Zoroastrianism!

A few days ago, while, in class, I talked about our country's great diversity, an aspect of which is India's religious diversity. I also mentioned that, India has a small but significant population of Parsee's or Zoroastrians, who migrated to India, centuries ago from what is today Iran, in order to preserve their religious identity in face of a spreading wave of Islam.

I was rather surprised to see that many of the students in class that day, had no idea about this community.

So what is Zoroastrianism?

Zoroastrianism is the one of the oldest religions in the world. It began between 1,400 and 1,000 B.C. in Persia when Prince Spitama left his royal duties and searched for enlightenment. It is said that after fifteen long years, he had a dazzling vision. A divine being called Ahura Mazda gave him the name Zarathustra. Ahura Mazda also gave him a revolutionary teaching about one god that would change the ancient world. Fire became the symbol for Ahura Mazda because of its brilliance and energy. 2 Zarathustra began preaching his new religion, but things didn't go smoothly at first because life was hard for the people of Persia. They lived in a rocky, rugged place. Their tribes had to wander over the dry Iranian plain to herd their animals. It was practically impossible to grow their crops. The one thing they enjoyed was worshipping their many gods and offering animal sacrifices. Sometimes, they used plants to become intoxicated while they offered their sacrifices. Zarathustra challenged them to turn their attention to Ahura Mazda, the one god. He preached against animal sacrifice and the use of drugs. The struggling people told him to get lost. They didn't like his fiery message! 3 The fiery prophet's big break came when he converted King Vishtaspa, ruler of present-day Iran. The king accepted Zarathustra's ideas about one god, which were revolutionary for that time. No one knows exactly what made King Vishtaspa like Zarathustra's ideas, but one story says that Zarathustra healed the king's favorite horse! In any case, the king and his court were converted. According to legends, three angels came to the court to celebrate. 4 After Vishtaspa's conversion, Zarathustra traveled around Persia to spread his message. In between preaching and traveling, the prophet married (several times) and had many children. His youngest daughter married Vishtaspa's Prime Minister, Jamaspa. After the prophet's death at the hand of a priest of the old religion, Jamaspa took Zarathustra's place.

There is hardly a discipline or human endeavour in which the Parsis have not demonstrated excellence. The armed forces, industry, science, medicine, sports, politics, philanthrophy, you name it, and a Parsi contribution will be conspicuous.
The first elected Indian member of the British Parliament in 1892 was Dr. Dadabhoy Naoroji - a Parsi. Sir Pherozeshah Mehta was elected, on several occasions, President of the Indian National Congress, the Bombay Corporation and Bombay Presidency Association. The revolutionary Madam Bhikhaiji Cama was the first Indian (and Parsi) to unfurl the Indian National flag in Germany (1907).
The Wadias were master-builders, while the Tatas gave India not just its first steel industry, but also hydro-electricity. Most of these families who generated wealth through industrial development put back the wealth in trust for the welfare of the people. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, for example, gave India its first Institute of Science in Bangalore, the first cancer hospital in Bombay, the first institute of social sciences, the first institute of fundamental research and a National Centre for the Performing Arts.
The British Government granted Baronetcy and knighthood on three Parsis - Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, Sir Dinshaw M. Petit and Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, an honour which has no parallel in Indian history. Dr. K.N. Bahadurjee was the first Indian to pass the M.D. examination in London and worked tirelessly during the plague in Bombay, laying down his life at the age of 38. Dr. Rustom Jal Vakil has been referred to, in international journals, as "the father of Indian cardiology".
India's first and only Field Marshal has been Sam Maneckshaw. Admiral Jal Cursetji has also been Chief of Naval Staff, while Air-Marshal Minoo Engineer was the most highly decorated air-marshal in Indian air-force history.
India's first Atomic Research Centre is named after Dr. Homi Bhabha - a brilliant Parsi scientist, while Zubin Mehta is a household name all over the world as far as Western classical music is concerned.