I was sad to learn of the passing away of Xerxes Desai ("Timekeeper of the nation,” In Memoriam, Parsiana, August 7, 2016). I came to admire Desai (pictured) while working with him in Tata Chemicals before I left for USA in 1965. He was every bit what his associates described him to be — I witnessed it all early on in his career.
He and his wife Rajani prompted me to write a sociological outline of the very unique native population, as this had not been done thitherto, and published it in the company’s magazine, which I hold as a tribute to his sagacity. In him, I saw genuine Zoroastrian traits, though on the grounds of principle he chose not to attend Zoroastrian functions probably in order to retain his neutrality. But I found him to be a truer Zoroastrian than many. Nay, even better than that, as "he believed the Zoroastrian religion should have pervaded the world as it was a very peaceful religion,” per his illustrious sister, Dr Armaity Desai.
As noted by Prof Max Muller, if King Xerxes had conquered Greece (which he did, but briefly), Zoroastrianism would have "easily superseded the Olympian fables” and indeed become a world religion. Rest in peace, Xerxes.
KERSEY ANTIA
Chicago, USA
kerseyantia@yahoo.com