Jesse S. Palsetia Livres

The Parsis of India examines a much-neglected area of Asian Studies. In tracing keypoints in the development of the Parsi community, it depicts the Parsis' history, and accounts for their ability to preserve, maintain and construct a distinct identity. For a great part the story is told in the colonial setting of Bombay city.Ample attention is given to the Parsis' evolution from an insular minority group to a modern community of pluralistic outlook.Filling the obvious lacunae in the literature on British colonialism , Indian society and history, and, last but not least, Zoroastrianism , this book broadens our knowledge of the interaction of colonialism and colonial groups, and elucidates the significant role of the Parsis in the commercial, educational, and civic milieu of Bombay colonial society.

The book details the life and public career of one of Bombays and Indias legendary individuals. Born of humble origins, Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy was a merchant-prince of Bombay, an influential citizen, and one of Indias greatest philanthropists. An ambitious and canny individual, Jejeebhoy carved out a place under British colonialism for himself and the early Indian commercial class, and notwithstanding many challenges, his efforts are testament to Indian ingenuityunder colonialism.