Aug 17, 2017, 04.08 PM IST
Parsi community in India
Navroz, the beginning of the Parsi New Year, falls today. It is celebrated for health, wealth, prosperity and productivity. Parsis are a very prominent community in India despite their small number.
They have made a mark in diverse fields. Scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha was a pioneer in atomic research. JRD Tata was a legendary businessman.
Sam Manekshaw was India's first field Marshal. Parsi community is known for contributing greatly to Indian business. As it celebrates its new year today, let's have a look at some of the interesting facts about the community:
They have made a mark in diverse fields. Scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha was a pioneer in atomic research. JRD Tata was a legendary businessman.
Sam Manekshaw was India's first field Marshal. Parsi community is known for contributing greatly to Indian business. As it celebrates its new year today, let's have a look at some of the interesting facts about the community:
BCCL
Saving a community The government-supported Jiyo Parsi Scheme was launched on September 24, 2013. It is unique programme aimed at arresting the decline in population of the Parsi community in India.
Vultures feast on dead bodies Parsis don't cremate or bury corpses but leave them for vultures to feed on at a place called Tower of Silence. After 1990, when there was a decline in the number of vultures, many began using electric crematorium.
Male-female ratio Parsis have more females compared to males in their community—1,050 females per 1,000 males, much higher than India’s average of 933 females, according to the 2001 Census.
Language and religion Parsis are commonly seen speaking either Gujarati or English. But their native language is Avestan. Zoroastrianism was founded by Prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran about 3,500 years ago.The Avesta is the primary collection of religious texts of Zoroastrianism.
Dwindling numbers
Demographic trends project that by 2020, there will be only 23,000 Parsis left in the country which will take away their community tag and label them as tribals.
BCCL
200 years of struggle Parsis rebelled against Arab invaders for 200 years in Iran, which was their home country. This period is known as the Period of Silence.To preserve their cultural and regional identity, they escaped Iran and sought refuge in India in seventh century.
Most literate communityAccording to the 2001 census, the Parsi community has the highest literacy rate in the country. Perhaps that's why it has been so successful.
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