Eminent Parsis of India

EMINENT PARSEES OF INDIA

               In science and industry

• Adi Bulsara (born 1952): Physicist
• Ardaseer Cursetjee of the Wadia shipbuilding family, first Indian elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
• Ardeshir Darabshaw Shroff (1899–1965): economist; delegate at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference; co-author of the Bombay Plan; founder-director of the Investment Corporation of India; first Indian chairman of the Bank of India
• Ardeshir Godrej (1868–1936): inventor; co-founder (with his brother Piroj) of the Godrej industrial empire
• Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy Lady, continued her husband Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy philanthropic work, builder of Mahim Causeway, connects two islands of Bombay and Salsette (north Bombay.)
• Byram Dinshawji Avari (born 1942): Pakistani hotelier, founder and chairman of the Avari Group of companies.
• Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Sir: philanthropist and founder of B.J. Medical College, Pune.
• Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir (1879–1962): civil engineer; master constructor of Bombay
• Cowasji Shavaksha Dinshaw (Adenwalla) (1827–1900): entrepreneur; founder of the modern port of Aden
• Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney Sir, (1812–1878), 1st Baronet, philanthropist, including various academic buildings of the Bombay University.
• Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (born 1968): Chairman of Tata Group; Irish businessman
• Cyrus Poonawalla (born 1945): industrialist, pharmacologist; co-founder of the Serum Institute of India
• Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, Sir (1823–1901): founded the first textile factories in India
• Dorabji Tata, Sir (1859–1932): industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Dorab Tata Trust.
• Fardunjee Marzban (1787–1847): publisher, founded the first vernacular newspaper on the Indian subcontinent Bombay Samachar
• Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909–1966): nuclear scientist; first chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission.
• Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (1923–2010): Padma Vibhushan awardee, chemical engineer; guided the development of India’s first nuclear explosive device.
• Hormusjee Naorojee Mody, Sir (1838–1911): financier and industrialist in Hong Kong
• Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J. R. D.) Tata (1904–1993): industrialist; founder of India’s first commercial airline: Air India
• Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, Sir (1783–1859): opened sea trade with China; philanthropist, J J Hospital,
• Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (1839–1904): industrialist; founder of the Tata group of companies, titled a “One-Man Planning Commission” by Jawaharlal Nehru
• Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (1880–1960): industrialist; founded Hong Kong‘s first brewery; established the first anti-tuberculosis sanatorium in the far-east
• Keki Dadiseth (born 1946): Home and Personal Care Director, Unilever plc
• Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia (1702–1774): shipwright and naval architect; builder of the first dry-dock in Asia
• Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (18??–1924?): industrialist and philanthropist; NED Engineering College.
• Ness Wadia (born 1970): joint-Managing Director of Bombay Dyeing.
• Nowroji Saklatwala Chairman of Tata group of companies from 1932 till his untimely death in 1938.
• Pallonji Mistry (born 1929): construction tycoon
• Pirojsha Godrej (1882–1972): entrepreneur; co-founder (with his brother Ardeshir) of the Godrej industrial empire
• Ratan Naval Tata (born 1937): Chairman emeritus of Tata Sons; former Chairman of the Tata Group of companies; member of the central board of the Reserve Bank of India
• Russi Mody (born 1918): former Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel Limited. He is the son of Sir Homy Modi and brother of Piloo Mody.
• Shiraz Minwalla (born 1973): theoretical physicist, String theorist
• Spenta R. Wadia theoretical physicist.
• Ratan Jamshetji Tata, Sir, younger son of Jamshetji Tata, industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Ratan Tata Trust

                 In academia

• Homi K. Bhabha (born 1949): cultural-studies theorist; Professor, Harvard University.
• Jamshed Bharucha (born 1956): President, Cooper Union. Formerly, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Dartmouth College (first Indian American to serve as the dean of a school at an Ivy League institution).
• Mahzarin Banaji: Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
• Ness Shroff:^[1] Ohio Eminent Scholar and Chaired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University
• Rusi Taleyarkhan: Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University

                Military

• Adi M. Sethna: Former Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army
• Ardeshir Tarapore: Lieutenant Colonel, Indian Army, winner of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest award for gallantry
• Aspy Engineer (1912–2002): Former Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force.
• Fali Homi Major (born 1947): Former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.
• FN Billimoria: Lieutenant General, father of Karan Bilimoria, Lord Bilimoria
• Jal Cursetji (born 1919): Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy
• Minoo Merwan Engineer (1921–1997): Air Marshall
• Sam Manekshaw (1914–2008): Former Indian Army chief and the first Indian Field Marshal

      In entertainment, religion, sports and astrology

• Aban Marker Kabraji (born 1953): Pakistani ecologist, Asian regional director of IUCN
• Amyra Dastur (born 1993): model, film actress, television presenter
• Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926–2012): investigative journalist and newspaper columnist.
• Ardeshir Irani – Filmmaker
• Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938): author and screenwriter; vocal proponent of women’s rights
• Behram “Busybee” Contractor (1930–2001): journalist and columnist.
• Behramji Malabari (1853–1912): poet, publicist, author, and social reformer.
• Bejan Daruwalla (born 1931): astrologer.
• Boman Irani (born 1959): Indian film and theatre actor, host of the 2007 IIFA Awards
• Cyrus Broacha (born 1971): MTV India VJ and stand-up comedian.
• Cyrus Poncha (born 1976): Asian Squash Federation Junior Coach of the Year 2003–04.
• Daisy Irani: Bollywood actress.
• Deena M. Mistri (1924–2011): author and educationalist; recipient of Pakistan’s “Pride of Performance” medal.
• Diana Eduljee (born 1956): first captain of the Indian women’s Cricket team – from 1978 till 1993
• Erick Avari (born 1952): Hollywood actor.
• Eruch Jessawala, Meher Baba’s interpreter
• Fali R Singara: Indian radio jockey
• Farokh Engineer (born 1938): cricketer.
• Farooq Sheikh (born 1948): actor (Parsi mother)^[2]
• Farrukh Dhondy (born 1944): novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, journalist.
• Firdaus Kanga (born 1960): author, actor and screenwriter.
• Firdaus Kharas (1955–): animation, television and film producer and director.
• Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946–1991): rock icon and lead singer for Queen.
• Godrej Sidhwa (born 1925): theologian and historian.
• Goshpi Avari (born 19??): first Pakistani woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.
• Homai Vyarawalla (1913-2012): India’s first woman photojournalist, Padma Vibhushan.
• Homi Adajania (born 1972): Film Director, Writer and Scuba Diving Instructor
• Jivanji Jamshedji Modi Sir, Zoroastrian scholar, Ph.D from Heidelberg, Germany, recognition and awards, for scholarship, from Sweden, France, and Hungary.
• Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892–1988): composer, music critic, pianist, and writer.
• Kaizad Gustad (born 1968): film director.
• Keki Daruwalla (born 1937), poet and writer
• Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla (1875–1956): high priest and religious scholar.
• Meher Baba (Merwan Sheriar Irani; 1894–1969): Indian mystic
• Mehli Mehta (1908–2002): musician; founder of the Bombay Philharmonic and Bombay String Orchestras.
• Mehr Jesia Indian model
• Nariman “Nari” Contractor (born 1934): cricketer; coach at the CCI Academy.
• Nauheed Cyrusi (born 1982): model, film actress, television presenter
• Nina Wadia (born 1968): British-Indian comedienne and television actress, currently and most notably from EastEnders.
• Perizaad Zorabian (born 1973): model, film actress
• Persis Khambatta (1950–1998): actress and model. Miss India in 1965.
• Pahlan Ratanji “Polly” Umrigar (1926–2006): cricketer.
• Rohinton Mistry (born 1952): novelist, short story author, screenplay writer.
• Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia (1912–2008): Journalist & editor, founder of India’s first tabloid, Blitz.
• Sam Dastor (born 1941): television actor and director.
• Sanaya Irani (born 1983): television actress.
• Shapur Kharegat (1932–2000): Journalist, editor and director of The Economist (Asia).
• Shiamak Davar: Bollywood choreographer
• Sohrab Modi (1897–1984): stage and film actor, director and producer.
• Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957): screenwriter, author and photographer.
• Viraf Phiroz Patel (born 1980): The Grasim Mr. India 2005, model turned actor
• Zarin Mehta (born 1938): musician; executive director of the New York Philharmonic since 2000
• Zarnak Sidhwa (born 1972): Pakistani Chef with a TV show on Masala TV.
• Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): human rights campaigner
• Zubin Mehta (born 1936): musician; Musical Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, former director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and Bavarian State Opera.
• Zubin Varla (born 19??): stage actor.

      Politicians, activists and bureaucrats

• B. P. Wadia (1881–1958), Indian theosophist and labour activist. Pioneered the creation of workers unions in India.
• Cowasji Jehangir (Readymoney) (1812–1878): J.P.; introduced income tax in India; first baronet of Bombay.
• Frene Ginwala (born 1932): Is a member of the ANC and aided Nelson Mandela in abolishing apartheid in South Africa. Later served for 7 years as Speaker Of the House of Parliament in South Africa
• Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta (1886–1952): former Mayor of Karachi for 12 consecutive years.
• Jamsheed Marker (born 1922): Pakistani diplomat, ambassador to more countries than any other person; recipient of Hilal-i Imtiaz.
• Justice Dorab Patel (1924–1997): Former Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, former Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and human rights campaigner.
• Mancherjee Bhownagree (1851–1933): politician, second Asian to be elected to the House of Commons (Conservative).
• Minocher Bhandara (1937?–2008): Pakistani parliamentarian and owner of Muree Brewery.
• Minoo Masani (1905–1998): author, parliamentarian and a member of the Constituent Assembly.
• Piloo Mody (1926–1983): architect, parliamentarian, one of the founder-members of the Swatantra Party.
• Rustam S. Sidhwa (1927–1997): judge on the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well as one of the original eleven judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
• Shapurji Saklatvala (1874–1936): socialist, workers’ welfare activist, third Asian to be elected to the House of Commons (Communist, Labour).

          Indian Independence Movement

• Bhikaiji Cama (1861–1936): political activist, co-creator of the Indian nationalist flag.
• Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917): economist, political activist, first Asian to be elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (Liberal), first to publicly demand independence for India.
• Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960): journalist and politician; Indian MP under Jawaharlal Nehru; father of Rajiv Gandhi and grandfather of Rahul Gandhi.
• Khurshed Framji Nariman (18??–19??): social activist, Mayor of Bombay. Member of the Indian National Congress.
• Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir (1845–1915): political activist, co-founder and first President of the Indian National Congress, founder of the Bombay Municipal Corporation

          Law

• Fali Sam Nariman (born 1929): jurist, recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
• Nanabhoy (“Nani”) Palkhivala (1920–2002): prominent jurist and economist.
• S. H. Kapadia– 38th Chief Justice of India.
• Sam Piroj Bharucha (born 1937): Chief Justice of India.
• Soli Jehangir Sorabjee (born 1930): former Attorney-General of India.

          Others

• Bukhtyar Rustomji (1899–1936) – Mumbai-born Lancaster doctor executed for murdering his wife and a maid.
• Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja (1873–1947) – first Indian to be appointed appraiser of precious stones to British Indian customs. Awarded the title ofKhan Sahib.
• Rattanbai Petit (1900–1929) – Second wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
• Jehangir Hormasji Kothari (1857–1934) – Philanthropist and world traveller.

           In arts

• Jehangir Sabavala (1922–2011), painter