By a most auspicious and rare conjunction of the stars, Parsiana’s December 7-20, 2023 issue has become a prized, collectors’ number. It has letters to the editor by the only two people on earth (readers, sharp intake of breath to accompany an amazed expression, please) who spell their names correctly — Nawshir. What an amazing coincidence!
The other Nawshir, a Khurody, is my first cousin, once removed. And in it there lies a tale: at birth I was named Rustom, according to the stars. But nobody seems to have asked my father, Hoshang, about it. He did not like the name. So, when my mother, Jer, came home from her parents’ home after the customary 40 days of seclusion, he promptly renamed me — no, not Noshir — but Nawshir. He liked the way my mother’s cousin, the aforementioned Khurody, who was then a young lad, spelt it. Of course, it has often been mangled into Naushir, Nowshir and the common Noshir. Call center agents struggle to say it right.
Why anyone would wish his name to start with the negative adverb "no” beats me. The name is a corruption of anushang rawan (immortal soul), not of "no rawan” (Toba! Toba!) So, all you Noshirs out there, change how you spell your names, but not to the way we two Nawshirs do. Unless, of course, you pay us a royalty for its every use.
Wishing all you common Noshirs, Naushirs, Nowshirs, Noushirs, etc and the only true Nawshir a very happy and laughter filled 2024.
NAWSHIR MIRZA
nhm@nawshirmirza.com
The editors note:
The Parsiana Book of Iranian Names lists only "Noshirwan: Having an immortal soul; the famous Sasanian king.”
Plate depicting the Sasanian king Khosrow I traditionally known by his epithet of Anushirvan.
He was the Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 531 to 579 Source: Wikipedia