Qissa-e-Parsi: The Parsi Story
Qissa-e-Parsi: The Parsi Story.
FYI … A film by Ketatun’s nephew Zal Cowasji’s daughter Divya ….
A high-res link to Divya and her colleague, Shilpi’s film on the Parsis, commissioned by the Ministry of External Affairs, and produced by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust of India (PSBT), is now available at
The Film explores the history of the Parsi community, its relationship to the Indian state and association with the city of Mumbai. It strives to understand the Zoroastrian faith, and the philosophy to live, laugh and love, which is the backbone of the Parsi way of life, and what makes it so endearingly unique and beloved. As the community is plagued with anxieties over its dwindling numbers, it looks at current debates on issues of inter-faith marriage. On the whole, It is an attempt to understand a community which has always been numerically small, yet, culturally and socially formidable.
I was born a Parsi,in Bombay in 1950 to a Parsi father and an English mother.He met my mother during WW2 in the U.K. where he was serving on the British Naval ship King George Fifth.When he returned to India with my mother and they had me and my brother Jal.When we were of age to have our Navjote the Dasturjis refused to do it.Thankfully a great number of wonderful Parsis insisted it be done.This is in 1962.I fell in love and married an Ismaili man in Bombay,but could not have my two daughters either introduced or even become Parsis.This introduction to The Parsis is beautiful and truly makes me proud to have been born a Parsi.My dad’s name is Sorab Mehta and his brother is Dorab,who married Jehroo Mehta,who wrote the book,101 Parsi recepies by Jehroo Mehta.She still lives in Bombay.Thank you.I am proud to have been born A Parsi.Susan(Zubeen)Premji(Mehta).