Why was the Iran League established?

The Iran League was established in 1922 with Sir Hormusjee Dinshaw Adenwala as its Founder President. Since then it has been functioning to the mark and with full enthusiasm, with certain objects in view. The main purpose of the Iran League was to renew and strengthen cultural and other relations between India and Iran. Currently, its main object is to create in the hearts of our younger generation a love and reverence for the ancient land of Iran, which was the home of our ancestors and where many glorious and mighty rulers of different Persian dynasties ruled.

Past Activities

In the past, the Iran League regularly sent financial aid to Zoroastrian educational institutions, orphanages and individuals, until foreign exchange regulations made it difficult to do so. The Iran League has conducted Persian and Gujarati classes. It has published several books on the Zoroastrian religion and Iranian history. It has organized lectures through visiting scholars, etc. It has also helped in sending hundreds of young persons to Iran for lucrative jobs in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Iran League took a prominent part in the design and installation of a bronze statue of the great Iranian poet Firdausi in Tehran.

From 1930 on, for almost 35 years, the Iran League published the Iran League Quarterly with articles on Iran, India, historical ties, interviews with prominent individuals and the cultural activities of the Iran League.

 

Current Activities

For the last several years, the Iran League has been conducting various competitions for Zoroastrian school children, collegians, youth and elders. We are glad to note that every year more and more competitors participate in these competitions. They are generally competitions in Shanameh recitation, essay writing, elocution, religious quizzes, drawing, rangoli, Parsi songs/monajats, Gujarati reading and Western vocal and instrumental music.

The Iran League has instituted the Maneckji Limji Hataria Trophy which is normally awarded to a member of the Armed Forces/Police.

These competitions have really proved very beneficial in encouraging the Zoroastrian youth, who are the real trustees of posterity.

The Iran League Book Collection

The Iran League has a large collection of books, mostly related to Zoroastrianism, in Gujarati, English and Persian. Until a few decades ago, it ran a circulating library where members could issue books. The collection has books from various authors like Sir J. J. Modi, Dastur Dabu, Dastur Dhalla, Sir Richard Frye, Prof Poure Davoud and many such well-known scholars.

 

In October 2025, the Iran League gave away around 400 surplus books on Zoroastrianism, Iran, and to interested organizations and individuals.

A catalogue of the collection is available online so that the collection can be accessed by the wider research and academic community.

Ardeshir Dalal Catalogue

 

Core Books Catalogue

 

Persian Books Catalogue