9 Pioneering Ways Parsis have Shaped Modern Bharat ( India )

9 Pioneering Ways Parsis have Shaped Modern Bharat ( India )

 Persian language literally means – Persian.   But wait, isn’t the language Persian Farsi?  Sure it is, but it wasn’t so to begin with.  This distorted name of the language Farsi is the gift of the Arabs.  The Arabic language lacks the P / G / Zh / Ch sounds, so the Arab invaders of Persia couldn’t pronounce Parsi.  Hence, they bastardized it to Farsi!

Similarly, Babak Khorramdin‘s first name, originally Papak (Papa + Kuchak = Papak), “Young Father”, became Babak.
Parsis, thankfully, since they fled when the Arabs invaded Persia and so, were not influenced by the limitations of Arabic, still remain Parsi – the original Persians.

Parsis are Zoroastrians who follow the ancient religion of Zarathustra.  There was a time when Zarathustraism was the official state religion of  Achaemenid Empire, Parthian and Sasanian empires.  In fact, Hinnel says in The Penguin Dictionary of Religion that Zarathustraism influenced subsequent religious orders of  Second Temple Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity and even Islam, its ultimate destroyer in Persia.

9 Pioneering Ways in which Parsis have Shaped Modern India

The main scripture for Zoroastrians is Avesta, which comprises Yasna, which has Five Gathas.  The scriptural text survives from a master copy which was produced during Sassaian era.  Texts prior to that aren’t available any more.  The legend however says that there were twenty-one nasks “books” of the Avesta, which were created by Ahura Mazda and then brought by Zoroaster to his patron Vishtaspa.

Parsis are supposed to have come to India primarily in the 8th and the 10th century due to persecution by the Arab invaders, where they were either killed or converted to Islam.  They first settled in Kathiawar in Gujarat and then moved south.  A French monk named Jordanus has mentioned their presence in Thane (in Mumbai Metropolitan area) and Bharuch in south Gujarat as far back as 1322.

Parsee Wedding in 1905 / Source
Despite being just 0.02% of the Indian population, the Parsi community has contributed immensely to Modern India.  In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Parsis have been primary in building Modern India the way it is today.  Parsis have been the most pioneering community in the country.

1First Indian movement for self governance:
Dadabhai Naoroji, also known as the Grand Old Man of India, was educated in the Elphinstone School in Mumbai.  He was a British Member of Parliament from 1892 through 1895 representing Finsbury Central.  He created the East India Association which preceded the Indian National Congress to put the Indian viewpoint across in Britain.  Although started by the members of the Theosophical Society in 1885, the first President of the Indian National Congress was Dadabhai Naoroji.  Dadabhai Naoroji was a pioneer in many ways and in 1901 he wrote a seminal book – Poverty and un-British Rule – which focused on the drain of wealth from India into England through colonial rule.  He was admired by both Gandhi and Tilak.  Through his giant influence, Dadabhai shaped the very thought of governance, democracy and self rule in India.
2) Lowji Nusserwanji Wadia –
 the creator of Bombay: In 1736, Wadia was invited to Bombay by the East India Company officials, who very impressed with his work in their Surat dockyard.  He came to Bombay with ten of his carpenters, to build the Bombay shipyard.  This shipyard over the years made Bombay the city it became.


3First Steel Plant and First institute for fundamental research in science: In 1893, Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata set sail to US.  Earlier when he was in London to get Steel technology to put up a steel mill in India, the British had mocked him saying “If Indians can make steel, then we will eat it”.  He was now on a mission to get India’s first Steel Plant technology from the US.  On that ship, there was another traveler – Swami Vivekananda.  Swami Vivekananda was going for the World Parliament of Religions.  He met Jamsetji on the ship to discuss his mission in the US – the Steel plant.  Swamiji suggested to JN Tata that there were two parts to the Steel Plant know-how: One, steel science and the other is manufacturing technology.  The latter, he said you will get from the US, but you should also make sure India of tomorrow has the former.  With that pearl of wisdom, the visionary in Jamsetji came up with the idea of a scientific institute of fundamental research – which is currently known as Indian Institute of Science.  And, he beckoned Swami Vivekananda to set up the IISc at that time, which Swamiji politely refused because he wanted a scientist to lead it.  Here is the letter from Jamsetji.
Dear Swami Vivekananda ,

I trust, you remember me as a fellow -traveller on your voyage from Japan to Chicago. I very much recall at this moment your views on the growth of the ascetic spirit in India, and the duty, not of destroying, but of diverting it into useful channels.

I recall these ideas in connection with my scheme of Research Institute of Science for India, of which you have doubtless heard or read. It seems to me that no better use can be made of the ascetic spirit than the establishment of monasteries or residential halls for men dominated by this spirit, where they should live with ordinary decency, and devote their lives to the cultivation of sciences – natural and humanistic. I am of opinion that, if such a crusade in favour of an asceticism of this kind were undertaken by a competent leader, it would greatly help asceticism, science, and the good name of our common country; and I know not who would make a more fitting general of such a campaign than Vivekananda. Do you think you would care to apply yourself to the mission of galvanazing into life our traditions in this respect? Perhaps you had better begin with a fiery pamphlet rousing our people in this matter. I should cheerfully defray all the expenses of publication.

23rd November 1898
Jamshedji N Tata’
And thus started two of India’s greatest institutions – the First Steel Plant and the first Institute for fundamental research in science!

4 ) Pioneers of Indian Nuclear Program: Homi Jehangir Bhabha is known as the “Father of Indian Nuclear Program”.  He was the  founding director of two well-known research institutions, namely the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment, now known as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
Homi Nusserwanji Sethna was also another Parsi luminary in the Nuclear science field.  He was the guiding force behind India’s first Atomic test in Pokhran in 1974.  He was also the  Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.

5 ) First Cotton Mill:  The first cotton textile mill was established in Bombay  in 1854 by a Parsi cotton merchant, Kavasji Nanbhai Davar, then engaged in overseas and internal trade. Indeed, the vast majority of the early mills were the handiwork of Parsi merchants engaged in yarn and cloth trade at home and Chinese and African market.  Kavasji’s first mill Bombay Weaving and Spinning Company was set up as a Joint Stock firm with 100 shares owned by fellow Parsis.  Other pioneering Parsis in setting up the cotton mills were Byramjee Jejeebhoy, Mancherji Naoroji Banaji, the Camas and the Wadias. (Source: Mumbai Fables by Gyan Prakash)
Parsis-1st cotton mill

6) First Indian Theatre and shaping musical Bollywood: India’s first real theatre was set up in Bombay by the Parsees or Parsis.  It (the drama company) was called Parsee Natak Mandali and was established in 1853. Faramjee G. Dalal was the proprietor and the first drama staged at the Grant Road Theatre was “Rustom and Sohrab”. Also performed along with it was a farce “Dhanji Garak”.  Thereafter twenty more Parsi drama companies were formed, giving a further momentum to the theatre activity. The Natak “Uttejak Mandali” staged 1100 shows over 16 years.  Before this, in early 1850s, students of Elphinstone College had formed a drama society and used to perform Shakespeare.  These efforts later evolved into the full fledged theatre.  The pioneers who started the Parsee Natak Mandalee under the proprietorship of FG Dalal were Gustadji Dalal, Dadabhai Naoroji, K.R. Cama, Dr. Bhau Daji, and Ardeshir Moos.
In fact, the tradition of incorporating songs, dance and music in plays was started at the Parsee theatre, which ultimately evolved into the very distinct style Indian cinematic way of using music, dance and songs in movies.  Something totally unique to India.  Perhaps its origin lies in the experiments done by the Parsee theatres of those early days!



7At the Helm of Indian Defense Services: Parsis have had an amazing contribution to Indian Defense services.  A Parsi has been a Chief of all the three defense wings in India.  Air Marshal Aspy Merwan Engineer was the Chief of Air Staff from 1960 through 1964.  Field Marshall Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was the 8th Chief of Indian Army in 1969.  Admiral Jal Cursetji was the Chief of Indian Navy from 1976 through 1979.  Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major was the Chief of Indian Air Force from 2007-2009.
The contribution in the defense has been immense.  Other notables have been Air Marshal Minoo Jehangir Dotiwalla,  Air Marshal Minoo Merwan Engineer, Vice Admiral RF Contractor (17th Chief of the Indian Coast Guard), and Lieutenant General FN Bilimoria.

8Numerous Achievements of the Tatas: We have talked about the First Steel mill and the IISc set up earlier, but an entire library can be dedicated to what the Tatas have done for India.  It would be instructive to compare the achievements of the Tatas with that of the Birlas, the other major business family in India until the 1980s.  For all their name and wealth, Birlas pioneered nothing!  They were only involved with trading and for almost 60 years made money as the sole middlemen for export and import of most products coming in and out of India during the license raj.  A privilege they milked due to their proximity to Congress and the Gandhis.
On the other hand, Tatas gave India many firsts.  Let us take a stock:

Obviously the first Steel Plant and company
First Hydroelectric plant
Textile factory
Shipping line
Cement factory
India’s first auto manufacturer – Tata Motors
India’s first Domestically owned bank –
First Chemical company – Tata Chemicals
India’s first Airlines – Tata Airlines, which was nationalized into Air India
India’s first large IT consulting company – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
India’s first Indian Five Star hotel – the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai in 1903
There are many many more achievements – including of course, the acquisition of the Jaguar car company, the Tetley tea, and Corus Steel plant.

9Top Legal Luminaries: Sir Jamshedji Behramji Kanga, Nani Palkhiwala, Fali Nariman and Soli Sorabjee form the four most formidable lawyers ever in India.  While Fali Nariman is credited with pioneering work in Indian Constitution’s law, Nani Palkhivala and Sir Jamshedji Kanga were the pioneers in Income Tax law and Constitution.  Kanga and Palkhivala wrote the most authoritative work The Law and Practice of Income Tax.  Later Palkhivala became legendary in the practice of Indian Constitution law.
Whether it was arts, governance, freedom struggle, defense, law, nuclear science, or industry and trade, Parsis have shaped Modern India like no other community has.  Despite their meagre population, which has been steadily dwindling over the decades.

 Bharat mata ki jay !

Bharat ( India) given shelter to Parsis settle in a Hindustan ( Bharat ) because Parsis religion & culture in Persian nation destoryed by lslamic terrorist muslim militants

Bharat ( India) given shelter to Parsis settle in a Hindustan ( Bharat ) because Parsis religion & culture in Persian nation destoryed by lslamic terrorist muslim militants

Parsis were originally Iranian Zoroastrians who emigrated to India in the past 1400 years to escape forced conversion to Islam. The first wave of Zoroastrians moved from Western Iran and Central Asia to what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan. As Muslim conquerors advanced on them they fled further South to Western coastal regions of India. Zoroastrians also migrated to West coast via the sea route. This is why we find the largest concentration of Parsis along the coastal cities of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Why are Parsis different from other immigrants to India?
Why are they so comfortable being Indians?
Despite their small numbers why are they so successful intellectually and financially?
Why are they so loved and respected in India?
For answers we must go back some 2600 years — to the Axial Age when the known world underwent a major spiritual revolution and ushered in new belief systems that broke up with the existing tribal religions and cultures.

What happened in the Axial Age?
During a 3-century band 700—400 BCE, Eurasian continent underwent a spiritual and philosophical revolution — a dramatic shift from tribalism, animal sacrifice and violence and moved towards the unfamiliar terrain of empathy, tolerance and non-violence. This period also heralded a reduction in materialism, ritualism and animal sacrifice, questioned all holy books, and downgraded the priestly class.

In India the Vedic culture was audited and mostly refuted causing the Brahmins to lose much power and prestige. The skepticism and free-thinking brought in by the Axial Age caused the ruling class to prefer the new gospels of non-violence, non-ritualism and freedom to think and experiment, as taught by the Buddha, Mahavira, and the Sages of the Upanishads (all in India). In China Lao Tsu also taught a similar philosophy of skepticism, anti-ritualism, self enquiry and tolerance. In the West, Greek skeptics taught that their gods were either not interested in human welfare, so the humanity were on their own and had to take care of themselves by evolving new thoughts and methods. This caused free thinking to flourish and Greeks began to quantify and calculate and theorize about the universe and came up with amazingly modern ideas such as heliocentrism, and the atomic theory.

Thus Eastern skeptics turned inwards and the Western skeptics turned outwards. And both groups came up with revolutionary — and complementary — findings.

Zoroaster’s “Middle” Way.
Iran, where Zoroaster grew up, was located midway between the scientific Greece and introspective East. Don’t know why, but Zoroaster did not evolve anything dramatic. He decided that there were forces of good and evil in the world and we must stand on the side of good, which involved acceptance of other religions and cultures and keeping an open mind. But he said that there was only one God whom he called Azura Mazda. He also suggested that Azura Mazda represented the “good” and would one day revisit the earth to destroy the “bad” and save the “good.” (oops…)

Zoroaster, thy Slip Showeth!
Inadvertently Zoroaster had introduced the worst religious idea ever, that of the “End Times”. But he did not give it much importance, nor did his followers. Resurgent in the new faith, they were ready to build a vast empire which would control the middle east for a thousand years.

(Unfortunately the “End Times” virus did not die. It slept, like a time-bomb, like Sauron’s Ring of Power, patiently waiting before engulfing the Christian Europe in repeated waves of darkness, then Muslims — and then the Christians, Muslims and Jews together (each at all others’ throats), and ending up causing maximum destruction to themselves. This is the problem with “End Times” belief. It destroys its believer. But Zoroastrianism itself remained unaffected by end-time fears. Unaffected by such superstitions, Zoroastrians grew and flourished and helped Iran become a hub of creativity and intellectualism.

1000 Years of Zoroastrian Triumph (600 BCE - 640 AD).
Zoroaster’s new philosophy quickly found political patrons. The first Zoroastrian ruler Cyrus the Great conquered the entire Middle East in a very short period, and actually assisted the newly defeated peoples to continue with their existing belief systems and practices. For the first time in the history of world an emperor allowed religious and ethnic diversity within his Empire, true to his Zoroastrian teachings.

The evidence that Zoroastrian bounty so overwhelmed the newly emancipated Jews is clear. The Jewish Bible names only ONE Messiah: Cyrus the Great — a gentile! The Jews, full of self importance, thought that they were the only people freed by Cyrus. But that was not true. Cyrus Cylinder (above) makes it clear that the Emperor’s generosity extended to all religions and nationalities. And he distributed royal funds to rebuild all temples of all religions in his empire.

So this was the nature of Zoroastrianism. This tolerance continued for almost 1000 years (except during times of war). But they had periodic conflicts with the Eastern Roman Empire, which worsened when Rome embraced Christian monotheism. In return the Zoroastrians hardened their hearts and insisted on a “Zoroastrian monotheism” and began to persecute Christians who lived in the Sassanian Zoroastrian Empire. (The first wave of Christians to Kerala in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD included some of those Christians.)

In the subsequent two centuries (400–600 AD) the Sassanian Emperors (the last Zoroastrian dynasty of Iran) vacillated between tolerance and intolerance. In 6th century AD (before Prophet Muhammad) there emerged a truly enlightened Zoroastrian ruler Khusraw I (praised as Anushawan the Just), who declared as follows:

“We examined the customs of our forebears, but, concerned with the discovery of the truth, we [also] studied the customs and conducts of the Romans and Indians and accepted those among them which seemed reasonable and praiseworthy, not merely likeable. We have not rejected anyone because they belonged to a different religion or people. And having examined “the good customs and laws of our ancestors as well as those of the foreigners, we have not declined to adopt anything which was good nor to avoid anything which was bad. Affection for our forebears did not lead us to accept customs which were not good.”
True his word, Khusraw I let the winds of change blow across this empire. A synthesis of Greek, Persian, Indian, and Armenian learning traditions took place within the Sasanian Empire. One example was bimaristan, the first hospital that introduced a concept of segregating wards according to pathology. Greek pharmacology fused with Iranian and Indian traditions resulted in significant advances in medicine. The center of all these developments was the “Academy of Gondishapur” which attracted physicians, philosophers, and scientists from all over the world.

Too Much Reforms Too Soon. (late 500s AD)
Unfortunately, Khusraw-I was too egalitarian for his times. He initiated a large scale land reform to help the poor and the landless at the expense of the aristocratic land owning families of Iran. These elites silently gritted their teeth and waited for their emperor’s death. Thereafter the suppressed elite anger was unleashed on his son Khusraw II who was a but shadow of his his father. Being hot-headed, he decided to earn the respect of his countrymen by defeating the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) which then controlled most of Eastern Mediterranean region including Egypt. The element of surprise gave spectacular territorial gains to K-II who even managed to conquered Egypt and seiged Constantinople itself. Soon the backlash came. Within ten years of K2’s foolhardy adventurism, Sassanian empire had shrunk to even smaller size than before due to combined attack from Eastern Roman Empire and the Christian Arab nomadic hit and run tactics from the south. Ultimately the backlash from within his own people and that broke the back of Sassanian Empire and it became a pushover.

IMPORTANT:
This animated map how Khusraw II’s “show-off-conquests” triggered massive retaliation from Byzantine Empire. The plague of 638 which affected both the empires. Sassanian Empire thus became a mere shell, and Byzantine Empire, a very exhausted winner.
(I have put the start at The crucial period from 601 AD till the final dissolution of the empire. See Khusraw-II’s sudden expansion which could not be sustained. Watch the whole thing at slow speed using Youtube’s controls, so that you can compare each year with Islamic history, particularly after 622AD/1AH.)

The angry Persian elite captured their warmongering emperor and killed him. That made things worse. Internal conflicts and paranoia set in. Purges of Christians, Manicheans and pagans became routine. In 628 AD a devastating plague killed off one-third of Persian empire, and took the life of the emperor as well. Safe from plague on the other side of Arabian desert the emergent Arab Muslims smelt blood and sharpened their swords.

Islamic conquest.
This was the time when the Islamic army under Umar al-Khattab attacked, and they easily sliced through the half-hearted Persian defense, plundered the dying empire’s riches, razed down libraries, killed scholars, and threw shelves of books into the River Tigris (as Ibn Khaldun angrily recalls in his Muquddumah) because “Quran contained all learning for mankind.” (By the way, Umar’s famous line is the source of the term “Boko Haram.”)

Zoroastrians Escape to India.
Zoroastrians who were not slaughtered became slaves in their own land, dhimmis. The conquering Arabs had no interest in philosophy or art, which were all ruthlessly destroyed. And the best of Zoroastrians escaped their homeland — many migrated east and ultimately ended up in India. They are still here.

That is why India is blessed with a community of brainy and highly disciplined Parsis who have contributed far more than their share to build up their foster motherland, India. Parsis have kept their identity and separateness always. But their greatness is is their gratitude and willingness to give back far more than they take. That is why we have the Tatas, the Godrej, Shapurji Pallonji, and many other industrial families, most of whom participate in Indian economy in a quiet supportive way. Then we have greats like Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Zubin Mehta, Supreme Court Chief Justice Justice S. H. Kapadia, the Father of Indian Atomic Research Homi Bhabha, and many others.

Parsis are a Hindu Brahmins of Persian Nation ( Iran & Iraq)

Parsis are a Hindu Brahmins of Persian Nation ( Iran & Iraq)

Parsis brought sacred fire "Atash Behram" (gathering of 18 types of fire) with them. Fire (Agni) is the common deity of Hindus and Parsis. The yagya pooja of Hindu and akhand jyot in temples have some commonality with the akhand (unbroken) fire of Parsi.

Parsis (Persian) may be same like the Brahmins of Hindus. Or may be from one origin, the two groups of the two sons of Aditi; the Devas and the Asuras. The name of Parasi God is Ahura ('s' in pronounced 'h' in central Asia) Mazda. Asuras (Mitra, Varuna) of Rigveda were not demonized during Vedic time. Zoroatian considered "angra mainyu" (manu of hindu?) as evil spirit and declared "daevas" (devas of hindu?) as false gods. Later Vedic period, the Hinduism also divide the forces into Devas and Asuras.

Another probability is that, Aditi had 3 sons; Agni, Aditya (Asur) and Aryaman. Agni became the medium of worship for other two. The descendants of Aditya became Zoroastrian and the descendants of Aryaman (Aryans) became Aryan Hindus. Rigveda describes 5 tribes as offspring of Manu. These two may be from that five.

Indra (289 hymns) a heroic god; Agni (218 hymns) the sacrificial fire and messenger of the gods; and Soma (123 hymns), the ritual drink dedicated to Indra, are the most prominent three deities of Rigveda.

Agni is a medium to pray God. Sun is the natural representative of Agni in the sky, therefore, worshiping Sun deity was common in many parts of the world. The Hindus worship the rising Sun in the east and setting Sun in the west. The lighted lamp (deep jyot) in the pooja place of the house or in the temple is a symbol of worshiping the God through it's messenger, the Agni.

Agni is common deity of Hindus and Zoroastrians. During the religious rituals, the Parasis face the Sun in the east in the morning, in the west in the evening and face the moon (indirect light of Sun) in the night. They do light lamp while performing rituals and poojas.

Surprisingly, the Navjot sanskar of Parasi and the upabayan/janeu sanskar of Hindus have many common factors.

In Hindu culture, thread (yagyopavit/janeu) ceremony is one the important Sanskars out of forty four Sanskars. Thread ceremony is also important ceremony amongst Parsis or Zoroastrian community which is called Navjot. In both cases yagyopaveet/janeu or navjot is related to rebirth for knowledge/religion.

In Janeu (yagyopavit) sanskar, three or seven threads put on right upper hand at age 8y (Brahmin), at 11y (kshatriya) and at 12y (Vaishya).

In Navjot (nav means new and jot means worshipper) (the light of the lamp is called jyot, jot); the child 7-15 put on a sacred shirt called sudre (advantageous path) and a sacred thread called kusti (aiwyaongana) (direction of the path). Kusti is made from 72 threads and tied on the waist.

Except at the time of bathing, a Zoroastrian must always have the sacred shirt and thread on his body. Again, the thread is to be untied and regirded several times: i.e., immediately on leaving bed in the morning, after ablutions and answering the calls of nature, before saying prayers, after bath, before meals.

The Hindus/Brahmin place Janeu on right ear during natural call. Janeu is kept above naval level all the time. To attend or perform any auspicious ceremony, one should wear 'janeu' hanging from the left shoulder (Upaviti). For attending or performing inauspicious event, one should wear 'janeu' hanging from the right shoulder (Prachnaviti). In case the person wears 'janeu' round the neck like a garland, then, he is called as 'Niviti'. While going for daily ablutions or doing impure tasks, the holy thread must be raised and its upper part ought to be put behind ear.Males and females both can wear 'janeu', yet females should wear it around the neck. Following a birth or death in the family, 'janeu' should be removed and again a new thread ought to be worn after 15 days of event. One must replace the old or broken thread with a new thread.

The ceremony in both are more or less the same with pooja samgri (kumkum, rice, flowers, joss stick, etc) and ritual of bath etc, in both the events. As you know Rigveda and Zend Avesta have many common verses.

In short, there is direct relationship between Hindu/Brahmins of India and Parasis of Iran/Persia. Both are the descendants of the sons of Mother Aditi.

 In Gujarat (Iran had trade relation with west coast of India, Gujarat), 1000 Parasis first landed in Diu, then went further south to Sanjan in 660 AD. Later on more came. Muslim Jehad/invasion was extended to India too later. Parsis stood by the then king and fought. Fire during the time was shifted to different places settling finally at Udvada, the final abode for our sanctum sanctorum. They did try to keep all the promises given to the then king and living in India like a sugar merge into the milk. They became Gujarati. They came with Durry language but now Gujarati is their mother tongue. Their Contribution to India is fit to be written in golden letters.

It is interesting to note that the sacred shirt of Parasi is called Sudre. It's weaving is considered sacred and weaving the threads is a privilege of the priest or the women. In India, the threads are weaved by weavers. The thread is sud(t)re, sutra, sutar. Many villages in Gujarat demands thread weaved (sutar) by weavers to tie circumference of the village on Akhatrij (Vaishakh Shukla 3) day for the prosperity of the village. The people who weaved are called, Sudre, the Shudras! What a contrast of sacredness and backwardness!

 Saint Kabir weaved the threads to give us knowledge. And the weavers are weaving the threads to cover our nudity with clothes!

1. The word "Paras" may be used for Persian Aryans that converted the iron (ethnic Indian blacks) into Gold, making them cultured or creating a new race of brown population through inter colour marriages! A wild presumption!

2. Rus (people )..Russia and Persis (empire).. Persia, the special people. Russian language carry many Sanskrit words and the same grammar rules. There was some strong link amongst the people of Russia, Persia (Greater Iran) and India. Arabs were nomadic tribes, became first Muslims after the arrival of Prophet Muhammad. And thereafter...

3. There are few parsis in Iran even now, living a life of second class citizens. They can't take up services. They have to do either farming or be self employed. There exists a Dreconian law. If any one of the siblings marries to a Muslim; all the inheritance will got him or her. Others will not get anything.