Contemporary Zoroastrian Community

1. Beyond Compare -- Parsi Pioneers of Karachi
   Dinshaw, Farishta Murzban
   Despite their small numbers in the context of the newly formed nation of Pakistan (1950s vintage), the Parsi (Zoroastrian) citizens of that new nation played a great role in the building of that nation, far out of portion to their small numbers. This short article gives brief highlights of some of the contributions of the descendents of ancient Iranian as 20th century nation builders.
    

2. Evolution of the Zarathushti community in North America
   Dastoor, Dolly
   A growing and thriving North American Zoroastrian community has come into existence in the second half of the 20th century with most of the members moving existing Zoroastrian communities in India, Iran and Pakistan. This article provides an account of the evolution of this community through the early part of the 21st century, and formation of its infrastructure to meet the needs of its members that are spread across Canada and United States and exist in small or large packets.
    

3. Hamazor to Mobed Zarrir Bhandara
   Amalsad, Meher Dadabhoy
   A report on the celebration of a life of service by Mobed Zarir Bhandara, a priest of the Zoroastrian community in Southern California that took place on April 16, 2005. 
    

4. Iranian Zoroastrianism
   Bakhradnia, Shahin
   This paper explores the perception of the Iranian Zoroastrians held by the Zoroastrians of India due to the differences in the evolution of the two communities over centuries of separation.
    

5. Jahangir Behboodi Son of Khodabandeh
   Behboodi, Jahangir
   Jahangir Behboodi was born in 1924 in Bombay, India, to Iranian Zoroastrian parents who had fled to India. He served as a pilot in the British-Indian air-force during WWII, and later left for Iran. His disappointment with the British handling of Iranian oil fields in Khuzestan led to his departure to Tehran. His love of flying eventually led to his becoming a leading pilot for Iran Air, where he flew on the smallest to the largest planes acquired by Iran air. He flew Iran Air’s maiden flights from New York to Tehran and from Tehran to China. In the aftermath of Islamic revolution in Iran, Capitan Behboodi and his family left for Canada, where as of 2006 he is spending his retirement in Toronto. Jahangir and his family are active members of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario.
    

6. Karachi's Katrak Parsi Colony
   Mehta, Virasp
   Where is the Katrak Parsi colony in modern Karachi, Pakistan ,and how did its long history develop prior to Pakistan's independence? This article will give you a thorough account of these historic developments.
    

7. Memories of a Parsi/Zarathushti Youth During the Early Years of Pakistan (1940-1965)
   Mehta,Shahrokh
   The author who grew up in Karachi in the years preceding India's independence and its partition and lived in Karachi for some years following creation of State of Pakistan shares his personal memories of life for Parsis in Karachi, Pakistan during those years.
    

8. My Memories of Katrak Parsi Colony of Karachi
   Daroga, Nargis
   The author, a long time resident of the Katrak Parsi Colony of Karachi reflects on the evolution of the Katrak housing colony since its inception in 1920s. This article provides insight into changing demographics of the Parsis of Karchi.
    

9. Quetta Calling (PDF file format)
   Rustomji, Aban
   The establishment and evolution of a small Parsi colony in Western Pakistani province of Baluchistan dating back to 1880 is described in this article. In the pre-Islamic era, the areas around Quetta were predominantly Zoroastrians, most of whom succumbed to Islamic intolerance and forceful conversion to Islam. The small community that formed in late 19th century and into 20th century with influx of Zoroastrians from Bombay and areas around it, or from Iran, despite its small size has left its mark on Quetta and its development. This article provides insights into the make up of the community, its infrastructure, and story of some of its members.
    

10. Zarathushtra’s Vision In Institutions of Higher Education, Arts, Culture, Society in North America
    Jungalwala, Khorshed
    The author provides an informative review of the state Zoroastrians studies at North American institutions of higher learning at the entrance to the third millennium AD.