– Adil J. Govadia –
East India Company, which began developing Bombay in the 18th century, invited Parsis to the city from Navsari and Surat to mainly work as interpreters. They took to Parsis essentially because of their flair for spoken languages like English, French and Portuguese, often addressing them as ‘Dou-bhashas’, meaning those who know ‘two languages’. Thus came the Parsi surname ‘Dubash’, the Anglicized assertion of the Hindi words ‘do – bhasha’!
The Parsis’ inherent flair for multiple languages, had them invited by Sir Mir Turab Ali Khan, Salar Jung I to Hyderabad. Seth Rustomji Chenoy and Seth Pestonji Meherji were among the first known Parsis, who migrated to Deccan Hyderabad around the 1830s, to hold respectable positions in the Nizam’s administration.
As the story goes, the Meherji brothers – Seth Viccaji & Seth Pestonji – were bankers (lenders) and ‘tax-farmers’ from Bombay who did remarkably well as cotton traders, in Latur and Solapur. Impressed by their business acumen and uprightness, the then Nizam invited the brothers to trade in Hyderabad. Accepting the royal invitation, in due course the brothers increased cotton exports to Manchester and also built roads and bridges for the transport of cotton to Bombay, sunk wells, founded religious places of worship for cosmopolitan communities besides erecting Dharmshalas (rest-houses) for weary travelers. The humble and noble Zarthostis believed in silent philanthropy as none of the Dharmshalas revealed their benevolence, instead carried plaques with the inscription ‘For the tired traveler, with God’s blessings’.
At one time, the Nizam had borrowed large sums of money from the two Meherji brothers to maintain British troops to fight the mighty Tipu Sultan and the French army. Unable to repay the annual interest, the Nizam chose to grant the brothers a large jagir (estate) from which the revenue earned by the brothers was considered in lieu of the interest. One such property, the Meherji brothers built a fire temple in 1847, now called ‘Seth Viccaji Meherji & Seth Pestonji Meherji Adaran’.
Unusual as it may sound, the Meherji brothers were the only Parsi family in the world to have minted their own currency at the Aurangabad mint in 1840, during the regime of Nizam Nasar-ud-Daulab. The coins were small, almost similar to the old 25 paise coin and were called ‘Pestonshai Sicca’ because of Seth Pestonji’s initials engraved on the coins. The ‘Pestonshai Sicca’ is said to be one of the most beautiful coins; four of these coins are still on display in the British Museum of London.
The second Fire Temple, ‘Bai Maneckbai Nusserwanji Chenoy Adaran’, was consecrated in Hyderabad on October 16th 1904, almost 55 years after the first one constructed in Secunderabad by the Meherji brothers. The inaugural Jashan was led by Deccan’s Vada Dastur Sardar Khan Bhadur Hoshang Jamaspji. One of the oldest structures in the city of Hyderabad, the Dar-e-Mehr’s compound also has residential quarters for Parsis and shops facing the main road. In 2001 the Dar-e-Mehr building was declared a heritage property by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA).
The third and latest Fire Temple – ‘Khan Bahadur Edulji Sorabji Chenoy Anjuman Dar-e-Mehr’ was consecrated in Secunderabad, on 8th August, 1920. The main hall was built by Bai Soonabai, wife of Khan Bahadur Edulji Chenoy and the dome was funded by Seth Edulji Bhikhaji Nakra, in memory of his wife, Bai Jerbai. Dastur Khurshed Behram Jamaspasa was the first Panthaky of the fire temple, managed by the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad.
In January 1889, a Parsi Dharamsala was founded in Secunderabad by Late Khan Bahadur Edulji Sorabji Chenai in memory of his wife Bai Pirojbai. The inaugural Jashan was performed by Dastur Khurshedji Behramji Jamaspji, Vada Dastur of Deccan.
Bai Ratanbai J Chenoy Parsi High School, Secunderabad, established in 1919, was originally an educational institution exclusively for Parsi children. Reputed for its outstanding standards of education and discipline, it was later converted into a cosmopolitan institution imparting education to over 1,200 students.
The Parsi community of the twin cities also boasts of a Parsi Zoroastrian Club, located in Secunderabad, providing facilities for indoor games like billiards, snooker and table tennis, as also a Health club and reading room for its members.
There are two Dokhmas in Hyderabad – the older Dokhma, built by the Meherji Brothers, located at Bhoiguda, Secunderabad, was consecrated on 19th October, 1839. The second Dokhma located at Zamistanpur, Hyderabad, is managed by the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad. This Dokhma was built on a property that originally belonged to the last Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali’s grandmother, who gifted the land to the Parsi community as she was captivated by the hygienic and environmentally friendly method of Parsi disposal of their dead.
