Let’s Revive Parsi-preneurship!
Dear Readers,
With video calls becoming the new norm for meetings over the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of getting to chat with many of our community greats from various industries, the world over. Most are or have been established entrepreneurs who’ve worked diligently and succeeded in making a mark in their respective fields.
Through all these inspiring and enriching conversations, two matters stood out, which found universal consensus – across generations, genders and geography. The first – that we were all indisputably proud to belong to this pint-sized but precious and unique, ‘Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian’ community. The second point wasn’t as heartening as the first. In fact, it smacked of disappointment as regards the lack of interest and motivation in our community’s youth to embrace entrepreneurship.
The entrepreneurial spirit, which was earlier the identity of our thriving community, once rife with young ‘Parsi-preneurs’ (Parsi entrepreneurs) doing us and the nation proud, has been on the decline for a few decades now, most lamented. “Our young guns aren’t firing anymore. They’re lackadaisical and have lost that fire-in-the-belly that we lived with!” said one.
“It’s the darned BPP,” said another. “They’ve spoiled our youth with the whole ‘we take care of you from womb-to-tomb’ philosophy. Being completely catered for, especially free housing, they don’t feel the need to go out there and make something of themselves. They need to get out of their cozy Baugs!”
“No wonder so many of our girls prefer marrying parjat boys who come across as the go-getters and are much more enterprising, with things not handed to them on a platter. Unlike most of our young fellows, these boys study hard, they work harder because they know they’re not getting any free lunches!” quipped yet another.
There is some truth there. Why have we stopped wanting to become leaders, despite the resources at hand, in the form of various Trusts and organizations like WZCC which has been providing great impetus and support to up and coming Parsi-preneurs? Let’s reignite that love for leadership before the Parsi-preneurship sails away! Let’s revive Parsi-preneurship
Have a safe weekend!
– Anahita
