When Persia Met lndia – The Making Of Parsi Culture I Online Talk by Dr Zarin Sethna: Talk 333
Date: 19- sep – 2026 Time : 6:00 pm
Parsis are the descendants of the ancient Persian migrant Zoroastrians, who settled
in India around twelve hundred years ago with the apocryphal promise of assimilating
with the local population “like sugar with milk.” The story of the Parsis in India is not
merely one of migration and survival, but of a fascinating cultural exchange between
Persian heritage and the Indian social landscape. From the evolution of Parsi names
and surnames to sartorial practices, food, language, marriage and pre-wedding
ceremonies, social customs and traditions, there are many subtle and sometimes
surprising influences of Indian culture on the Parsi community. At our Online Talk
#WhenPersiaMetlndia, clinical psychologist and researcher Dr Zarin Sethna explores
the lesser-known ways in which centuries of living in India have shaped Parsi identity,
customs and everyday life – while retaining a strong connection with their Persian
Zoroastrian roots. She looks at assimilation not as a loss of identity, but as a process
of adaptation, accommodation and cultural enrichment.
About the speaker
Dr Zarin Sethna is a clinical psychologist and researcher whose primary interest areas are two-fold: Parsi identity, and mental health and wellbeing. She has a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Mumbai. Her Doctoral research focussed on identity and its impact on individuals and communities, particularly Parsi identity,and was titled ‘Parsee Identity vis-å-vis non-Parsees: Perceptions and Interactions.’ A former associate professor and Head of the Psychology Department at Patkar-Varde College, she has been an independent counsellor and visiting faculty at multiple affiliated institutions of the University of Mumbai. She continues to reach out to students through live YouTube sessions.