Modern Asian Studies 52, 1 (2018) pp. 238–265. C Cambridge University Press 2018 doi:10.1017/S0026749X17000336 Good Deeds: Parsi trusts from ‘the womb to the tomb’ LEILAH VEVAINA Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Munich, Germany Email:
[email protected] Abstract Parsis (Indian Zoroastrians), a small traditionally endogamous group, are well known in India for their philanthropic giving. The Parsis of Mumbai are beneficiaries of hundreds of Parsi public charitable trusts today, and this article will show how trusts, as particular forms of giving, establish perpetual communal obligation connecting the past and present. It will show how the circulation of personal assets through customary inheritance within a family is replaced by the trust with the circulation of communal obligations in perpetuity. While this mechanism of giving has a marked endurance, what has changed is what constitutes ‘the good’ within these deeds. Moving away from traditional philanthropic practices of subsidizing education, medical care, and welfare to the poor, the focus of giving has shifted to the pursuit of communal reproduction, both biological and social. Introduction I met Tanaz∗1 at a dinner party of some common friends in Mumbai. She had heard that I was researching Parsis and trusts and wanted to learn more about my work. Sitting next to me on a sofa, she sat up to the edge of the seat and asked eagerly, ‘You work on trusts? My mother just established one!’ She explained that her mother was widowed quite young and remained very wealthy. Tanaz was an only child and, I would like to thank Sumathi Ramaswamy and Filippo Osella not only for considering my work for this special issue but also for their insightful critiques and suggestions.