Navroz Mubarak: From Ratan Tata to Boman Irani, 5 prominent Indian Parsis

Detail from a relief on the eastern stairs of the Apadana in Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid), Iran. (Image credit: Phillip Maiwald [Nikopol] via Wikimedia Commons 3.0)

Spring equinox 2024 is on March 19/20. Equinox, of course, occurs twice a year - when the earth's axis aligns with the earth's orbit around the sun - so both the northern and southern hemisphere get equal amounts of sunlight that day. Parsi New Year, Navroz, is celebrated around Spring equinox. This year, Navroz, starts on the morning of March 20, at 8.36 am.

Rooted in Zoroastrianism, the Iranian New Year is fixed on the Spring Equinox as per the Fasli calendar. Navroz, or Jamshed-i-Navroz, is named after the Persian king Jamshed. In India, the Parsi community following the Shahenshahi calendar which does not take leap years into account, observes Parsi New Year about 200 days after it is celebrated across the world.

Though their numbers are small - and dwindling - Parsis have made a mark across industries from aviation to acting. On Nowruz (Farsi for "new day”), we take a look at some well-known personalities from the Parsi community in India and their contributions to society:

Ratan Tata

Undisputedly one of the most distinguished personalities from the Parsi community, Ratan Tata is a renowned Indian industrialist, philanthropist and former chairman of Tata Sons. Ranked among India’s most powerful honchos, he is the recipient of several awards, including the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan. He is known to promote entrepreneurship, education, women empowerment and rural development.

Dr Cyrus Poonawalla

Industrialist, pharmacologist and the founder of the Serum Institute of India, Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, a recipient of the Padmashri, helms the Serum Institute, which played a pivotal role in the Pandemic, supporting vaccination drives.

Boman Irani

From Dr Asthana in Munnabhai MBBS to ‘Virus’ in 3 Idiots, Boman Irani is known for his compelling characters, and acting prowess. From managing his mother’s bakery in Byculla to becoming one of the most popular faces in Bollywood, he has come a long way. Acting apart, he is an avid photographer and voice-over artist.

Adi Godrej

Armed with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, Adi Godrej is Chairman Emeritus of the Godrej Group. He has been President of several Indian trade associations and a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Bhushan.

Diana Edulji

Former captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, Diana Edulji played cricket for over three decades between 1976 and 1993, as a slow left-arm orthodox spinner, taking more than 100 wickets. She became the first Indian woman cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.