In an old, neo-gothic building in Fort, an upmarket area in India's financial capital Mumbai, is a run-down office that produces one of the country's oldest and most prominent Parsi magazines - Parsiana.
The magazine was started in 1964 by Pestonji Warden, a Parsi doctor who also dabbled in the sandalwood trade, to chronicle the community in the city. Since then, Parsiana has grown in subscribers and reach, offering a vital connection for many Parsis around the world.
However, after 60 years, Parsiana will shut this October due to dwindling subscribers, lack of funds, and no successor to run it, leading to widespread sadness in the community.
It's like the end of an era, says Sushant Singh, an 18-year-old student. We used to joke about how you weren't a 'true Parsi' if you didn't know about Parsiana or wax eloquent about it. The magazine captured the essence of Parsi life and issues, cementing its place in the hearts of its readers.
Since its closure announcement was made in August, tributes have flooded in from readers reminiscing about the magazine's impact, viewing it not just as a publication but as a bridge connecting Zoroastrians globally.
Under the leadership of Jehangir Patel, who acquired the magazine for one rupee in 1973, Parsiana transformed from a simple monthly publication to a fortnightly that reported on the community's challenges, achievements, and social issues with honesty and humor.
The magazine broke barriers with progressive features, like the introduction of interfaith matrimonial ads and coverage of sensitive topics like community decline. As the team prepares to wrap up their legacies, Patel expressed a bittersweet sentiment: There's a sense of tiredness mixed with sadness. We've been doing this for a long time. The closing of Parsiana signifies the end of a significant chapter in the documentation of the Parsi community.
