Indians first?

Two differing points of view on whether Parsis are Indians first and then members of the community or they are first Parsi-Zarthoshtis and secondly Indians, were put forth at the 157th birth anniversary function of Sir Hormusji Cowasjee Dinshaw (Adenwalla) on April 4, 2013.
When the Bombay Parsee Association (BPA) president Vispi Dastur who organizes the garlanding function of the statue at Veer Nariman Road each year spoke of Dinshaw’s great achievements, he attributed Dinshaw’s business acumen and philanthropic outlook to his being first an Indian and then a Parsi.

Statue of Sir Hormusji Cowasjee Dinshaw

Notable Parsis at the garlanding

Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Khojeste Mistree countered Dastur’s assumption claiming that Dinshaw’s value system, foresight and charity had its roots in his Parsi Zarthoshti ethos. His deeds were a result of his Parsi roots rather than Indian. (Indian being a nationality, Zoroastrian being a religion and Parsi being an ethnicity the question of which comes first is redundant. The three are different and congruent attributes — editors).
Around 40 people gathered at the statue at 9 a.m. to pay homage to the man and his family who had made their fortune in Aden and built/supported religious, social and philanthropic institutions/trusts.
Adi Mehta, a former resident of Aden and president of FOZAWAC (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture), recalled his days in the one-time British seaport. Cmde Aspi Marker (Retd) spoke and also distributed snack boxes to those present.
Garlands were laid on behalf of the BPA, the Iran League, the Cowasji Dinshaw Trust, The World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis, the Navsari Parsee Association and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay, noted the BPA press release.