Noted calligrapher Perin Pudumjee Coyaji participated in a group exhibition at the Jehangir Art Gallery titled AksharBharati which showcased old scripts of India in contemporary calligraphy. The exhibition, organized by calligrapher Achyut Palav, was inaugurated on January 28, 2025 by the chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.
The selected calligraphers presented Brahmi, Siddham, Jaini, Modi and Devanagiri scripts, including the largely unknown Avestan script in which much of the ancient Zoroastrian scriptures were written, notes an email from Coyaji. The exhibition attracted massive footfalls, facilitated by the then concurrent Kala Ghoda festival.
Devendra Fadnavis at exhibition, with calligrapher Perin Pudumjee Coyaji
Coyaji’s works on display included From Persia, With Prayer: a set of large frames with the five kusti prayers written against architectural motifs from Persepolis/Pasargadae. Shower of Grace had the auspicious number of 21 small frames, each with a name of Ahura Mazda, suspended as a veritable shower of blessings for the home. Weaving His Will was a woven tapestry banner depicting Ahunem Vairim, in collaboration with one of her twin sons, Atash, a recent textile design graduate, now pursuing his Master’s at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Perin also exhibited two of the set of five large 4ft x 6ft canvas banners showcasing The 1001 Names of Ahura Mazda first shown at the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce global conclave in Poona in 2024.
A totally new category of door torans/garlands which could be used as wall hangings as well, titled Dwaar Dua (Doorway Benedictions), was introduced. These designs were developed over many months and painted in dull gold and copper. Another project was a huge book in A2 size in which everything was written by hand. Titled Avesta: What was not known till then…, it chronicles the story of the sixth century script in a simple, evocative manner. Dedicated to the priests and scribes of yore who toiled to preserve the script, Perin worked at re-creating manuscripts and includes a sentimental sheet of parchment paper made at the paper mill started by her Pudumjee forefathers.
Fadnavis released AksharBharati, a book compiled by Perin’s master, Palav around 1996, which showcases many scripts of India and includes the Avestan script. S. V.