Historical research along with personal reminiscences and photographs capture the legacy
of a pioneering community
"I realized there were just a handful of people among the Parsis of Delhi who had lived here for the past three or four generations and consequently had a sense of the history of the community. There was an urgent need to document their stories before it was too late,” stated academician Dr Rukshana Shroff at the launch of her book, At Home in the Capital: The Parsis of Delhi by Lord Karan Bilimoria on April 6, 2025 at the Delhi Parsi Anjuman’s (DPA) Bhiwandiwalla Hall. "The book details personal stories, lively anecdotes and photographs, and captures the legacy of pioneering Parsis who have helped shape the capital’s institutions, from early settlers to the present generation,” notes the author’s grandniece Zara Shroff in a write-up on the launch.
At the book launch, from l, Dr Cyrus Shroff, Shireen Sethna Baria (rear), Paulomi Shah,
Dr Niloufer Shroff, Rukshana Shroff, Dr Noshir Shroff, Lord Karan Bilimoria and Dr Shernaz Cama
Navroz celebration in 1928
Photo courtesy: Rusi Sorabji
Adil Nargolwala, DPA trustee, welcomed a gathering of over 200 people after which children of the Farohar group sang the Gujarati monajat Ashem Chhé Ashoi and explained its meaning in English.
The author recalled how challenging but rewarding the research for the book had been and fondly remembered the fascinating stories she had heard and the people she had met along the journey. She expressed immense gratitude to the people who eagerly shared anecdotes and prized photographs without hesitation, noted Zara.
This was followed by a witty and amusing address by Kasturi Kanthan, former professor of English at Lady Shri Ram College, a close confidante of the author.
Lord Bilimoria, who was introduced by Rukshana’s sister Prof (Dr) Shernaz Cama, praised the book as a labor of love and declared it "a masterpiece, worthy of a doctorate in itself.” He spoke with pride about the lasting contributions of Delhi’s Parsis to the capital’s development and their importance in history, and reminisced about his childhood spent with his cousins, the author and her sisters, noted the write-up.
Invitees enjoyed an array of traditional Parsi snacks including kheema samosas, patrel and cheese batasas.
The book is available online at https://delhiparsis.com/thebook/