As Parsiana prepares to draw the curtain on its remarkable 61-year journey, I write with deep gratitude, admiration and sadness. For over six decades, it has been more than just a journal — it has been a lifeline, mirror and gathering space for Zoroastrians worldwide.
You have chronicled our community’s triumphs and trials with grace, courage and clarity. You gave voice to the Zoroastrians’ diverse beliefs, practices and aspirations across continents. You challenged us to think, question, celebrate, and at times re-examine ourselves — all in the service of a faith and community you clearly cherished.
Your team’s dedication, editorial integrity and sense of responsibility have left an imprint that will outlive the final issue. Parsiana told our story in many ways — not as a monolith, but as a living, breathing, evolving people.
Thank you for the decades of hard work, quiet sacrifice and unwavering commitment. You connected a global diaspora; we are better informed, more connected and forever grateful because of you. ABAN RUSTOMJI
Houston, Texas, USA
aban@coatingindustries.com
The editors reply:
It was our privilege to cover such a vibrant and resilient Zoroastrian community.
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We read with dismay of your decision to discontinue the publication of Parsiana magazine, which has been an important resource for the community since the 1970s. Regardless of our differences, Khojeste and I extend our sympathy, as the cessation of a community magazine such as Parsiana will indeed represent a memory loss for the community.
Notwithstanding our religious and political views, we lament the loss of a community institution. Apart from the controversial issues covered, Parsiana has carried articles about the diaspora, the historical Parsi trade in China, the Everlasting Flame exhibition in 2013 and 2016, and the reopening of the F. D. Alpaiwalla Museum, which we have enjoyed reading over the years.
Reflecting on the past four decades, and Parsiana’s relationship with us, the formation not so much of Zoroastrian Studies in 1978, but the Athravan Educational Trust, the cosmopolitan fire temple, the cosmopolitan world body, the birth of the World Alliance of Parsi Zarthoshtis, the cremate ni bungli and renegade priests cases and before that the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India and the egregious issue of women married out, kept us at variance, constantly battling for the minds and souls of the community. While we rue the fact that our individual support for the traditional or liberal causes left each of us scarred in more ways than one, especially the grueling socioreligious issues and the exhausting court cases, yet it had to be done, or we would not have been true to our own self or our convictions and commitments.
We appreciate the efforts made by you and your team of bringing out Parsiana year in and year out and we wish you and your team well. May the approaching New Year bring goodness, peace and wisdom to the community.
FIROZA PUNTHAKEY-MISTREE
KHOJESTE MISTREE
fpunthakeymistree@gmail.com
The editors reply:
We enjoyed the spirited and good-natured sparring. It was a time when people still felt strongly about issues and voiced their views. Now there is resignation and the community’s depleted energies are directed more to survival and holding on to what we have.
• • •
We shed a tear upon learning that you are shutting down. Having grown up reading Parsiana, we always looked forward to it for an overview on all that is happening in our minuscule community around the world.
We have had differences of views over some matters and agreed completely on others. But, it was the differences in views that bound us together, like all good Parsis.
Your note on closing down reminded us that money cannot solve everything. We are a dying community and your winding down is a mere reflection of what nearly every great community institution faces.
But you will leave with your heads up, to many accolades. With warm memories of a past well documented. We do hope you can find a way to keep the online archives running. Farewell, with a very heavy heart filled with gratitude for an exceptional magazine. ZORU BHATHENA
zoru@hotmail.com
The editors reply:
We will definitely strive to keep the archives accessible to the public. The chronicles are a slice of our community’s history and heritage.