Readers' Forum
Marshalls of Calicut
The southern edition of The Indian Express carried an article titled "The Marshalls keep the Parsi Flame Alive in Kozhikode.” Reading it brought about a mixed reaction, of both sadness and pride, because the Marshalls are the only Parsis left in Calicut (now Kozhikode).
At one time, our community there had seen a lot of jhou jhalali (pomp and splendor), but as the 80-year-old patriarch Darius Marshall says, "Most of the Parsis left this place in search of greener pastures… Nowadays our people in Bombay and in other cities hesitate to shift to Kozhikode.” Marshall is a multifaceted character with a wide range of interests from holding senior office in the Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, Boat Club, a regular snooker player, a personality development trainer of corporate executives and college students in the niceties of the English language and owner of a flourishing automobile workshop called Autto Motto. He is still an active gold/silver medalist at the national level in veterans shooting event. A ‘Malayali Parsi,’ he is fluent in Malayalam. He is also the president of the Parsi Anjuman there, which is anything but defunct.
Calicut has a large property housing an aramgah (burial ground) and a prayer hall (which Marshall insists on calling a fire temple). Every week without fail the family [Darius, his wife Katy, son Zubin and wife Jasmine (née Hakim), and younger son Farzan] visit the fire temple and light sandalwood and loban on the afarganyu. Having failed to secure the service of a priest, this job is done by the family. There have been times when Katy has performed the paidust prayers for deceased members of the community. I recall that on one visit to Calicut Darius said, "Come join me and I will introduce you to the sleeping Parsis under my care” and took us around the tombs relating anecdotes such as: "This is Cooverji, one of the heroes of those times. This is Mugasett who set up a coir factory. This one here let’s skip, as he and I did not get along well ever!”
Darius runs his workshop somewhat autocratically, a trait of a self made man who would love to delegate but hates to do so! His sons, knowing their father well, are doing a good job and as Darius is often away due to his varied interests, Zubin and Farzan are now coming into their own.
The Marshalls are pucca Parsi Bawas who still maintain the old time charm while moving with the changing times. The Parsis in Bombay should take a cue from such persons and resurrect the pioneering spirit for which the community was known.
At one time, our community there had seen a lot of jhou jhalali (pomp and splendor), but as the 80-year-old patriarch Darius Marshall says, "Most of the Parsis left this place in search of greener pastures… Nowadays our people in Bombay and in other cities hesitate to shift to Kozhikode.” Marshall is a multifaceted character with a wide range of interests from holding senior office in the Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, Boat Club, a regular snooker player, a personality development trainer of corporate executives and college students in the niceties of the English language and owner of a flourishing automobile workshop called Autto Motto. He is still an active gold/silver medalist at the national level in veterans shooting event. A ‘Malayali Parsi,’ he is fluent in Malayalam. He is also the president of the Parsi Anjuman there, which is anything but defunct.
Calicut has a large property housing an aramgah (burial ground) and a prayer hall (which Marshall insists on calling a fire temple). Every week without fail the family [Darius, his wife Katy, son Zubin and wife Jasmine (née Hakim), and younger son Farzan] visit the fire temple and light sandalwood and loban on the afarganyu. Having failed to secure the service of a priest, this job is done by the family. There have been times when Katy has performed the paidust prayers for deceased members of the community. I recall that on one visit to Calicut Darius said, "Come join me and I will introduce you to the sleeping Parsis under my care” and took us around the tombs relating anecdotes such as: "This is Cooverji, one of the heroes of those times. This is Mugasett who set up a coir factory. This one here let’s skip, as he and I did not get along well ever!”
Darius runs his workshop somewhat autocratically, a trait of a self made man who would love to delegate but hates to do so! His sons, knowing their father well, are doing a good job and as Darius is often away due to his varied interests, Zubin and Farzan are now coming into their own.
The Marshalls are pucca Parsi Bawas who still maintain the old time charm while moving with the changing times. The Parsis in Bombay should take a cue from such persons and resurrect the pioneering spirit for which the community was known.
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