A group of Zoroastrians embarked on a journey to India nearly 1,200 years ago. They traveled by ship after their homeland in Persia (modern-day Iran) was conquered by Islamic forces. They landed on the shores of Gujarat. They arrived in a place called Sanjan. The Hindu king gave them shelter.
Like the Jews, the Hind gave the Zoroastrians refuge and a place to live and thrive. These Zoroastrians, now known as Parsis, assimilated into Indian society like ‘sugar and milk’.
This ‘sugar and milk’ story has been a hallmark of the relationship between the Zoroastrians and India. The community is short in numbers. Despite this, it has contributed immensely to the building of a modern India. They have taken a leadership role in business and innovation, such as the Tatas.
Industrialist-philanthropist Ratan Tata always prioritized India in his ventures. This reminds one of how the country benefited from the sugar in milk. Ratan Tata passed away on October 9. He was 86.
Zoroastrianism is among the world’s oldest known monotheistic religions. The Prophet Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, founded it in ancient Persia. This occurred around the 6th century BCE.
According to tradition, Zoroaster experienced a divine revelation from Ahura Mazda, the ‘Supreme God’. Ahura Mazda introduced the concept of a single, all-powerful deity. This deity is responsible for creating and sustaining the universe.
The religion was once the dominant faith in Persia, particularly during the Achaemenid and Sassanian empires. It survived attacks from several groups, including Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE.
However, it was the Islamic invasion of 7th century CE which forced Zoroastrians to flee their land. The new Muslim rulers implemented policies that marginalised Zoroastrians, including taxation (jizya) and religious restrictions.
Qissa-i Sanjan, Zoroastrian’s oldest extant written history, describes the hardships faced by the community in Persia under Islamic rule. The poem was written in the 16th century in the Gujarati town of Navsari. A Parsi priest named Bahman Kay Qobad Sanjana authored it. The poem also tells about how Zoroastrians arrived in India.
Despite questions about its historical accuracy, the Qissa-i Sanjan remains an essential narrative. It is crucial for understanding the early history of the Zoroastrian community in India.