Inspired by Iran

Iran — Tracing Footprints Through Time… by Natasha Deboo. Published in 2010 by the author, e-mail: natashadeboo@hotmail.com The book is available on sale at the Union Press, 13, Homji Street, Fort, Bombay 400001. Pp: 86. Price: Rs 150.

Zoroastrians of all ages are attracted to Iran, and often this attraction turns to a passionate bond of a life-time. Of late, going to Iran has captured the collective consciousness of our community, with around 100 people going every year since the past almost 15 years.

Young Natasha Deboo, by her own admission, fell in love with Iran when she went there for the first time. The bond strengthened with time and the place beckoned her a second time and the fruit of her love is this book, Iran — Tracing Footprints Through Time...

Deboo was fortunate to get guidance from Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Noshir Dadrawala who was one of the first pilgrims to go to Iran in an organized tour. Touched by the glory and greatness of his spiritual motherland, he penned a stirring travelog on Iran. That Deboo has used this book as her guidepost is evident in her style, layout as well as quotes from it. She was also fortunate that she could travel with the SVG Group headed by her grandfather Coover Mehta. Moreover, as she recounts in the book, she had the company of seven youthful friends to make her pilgrimage more delightful. The World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) too supported her venture.

Natasha Deboo: enchanted by the motherland

The book would appeal to the youth. There is awe, exuberance, youthful personal inputs and innocence reflected on every page of the book. The joy, the bonhomie and the gaiety that the youths shared can be experienced by the reader.

The publication is peppered with historical details as well as the stories and folklores associated with the different places that most pilgrims visit. This includes the majestic Mount Demavand, the breathtaking Caspian Sea, the awe-inspiring Persepolis, the piety enhancing fires and fire-temples, the monolithic Bisutun along with a large part of the text of Darius’ inscription there, the patriotic fervor enhancing martyrdom sites of the royals at the Pirs of Yazd. Her words beautifully bring alive the magnificence of Taq-e-Bos­tan, Naqsh-i-Rustom and Naqsh-i-Rajab all replete with the history of Achemenian and Sasanian times. The author’s vivid narration of the museums, the places and the crown jewels gives one the feeling of almost having been there.

The well-rounded information from geographical, historical, traditional, scriptural as well as spiritual angle with long-established anecdotes, is superbly complemented by the accounts of her personal experiences. The sentiments expressed by the author in her prologue sums up her view: "The charm that Iran exudes overwhelms your spirit, and you come back a spiritually and culturally transformed person.”

Embellished with a message from Dinshaw K. Tamboly, chairman of the WZO Trust and a foreword by former Justice Sam N. Variava, the book reads like a diary and a travelogue and serves as an album.

The photographs add a special dimension to this 86-page book, printed on fine glossy paper. They are not just about places and monuments, they are also about people and their bondings. They make the book come alive and visually transport the reader into the wonderland of Iran.

ERVAD (DR) RAMIYAR P. KARANJIA