Shrinking in Solapur

"About 35 years ago Solapur could boast about 100 Zoroastrian families with a total population of about 800…At present there are about 20 odd families and the population of Parsis has dwindled down to hardly 80,” writes Solapur resident Vishtashp Munshi. With the close down of four major textile mills, Parsis reportedly started migrating to Bombay, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, etc. Those employed with the Central Railway continued to stay on in Solapur until the turn of the century when the last of the Parsis employed as drivers or guards retired from service.

Although delighted that the Solapur Parsi Anjuman is now represented at the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, he feels that instead of a Bombay resident like Anahita Desai speaking for them, Solapur "should be represented by a person” from the area.

Among the community assets in Solapur which have been in existence for over a century is the Dar-e-Meher built in 1843 by the late Vicajee Meherji of Hyderabad, a dharamshala built by Hormazdji Dorabji Cama of Bombay in 1889 and a dakhma erected by Faramji Dinshawji Petit in 1900. With the extinction of vultures, the dakhma has now been converted into an aramgah. Their multipurpose hall used for social and cultural activities within the community and the Mazada shopping center generate income to maintain the community assets including the Nanabhoy Boyce Charity Blocks. The Solapur Parsi Anjuman was registered in 1953, writes Munshi.