Introduction to the Parsi Community and Zoroastrianism
The Parsi community, followers of the ancient Zoroastrian faith, represents one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions. Founded by the prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) around 1100 BCE in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), Zoroastrianism emphasizes the worship of Ahura Mazda, the supreme creator god, and the eternal struggle between good (represented by light and fire) and evil. Key tenets include the concepts of good thoughts, good words, and good deeds principles that have guided Parsis through centuries of migration and adaptation.
According to historical accounts, such as those in the Avesta (Zoroastrianism's sacred text), early Zoroastrians faced persecution after the Arab-Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century CE. Many fled to India, arriving between the 8th and 10th centuries, where they settled primarily in Gujarat. The famous "sugar in milk" anecdote illustrates their promise to blend harmoniously into Indian society without disrupting it much like sugar sweetens milk without overflowing it. Over time, Parsis thrived in trade, industry, and professions, contributing significantly to colonial India's economy.
In Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, the Parsi presence dates back to the British colonial era. Cities like Karachi became major hubs, but smaller communities emerged in places like Sukkur (historically known as Sukkar) near Rohri. This article explores the arrival, contributions, and eventual decline of the Parsi community in Sukkur, drawing on verified historical sources to provide a comprehensive overview.
Migration to India and Expansion into Sindh
The Parsis' journey to India is chronicled in texts like the Qissa-i Sanjan, a 16th-century epic poem. Fleeing religious intolerance, they landed at Sanjan in Gujarat, where local ruler Jadi Rana granted them asylum. They adopted Gujarati customs while preserving their faith, including fire temples (agiaries) and unique funeral rites involving exposure in "Towers of Silence" (dakhmas) to avoid polluting earth, water, or fire elements considered sacred.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, British colonial expansion opened new opportunities. Parsis, known for their entrepreneurial spirit, ventured into shipbuilding, opium trade with China, and banking. In Sindh, which became part of British India after the 1843 conquest, Parsis arrived as traders and administrators. Karachi grew as a Parsi stronghold, but Sukkur's strategic location on the Indus River near the Rohri bridge and as a gateway to Afghanistan attracted settlers during the 1830s and 1840s.
Historical records indicate that Parsis in Sindh numbered around 2,000 by the early 20th century, with communities in Hyderabad, Shikarpur, and Sukkur. They were instrumental in modernizing infrastructure, including barracks for British troops and commercial establishments, as detailed in colonial Sukkur development accounts.
The Arrival of Parsis in Sukkur: Key Figures and Early Settlements
The Parsi footprint in Sukkur began in the 1830s, coinciding with British control over northern Sindh. One pivotal figure was Manekji Limji Hataria (1813-1890), a Parsi scholar and activist from Gujarat. Born in Mora Samali village, Hataria initially worked as a clerk and accountant. In 1827-1828, he accompanied Dr. James Burnes (brother of explorer Alexander Burnes) to Sukkur for medical missions treating local Mirs (rulers). Hataria served as cashier and administrator, establishing early ties.
By 1836-1840, as British agent Henry Pottinger resided in Sukkur, Hataria returned, opening shops supplying British troops en route to Afghanistan. His firm, M/s Jahangir Nussarwanji Jussawalla, sold essentials like liquor, soda water, and pork catering to European needs. In 1840, he accompanied General John Keane to Kabul, expanding his trade. Returning to Sukkur in 1846, Hataria managed Bombay-based Parsi enterprises, including hotels and inns. The famous "Limji Chari" (Limji Staircase) in Sukkur bears his name, a testament to his influence.
Hataria's efforts extended beyond commerce; he advocated for Zoroastrian rights in Iran, traveling there in 1854 to abolish the jizya tax on non-Muslims. In Sukkur, he laid the foundation for a community that included traders, doctors, and contractors. Other notable families included the Seth Jahangirji Faramji Hormusji Baga Jamasji & Sons, who handled contracts for British forces.
By the 1850s, Parsis had established prominent shops in Sukkur's bazaars. Traveler Edward Archer Langley, in his 1858 narrative "Narrative of a Residence at the Court of Meer Ali Murad," described Parsi-run establishments selling luxury goods. Gazetteers like J.W. Smyth's "Gazetteer of Sukkur" praised Parsi buildings as the finest in the city.
Community Life, Institutions, and Contributions
As the community grew, Parsis built residential areas around Limji Chari. By 1917, the Parsi Anjuman (association) was formed to create dedicated infrastructure. With support from figures like Khan Bahadur Rustomji Pestonji Patel (a civil surgeon and municipal member), land was acquired on Wallace Road for a school, fire temple, and colony.
In 1923, renowned trader Kekobad Ardeshir Marker constructed the Parsi Compound, including Mama Parsi School (educating 25 Parsi children in 1939), Khan Bahadur Marker Dharamshala, a fire temple, residences, and a playground. Marker's son, Jamshed Marker, later became Pakistan's celebrated diplomat. The compound symbolized Parsi prosperity and self-sufficiency.
Religious practices remained central. The fire temple housed an afarganyu (sacred fire vessel) donated in 1917 by engineer Feroze Shah Rustomji Mehta, inscribed in Gujarati. Funerals followed Zoroastrian rites: bodies were exposed in dakhmas to vultures, preserving elemental purity. Sukkur had an old cemetery (closed 1907) near Shikarpur Court and a later one at Adam Shah Hill.
Parsis contributed economically as contractors for British barracks (1838), ice factories (Seth Palji's supplied Northwestern Railways), and trade. Census data shows: 117 Parsis in Sukkur in 1941, dropping to 28 by 1951. They intermarried rarely outside the faith, leading to population decline globally estimated at 200,000 worldwide today, with only about 2,800 in Pakistan (mostly Karachi).
Decline and Legacy in Modern Sukkur
Post-1947 partition, many Parsis migrated to Karachi or abroad due to economic shifts and communal tensions. By the 1980s, only brothers Jahangir and Homi Caranjee remained, working in banking and utilities. They left in the 1970s-1980s, leaving the compound under caretakers from the Quetta Parsi Anjuman.
The fire temple closed, and the afarganyu, deteriorated from disuse, was relocated to the Zoroastrian Heritage Cultural Center in Houston, USA, on April 10, 1998, where it remains active. Some bungalows were sold to local Sindhi landowners like Agha Nizamuddin.
Today, no active Parsi residents remain in Sukkur, but remnants like the compound, cemeteries, and Limji Chari endure as heritage sites. Recent reports (2023) highlight the fire temple's abandonment, urging preservation. The Parsi legacy in Sukkur mirrors their global story: a small, resilient community enriching host societies through commerce, philanthropy, and innovation, much like the broader historical narratives of Sukkur.
Conclusion
The Parsi community in Sukkur exemplifies adaptation and contribution amid challenges. From Hataria's pioneering trade to Marker's architectural gifts, they shaped the city's colonial and post-colonial landscape. As global Parsi numbers dwindle projected at 32,000 by 2051 due to low birth rates and non-proselytizing their history urges cultural preservation. Sukkur's Parsi sites could become tourism draws, honoring this "sugar in milk" blend with Pakistan, alongside other local cultural explorations.
References
- Encyclopaedia Iranica: Hataria, Manekji Limji
- Wikipedia: Maneckji Limji Hataria
- The Express Tribune: A Piece of Parsi History in Sukkur (2022)
- Zoroastrians.net: Silvern Journey - The Story of the Afarganyu of the Sukkur Agiary (2020)
- Sindh Courier: Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Sukkur (2023)
- Books: "History of Sukkur" by Rahim Dad Khan Molai Shedai; "Sindh Gazetteer" by A.W. Hughes; "Gazetteer of Sukkur" by J.W. Smyth.
- According to local historian Sayed Imdad Hussain Shah Rizvi of Kotai Rohri, who shared insights based on community narratives.
Post: Sayed Sajjad Hussain Musavi
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