Making news in Nagpur

The Parsis of Nagpur were pleasantly surprised when they opened the morning edition of The Hitavada (voice of conscience), the oldest English language daily of central India, on August 19, 2008. For, in the left hand column of the front page was the greeting wishing its "readers, advertisers and well-wishers on the occasion of the Parsi New Year.” That was not all. Both The Hitavada and the Nagpur edition of The Times of India, a relative newcomer on the scene, carried full pages in color on the eminent Parsis of Nagpur, both past and present, the history of the community in the region, their contribution to industry, education and the social scene of the city along with an account of the endlessly repeated story of "sugar in the milk” without which it seems that no account about the Parsis is complete.

This surge of interest in this microscopic community — just 500 people in the city’s population of 25 lakhs — was unprecedented. Was the community being appreciated for its intrinsic worth or was there a sense of urgency to capture its every comment and contribution before the Parsis died out? The Parsi citizens of Nagpur puzzled about this conundrum but reveled in the media attention. Devotees who visited the Bai Hirabai Nosherwanji Mancherji Mulla Dar-e-Meher on the New Year morning were blinded by photographers’ flashbulbs and faced crouching television cameramen from the gate of the agiary right up to the sign on the steps that warns non-Parsis not to enter. Questions, both relevant and not-so-relevant, were asked and answers from the faithful ranged from erudite effusions to quotes from the Shahnameh. Naturally, the most spouted introduction to the community was: "The late great Jamsetji Tata and apro Ratan are also Zoroastrians.”

How is the Zoroastrian community addressing the grave problem of dwindling numbers? "The Parsis are a loved and respected community of India. What would Bombay be without the ubiquitous bawaji and his hilarious Hindi?” one reporter queried. To this, Edul Bhagwagar, past president of the Nagpur and Kamthi Parsi Anjuman responded: "Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions of the world. While a change in the mindset is definitely needed, it will take time. Thousand-year-old traditions cannot be eroded in 10 years. But if we are to survive as a religion, change is inevitable and will definitely come.” Dilnavaz E. Bhagwagar