Parsis and the Spirit of Indian Nationalism
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Sv A Parsis and the Spirit of Indian Nationalism Adi H. Doctor The Parsis constitute India's smallest and most distinct ethnic group. Although miniscule in number they contributed immensely to enriching all aspects of Indian life, both political as well as economic. The political attitudes of the Parsis have been considerably shaped by their early history in India. In the first place Parsi historians are very conscious of the common Aryan heritage that they share with their Hindu brethren. Secondly, in keeping with the promise made by their ancestors to King Jadi Rana in 936 CE, at the time of being provided shelter, the Parsis, ever since, have endeavoured "to sweeten the country by their good deeds"; while retaining their distinct identity. They became one with the country and its people.1 A Civic Conscious Community: Building the City of Bombay 1 Detail of a portrait of Dadabhai Right from the beginning of British rule in India, Parsi Naoroji (1825-1917) painted by intellectuals showed a remarkable awareness of where the Jehangir Ardeshir Lalkaka. Dadabhai Naoroji had in 1892 roots of the community lay. A good index of this is to be found the distinction of being the first Asian to be elected member of in the community's immense contribution to the development parliament. He was a founding of local self-government in the city of Bombay, to India's member of the Indian National Congress and fought hard national movement, and to the struggle for freedom by the against the discriminatory policies of colonial rule, Indian Congress. specially with regard to the civil The Parsi community's interest in local self-government service. He promoted the idea of self-government and wrote and civic improvement is evident from the large number of extensively on the effects of Parsi citizens represented in the Bombay Town Council from "Un-British Rule in India". He presided over meetings of the 1872 to 1920.1 This representation of the Parsis in the Council Indian National Congress (1886, 1893, 1906) and was a close was particularly noteworthy as it was attained on the basis of friend of Mahatma Gandhi. their own social and economic standing and not due to any Photograph courtesy: Parsiana. preferential treatment by the British. 493 $3ffl 2 Sohrabji Shapurji Bengalee (1831-1893) was the first Indian to advocate a progressive factory legislation, that took into consideration the well being of the employees. As a Justice of Peace and secretary of the Parsi Law Association, Bengalee advocated reforms in all areas affecting the interests of the ordinary workers. In 1878, he submitted a draft for legislating factory law to Sir Richard Temple, the Governor of Bombay, long before the idea caught the imagination of social reformists in England. Despite opposition, Bengalee mobilized British public opinion through Parliament and the press. It was due to his efforts that the Indian Factories Act of 1881 became law. He served as a member of the Bombay Municipal Corporation and the Legislative Council, and was appointed Sheriff of Bombay. He worked for the advancement of education and social reform in India. Photograph: Fram Petit. J Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (1783-1859) amassed wealth, first in the volatile cotton trade and later as an opium trader. An outstanding philanthropist, he established a trust fund, the first of its kind in India, which by 1864 was involved in administering twenty-one schools. Many Indians received their first exposure to western education in a school established by him. He also built an art school, endowed hospitals, and established religious foundations. He was the lirst Indian to be awarded a baronetcy in perpetuity. Photograph: Fram Petit. 494 Adi H. Doctor W hen one considers civic development and public improvement, several prominent Parsi names come to mind. There was Nanabhoy Byramjee, noted for his leading role in the development of the Bombay Municipal Corporation; there was Naoroji Fardoonji, nicknamed "father of the Bombay Municipality," who earned fame for his fearless criticism and exposure of Arthur Crawford, the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay; Sohrabji Bengalee, father of factory legislation and also a member of the Bombay Legislative Council (fig.2); Byramjee Jejeebhoy, legislative councillor, noted for his work on the City Improvement Trust; and stalwarts like Pherozeshah Mehta, four times Chairman, and Councillor for forty-three years without interruption, whose numerous civic services to Bombay earned for him the title of "the uncrowned king of Bombay." It was in India's metropolitan centres like Calcutta and Bombay that the beginnings of a distinct national movement emerged.3 The Bombay Association was formed in 1852, primarily with the financial support, of the Parsis, including Dadabhai Naoroji, Naoroji Fardoonji, and Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (figs.1,3). They played a distinct role in awakening political consciousness and in demanding equal and active participation in the new political institutions being set up by the imperial rulers. In 4 Dadabhai Naoroji believed that in order to achieve political freedom for the people of 1853, the Bombay Association lamented the lack India, it was important to battle the British on their own ground, through constitutional of Indian representation in the Governor's Council means. He worked alongside with the 'Moderate' group of politicians such as Pherozeshah Mehta, Surendranath Banerjee and Gopal Krishna Gokhale to make India and denounced the policy of racial exclusiveness. independent. Photograph: Kaiyan K. Mistree The Bombay Association under Parsi leadership adopted a bold, secular and liberal approach to provincial and national problems. This was subsequently to influence the All India National Congress in the first twenty years of its formation. Parsi Constitutionalism: a Virtue and a Strength Partly by virtue of their religious temperament and partly because of their business interests, the Parsi community all along showed an inclination for constitutionalism and a desire to work for freedom and change through law. Dadabhai Naoroji may rightly be called the Father of Constitutionalism in India (figs.4,5). India had no constitution of its own in Dadabhai1 s time, but he accepted the common law of England 5 and more specifically the Queen's Proclamation and The personal effects of Dadabhai Naoroji. Collection and copyright: F.D. Alpaiwalla Museum, The Bombay Parsi Punchayet. the solemn pledges made by English statesmen, as Photograph: Fram Petit. the constitution. 495 Parsis and the Spirit of Indian Nationalism 6 Dadabhai Naoroji in the House of Commons with the Liberal Prime Minister Gladstone, at the dispatch box. Dadabhai won his seat from Finsbury Central; his opponent, Captain Penton was from the Conservative Party. Photograph courtesy: Malcolm Deboo, The Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe. 497 10 opposite ' ■ A No Ruz banquet held at Pherozeshah Mehtars (1845 the Cafe Royal in London -1915) undisputed position on 21st March 1906. in The Bombay ‘Presidency Presiding over the dinner is Association, the Indian ' -' ' ii| lljl Dadabhai Naoroji, then National Congress and the President of the Town Council of Bombay, Zoroastrian Association, placed him in an influential *ag f M uncherjee M. position in Indian politics. Bhownagree and Allen Mehta did his law at Octavian Hume, the Lincoln's Inn and was seen General Secretary of the as a "leading statesman and %. • *, f\ i, Indian National Congress. politician in India." He Photograph courtesy: dominated the Indian Malcolm Deboo, The political arena for thirty Zoroastrian Trust Funds of years and was referred to as I Europe. the "uncrowned king of Bombay." Photograph: Kaiyan K. Mistree. Dinshaw Edulji Wacha (1844-1936) was the 8 Secretary of the Bombay Sir Muncherjee M. Bhownagree (1851-1933) was honoured Presidency Association for with the Order of the Lion and the Sun of Persia for services thirty years. As a m em ber of rendered to Iran. Bhownagree was the Tory candidate for the Legislative Council, Northeast Bethnal Green. He objected in parliament to Indians Wacha opposed the being made to finance the British campaign in Africa, which he economic exploitation of felt was being waged to promote imperial interests. He was also India, and wrote extensively concerned with the vast sums of money spent in maintaining on the subject. In the Indian the British Army in India. Bhownagree emphasised that it was National Congress, he the moral duty of the British government to invest in scientific worked closely with and technical education. He strongly advocated that India Dadabhai Naoroji and should not be exploited by British industry which had made the Pherozeshah Mehta towards Indian economy vulnerable to plague, drought, and famine. gaining autonomy and self Photograph courtesy: Malcolm Deboo, The Zoroastrian Trust governance for India. Funds of Europe. Photograph: Fram Petit. 498 Adi H. D octor Therefore, in his struggle against the British arguments of the British conservatives, against 11 previous pages administration for securing justice and fair play he giving representation to the Indian masses. He was A bronze commemorative plaque at the base of constantly cited the promise made in the effective in neutralizing the political activities of Dadabhai Naoroji's statue proclamation, and in the various rights that were the supporters of the Indian National Congress in located in Bombay's financial district. It depicts pledged. In a paper, read at the East India E nglan d. Dadabhai leading the nation; Association on 2nd of May 1867, Dadabhai the inscription reads outlined the duties of the British towards India. Dinshaw E. Wacha and "Mothers Really Build Nations." He never once spoke of the Natural Rights to Pherozeshah Mehta Photograph: Fram Petit. which Indians were entitled, but instead spoke of Dinshaw E. Wacha, was a liberal nationalist and "the only right policy having been thus decided founding member of the Congress Party. He served and proclaimed in the name of the sovereign."4 as its secretary for many years and in 1901 became In 1855, the India Office suddenly reduced its President (fig.