Current Issue - Observation

The preservation of culture is an ongoing process that requires not only committed individuals and institutions, but also platforms that give voice and visibility to these efforts. It is the vision, dedication and active research of Parsiana that have been at the heart of the Zoroastrian community’s cultural renaissance worldwide. Since 1964, Parsiana has been the chronicler of the community in India and abroad. Without Parsiana, Parzor’s journey over the past 25 years would not have been enriched by such excellent reporting and commentary. In this spirit, the Parzor Foundation extends sincere gratitude to Parsiana magazine for its unwavering support and consistent coverage.

Then managing editor Arnavaz Mama was crisp and professional when she first interviewed me about the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Parzor Project. The editorial team evidently found merit in her article, as it led to a path-breaking publication of the entire Oral Traditions Questionnaire — a foundational step in our research on community memory, rituals and practices. This generous gesture of a center spread not only validated our early efforts but also ensured that the global Parsi community became partners in our research and revival.

In 2001, when actress and activist Shabana Azmi launched the exhibition "Pictures with a Purpose” documenting Parzor’s visual journey of Parsi cultural life and practices across India, Parsiana’s spotlight ensured greater outreach. Through the magazine’s support, visual storytelling became central to our methodology, even drawing donations from within India and abroad.

The 3000th Anniversary of Zoroastrian Culture, celebrated under UNESCO’s aegis at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Bombay, was a milestone that Parsiana supported throughout. The magazine provided in-depth coverage of the seminars, exhibitions and the honoring of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in front of his community. In addition to reporting, Parsiana conveyed the historical significance of the event to thousands of readers. It also published the findings of the Reet Rivaj (Oral Traditions) Questionnaire by Prof Rumy Mistry, deepening community engagement in oral history. During the same event, the release of the Dadabhai Naoroji commemorative coin received editorial attention, emphasizing how public commemorations can revive historical memory. This was more than symbolic; it reminded us of the community’s legacy in shaping modern India.

In 2004, when the spotlight turned to archival preservation with Parzor’s work at the Meherjirana Library in Navsari, Parsiana’s reportage helped galvanize support. The First Dastoor Meherjirana Library, founded in 1872 and housing rare manuscripts and texts, gained international scholarly attention thanks to this coverage. It ultimately made possible the 2013 conference "Celebrating a Treasure: 140 Years at the First Dastoor Meherjirana Library,” where the chief guest was celebrated author Dr Amitav Ghosh. The cover story featured the release of Gift to a Magus: Indo-Iranian Studies Honouring Firoze Kotwal, edited by Jamsheed K. Choksy and Jennifer Dubeansky.  

Parzor’s research into Parsi textiles and embroidery, showcased during the NCPA Textile Conference and Exhibition (2005) and in workshops supported by the Ministry of Textiles under the Languishing Crafts Revival Scheme, was also documented by Parsiana with striking photographs. These visual narratives helped trace the historical evolution of Parsi embroidery.

Two individuals, Manekshaw and India’s first woman photojournalist Homai Vyarawalla, whose achievements were captured in Parzor’s films and publications, became the subjects of Parsiana’s cover stories. The first marked Manekshaw’s 90th birthday, celebrating both personal excellence and community pride. The second featured India in Focus: Camera Chronicles of Homai Vyarawalla, authored by Sabeena Gadihoke, a Parzor publication that brought the photographer back into public memory.

In 2009, Parsiana commemorated the international recognition of Jamshedi Navroz as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Simultaneously, it reported in-depth on the demographic challenges facing the community, through its coverage of the TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)-Parzor Demographic Studies, titled "A Journey of Discovery: I to V.” Over the years, Parsiana has consistently served as a bridge between scholarship and community engagement, ensuring that those bridges remain open and inclusive.

In later years, the Jiyo Parsi program — an ambitious government-supported initiative to address demographic decline — received significant coverage. Parsiana played a vital role in expanding its impact through sustained editorial support and wide circulation of the advertisement campaign, making it one of Parzor’s most visible and effective projects.

In 2016, Parsiana published an eye-catching cover story by Parinaz Gandhi with photographs by Jasmine Driver on "The Everlasting Flame” international exhibition — the largest ever celebration of Zoroastrian heritage globally. The article on the international conference "Zoroastrianism in the New Millennium — Emperors, epics, excavations,” brought alive the perspectives of scholars from around the world. Parsiana once again ensured that these intellectual contributions reached the wider community. 

By 2022, the article in the Zoroastrians Abroad column, "A stronger sense of us” documented the opening of Parzor’s first permanent research display at the Zoroastrian House in Singapore. Parsiana’s global coverage has become the strongest link between East and West. Each World Zoroastrian Congress, diaspora event, book publication, birth and obituary has been recorded for posterity in Parsiana’s pages.

In 2024, under the Scholarship section, one of Farrokh Jijina’s final articles, "Synergistic Studies,” detailed the academic collaboration between Parzor and TISS. This online course explores Zoroastrian culture, history, oral traditions, demography, and languages — Avesta, Middle and New Persian and Parsi Gujarati. That same year, Parsiana reached out to Parzor for its Welfare section to highlight "Seniors’ serious concerns,” addressing the psychological and social needs of the elderly — a demographic deeply impacted by the pandemic and often overlooked.

Most recently, in its July 21-August 6, 2025 issue, Parsiana honored the Sethna, Shroff and Bilimoria families on its cover, marking the launch of At Home in the Capital: The Parsis of Delhi by Rukshana Shroff. It feels a fitting tribute to conclude this affectionate relationship that has blossomed over decades. 

For over 60 years, Parsiana has not merely reported events — it has nurtured dialog, sustained collective memory and championed cultural revival. The Parzor Foundation is deeply grateful for this enduring partnership. As we look ahead to new chapters of preservation, innovation and education, we remain guided and inspired by Parsiana’s editorial integrity and steadfast commitment to the Zoroastrian community.