Baroda’s Parsi ‘colonists’

A so far unknown fact about the Parsis of Baroda was revealed in The Times of India, Baroda edition, dated May 24, 2008 in which it was reported that "Vadodara Parsis planned own US colony… documents dispel notions that community was cosy under British rule…”

It seems that some time in 1876 "Parsis from Baroda had made a bid to migrate to the US as a community, due to British discrimination against them.” Roos-tumjee Mherwanji, Sorabjee Muncherjee Master and Eduljee Jamshedjee Nehory had written "many enterprising and intelligent Parsis are desirous of migrating to the New World (America) and establish themselves as colonists.” Their intention was to invest in huge tracts of land to cultivate and create a colony. Unfortunately, the then US consular official Benjamin Farnham declined their offer, terming it vague!

Professor Tripathy, ex-faculty IIM-A (Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad) and president of the Indian History Congress, says, "perhaps this is the only attempt ever made by Indians to emigrate in a group, to form a settlement of their own in the New World.” I feel the desire to go to the US of A has still not abated and, given the first opportunity the mummas of dikras would be overjoyed to see their children settled there.

When will we ever get back the old pioneering spirit of Parsis to help India become a global power? This can only happen if Parsis think of Bombay less and of India more. Our first step would be to look for new pastures in far-flung places in India and establish ourselves in such a way that the Parsi entrepreneur is resurrected from the debris of sluggishness and mediocrity. Alongside the Tatas and Godrejs there should be some other delightful names like Bachana, Marshall, Jokhi, and yes why not, even Hakim!

RODA D. HAKIM

Baroda

vadhakim@yahoo.com