational benefits and reserved quotas, especially in competitive institutions. Chairman of Poona Parsee Panchayat, advocate Marazban Irani, said 'It has been observed that in several educational institutions and admission processes, the Zoroastrian community is not specifically included under the minority category for consideration in reserved seats or other minority-related benefits. This omission affects the educational opportunities and representation of the community.' A Parsi doctor from Pune, requesting anonymity, said that though the Supreme Court recognises Parsis as a minority community alongside Buddhists, Jains, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, they are often not included in the minority category in admission forms and portals. 'Our appeal is simply to ensure that Zoroastrians are explicitly listed, so that students from our small community can access the rightful benefits extended to minorities,' he said. The Panchayat urged authorities to correct this exclusion by ensuring Zoroastrians are explicitly included in all relevant admission-related documentation and systems. This, they said, would enable members of the community to avail the rightful benefits entitled to minorities under constitutional provisions.
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan's Parsi community dwindles
The front elevation of the Mama Parsi Girls High School, which has the bust of Ardeshir Hormushji Mama, its Zoroastrian founder, engraved on its facade, in Karachi. Photo: AFP From a gated community for her Zoroastrian faith in Karachi, 22-year-old Elisha Amra has waved goodbye to many friends migrating abroad as the ancient Parsi community dwindles. Soon the film student hopes to join them — becoming one more loss to Pakistan's ageing Zoroastrian Parsi people, a community who trace their roots back to Persian refugees from Iran more than a millennium ago. "My plan is to go abroad," Amra said, adding that she wants to study for a master's degree in a country without the restrictions of a conservative Muslim-majority society. "I want to be able to freely express myself," she added. Zoroastrianism, founded by the Zarathustra, was predominant religion of the ancient Persian empire, until the rise of Islam in the seventh century. In Pakistan, once the Parsi community had as many as 15,000-20,000 people but now the number is 900 people in Karachi and a few dozen more elsewhere. Amra acknowledges her life is more comfortable than many in Pakistanthe Parsis are in general an affluent and highly educated community. But she says she wants to escape the daily challenges that beset the city of some 20 million people — from power cuts, water shortages to violent street crime. Zubin Patel, 27, a Parsi working in e-commerce in Karachi, has seen more than two dozen Parsi friends leave Karachi for abroad in the past three years. "More than 20-25 of my friends were living in Karachi, they all started migrating", he said. That is not unique to Parsis — many young and skilled Pakistanis want to find jobs abroad to escape a country wracked with political uncertainty and security challenges, a struggling economy and woeful infrastructure. The number of highly skilled Pakistanis who left for jobs abroad more than doubled according to the latest figures from the Pakistan Economic Survey — from 20,865 in 2022, to 45,687 in 2023. Parsis are struggling to adjust in a fast-changing world. "There is a better chance to find a Zoroastrian partner in Canada, Australia, UK and America than in Pakistan," said Dinshaw Behram Avari, 57, the head of one of the most prominent Parsi families. Avari, who heads a chain of hotels, points out that Parsi population of Toronto is some 10 times greater than Karachi. He said that a wave of Parsis left Pakistan during the hardline military rule of Ziaul Haq in the 1980s. Since then, violence has targeted religious minorities, and while Parsis say they have not been targeted, they remain wary. Avari suggested the community's high levels of education and Western outlook to life meant many eyed a future abroad, while for those who do stay, family size is shrinking. "Couples are more interested today in looking after their career; they are not interested in family," he said. "When they do get married, they will have one child — and one child is not enough to make a positive impact on the population." Parsi members were among the pioneers of the shipping and hospitality industries in Karachi, and the city's colonial-era historic district is dotted with Parsi buildings including hospitals and schools. But as the community declines, many buildings have crumbled. For many among the younger generation, the only pull left keeping them in Pakistan is their ageing relatives. Patel said that he would leave if he could. "It would be a difficult decision," he said. "But if I have an opportunity which would give my parents ... a healthy lifestyle, then I'd obviously go for it".
Shafaq News
04-07-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Ancient rites revealed: Sasanian burial chambers found in Iraq's al-Anbar
Shafaq News - Al-Anbar On Friday, archaeologists confirmed that a site long rumored to be a 'sunken kingdom' on Anah Island in Iraq's al-Anbar province is, in fact, a collection of Sasanian-era burial chambers. Director of Anbar Antiquities Ammar Ali stated that the rock-cut structures, carved into limestone cliffs along the Euphrates, were used for funerals during the 2nd century BCE and early CE periods. The dead were positioned seated and facing the sun, consistent with Zoroastrian customs of the time. Ali dismissed local legends claiming the area was once a kingdom, prison, or ruled by a mysterious queen. 'There is no historical or archaeological basis for these stories." He explained that similar grave designs appear in other regional sites such as the Maghawir Majoul caves, indicating a widespread burial method during the Sasanian period. The site, known informally as Talbas, was likely a minor outpost used during conflict or isolation, not a major city. The burial cavities are located beyond the old settlement's boundaries. Much of the structure has deteriorated due to rising water levels and limestone erosion, erasing significant portions and leaving behind only a few identifiable segments.
Newsweek
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iranians Put Faith in Diplomacy. Israel and Trump Shattered Their Hopes
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Every night for the last week, my family in Tehran wakes up to the Earth shaking as missiles strike and children scream. When the bombs go silent, they hear drones buzzing—a constant reminder they're being watched by the foreign army assaulting their city. Last week, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran. Over 600 people have died, the majority civilians, including entire families killed while asleep. It has bombed Iran's state TV live on air, killing at least one journalist. Israeli bombs have hit hospitals and ambulances, killing paramedics. Medical facilities are overflowing with the injured. Smoke rises from the state media building targeted by Israel in the north of Tehran, Iran, on June 18, 2025, as the military confrontation between Iran and Israel escalates. Smoke rises from the state media building targeted by Israel in the north of Tehran, Iran, on June 18, 2025, as the military confrontation between Iran and Israel escalates. NIKAN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Israel says it targets military bases and nuclear sites. But its bombs have struck homes across the country. President Donald Trump said Tehran should evacuate—a threat to the entire civilian population. Tehran is a vast city of 10 million people. In June, the flowers are in bloom and the rivers overflow with glacier water. Mountain hiking paths fill with people. Tehran is also a diverse city. I lived near a church, close to a synagogue and Zoroastrian temple. There are Sunni and Shiite Muslims, atheists and Baha'is, Afghan and Iraqi refugees. Today everyone in Tehran is experiencing terror. Israel gives evacuation orders, like in Gaza and Lebanon. But it's impossible for everyone to leave. Many orders go out at night, when Iranians are asleep. Israel has hit fuel depots, causing gasoline shortages. On Monday, Israel told residents of District 3 to leave—300,000 people live there, including my family. They have nowhere to go. Many of my friends have also stayed to take care of elderly relatives. Those who can say goodbye to their homes, unsure if or when they'll return. They fear being bombed on the road, just like people killed in Gaza and Lebanon, or by Israeli bombs in Tehran. Just last week, my family was planning for summer holidays. My cousins wanted to rent a cabin near the beaches of the Caspian Sea. Instead, they are praying bombs don't kill them in their sleep. It didn't have to be this way. Last week, Iran and the United States were in the middle of negotiations. They'd spent months working out a deal. They already made a deal once before: the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement led to joyful celebrations in Tehran. I'll never forget the optimism among friends and family. Both the U.S. and Iran held up their end of the bargain. Until Trump came to power and quit the deal in 2018. Former President Joe Biden campaigned on returning to the deal. But when he became president, he broke his promise. Instead, the U.S. continued crippling sanctions on Iran. They have been devastating for civilians. The currency has lost most of its value. Medicines have become hard to find, leading to preventable deaths. Ironically, sanctions strengthened the regime by encouraging smuggling, concentrating wealth among oligarchs. Sanctions did succeed in one thing: crushing ordinary Iranians. They weakened civil society, small businesses, and academic and cultural associations. For decades, Iranians have organized, protested, and rebelled for greater freedom. They have also advocated for better relations with the U.S. But America's betrayal of the deal—and its support for Israel's surprise attack—has undermined peace-loving Iranians. Every time Trump goes back on his word, it's a message Americans can't be trusted. Iranians have many reasons not to trust America, like the 1953 CIA coup that overthrew their democratically-elected government and put the tyrannical Shah back in power. Or U.S. support for Saddam Hussein when he used chemical weapons against Iranians. But Iranians kept fighting for diplomacy. They elected a president who promised to make it happen. When Trump said he wanted a deal, Iranians believed him. When he said he'd avoid a new Middle East war, they cheered. Instead, Trump secretly sent Israel missiles. Israel says it attacked because Iran is building a nuclear bomb. But U.S. intelligence has repeatedly shown this is false. Ironically, it is Israel that has an estimated 90 undeclared nuclear bombs, hidden from international inspectors. And it is Israel that commits what law experts argue is genocide in Palestine and war crimes in Lebanon. The U.S. not only failed to stop Israel—it keeps sending billions in military aid. Iranians feel betrayed by Americans—and terrified by the reckless warmongering of our allies. If Trump is concerned about Iran getting a nuclear bomb, then he should study history: diplomacy works. War is not the answer. The JCPOA is proof that Iran will uphold its end of a deal. Now Americans must prove that we, too, believe in peace, not war. The U.S. needs to end the flow of arms and sanction Israel, stop the war, and return to negotiations. If we don't want another generation around the world to grow up hating America, we must embrace peace. Let's show Iranians that Americans can be trusted. Alex Shams is an anthropologist with a PhD from the University of Chicago whose work focuses on Middle East politics. He previously worked as a journalist based in the West Bank. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
