– Sanaeya Billimoria –

Each year, 5^th September marks a national tribute to teachers – the architects of intellect and character, who kindle minds and illuminate futures of generations. For our Parsi community, this commemoration carries a resonance that transcends the calendar – it is woven into the very essence of our Parsipanu. Education has stood as the defining pillar of our collective identity, enabling a community small in size to command an influence far beyond its numbers. From the earliest days of our settlement on Indian soil, the pursuit of knowledge was exalted as both a blessing and a duty. To impart wisdom and to receive it were seen as acts of grace, ennobled with reverence.

It is no coincidence that the Parsi community is counted among the most educated in India. Walk into any Parsi household and you will find that the central narrative revolves around academics, schools, examinations, degrees and higher studies. Parents and grandparents take immense pride in ensuring that children are well-schooled, often encouraging them to aim for the finest institutions of the country and the world.

Our passion for education was evident from the time we set foot in India. The first Parsi schools established in Bombay in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, like the J B Petit School and the J J School, were not merely institutions but symbols of community determination. The ethos was simple: if we invest in education, we invest in the future. This foresight ensured that Parsis emerged as leaders, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and thinkers, contributing greatly to India’s development.

The zeal for learning was not restricted to men. Parsi women too were encouraged to study at a time when women’s education was still frowned upon in many sections of Indian society. Avabai Petit, the visionary who established the Avabai Petit School for girls in 1913, ensured that generations of young women would step into the world armed with knowledge and confidence. The legacy of women teachers in Parsi institutions is a shining chapter, remembered by countless students who benefited from their discipline and encouragement.

In fact, the legacy of teaching in our community stretches from the spiritual to the scholarly, weaving a tradition that has shaped generations. Our earliest and most profound teacher was Zarathustra himself, who, over 3,500 years ago, gave the world Zoroastrianism and its timeless message of good thoughts, words and deeds. Centuries later, Dasturji Meherji Rana, the revered 16th-century high priest of Navsari, was celebrated not only within the community but across India for his wisdom, spiritual authority, and scholarship.

This reverence for knowledge has carried into modern times through Parsis who have shaped global intellectual and academic thought. Dadabhai Naoroji, remembered as the ‘Grand Old Man of India’, was an educator, social reformer and professor of Gujarati at University College London, while also spearheading India’s freedom struggle. Economist J K Mehta, professor at Allahabad University, enriched economic theory with his influential works.

Teacher’s Day is incomplete without acknowledging the towering figures who stood at blackboards and lecterns, imparting wisdom to eager minds. Among them was Dr. Homi J. Bhabha’s father, Jehangir Bhabha, an educationist whose passion for teaching left a lasting mark on Bombay’s academic circles. His influence was instrumental in creating an environment that allowed Homi Bhabha to flourish as the father of India’s nuclear programme.

Equally revered are the teachers who moulded iconic Parsis. J R D Tata, revered as India’s most visionary industrialist, attributed his meticulous discipline and values to the French Jesuit fathers who taught him at the Cathedral and John Connon School. Dr. Bhabha was mentored by scientists at Cambridge who recognised his brilliance early. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, one of India’s greatest military leaders, credited his teachers at Sherwood College, Nainital, for instilling leadership qualities that would later shine on the battlefield. These examples remind us that every Parsi achievement carries within it the invisible presence of a teacher who guided, corrected and encouraged.

Today, Parsis continue to hold distinguished academic chairs worldwide: Mahzarin Banaji, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University; Homi K. Bhabha, Cultural Theorist at Harvard; Noshir Contractor, Professor of Communication at Northwestern University; and Thrity Umrigar, Armitage Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the countless brilliant Parsi teachers in India, who continue to shape young minds and build a brighter future for the nation, they exemplify a community where teaching remains a calling as also an enduring legacy.

If one were to describe the archetypal Parsi teacher, certain qualities stand out. Precision, discipline, affection veiled in firmness and an uncompromising respect for the written word. Whether in a primary school or a postgraduate programme, the Parsi teacher became synonymous with thoroughness. Students would grumble about the rigor of homework or the sharpness of a remark, but in later years they would acknowledge the foundation it built. It is this no-nonsense approach that helped generations of Indians, beyond the Parsi community, find their footing in academics and careers.

As the world changes with digital classrooms and artificial intelligence, the essence of teaching remains unchanged. A teacher, whether in person or online, is the flame that lights another flame. In celebrating teachers, we reaffirm our collective duty to continue this legacy. Teacher’s Day is more than a ceremonial occasion, it is a reminder that the Parsi story is inseparable from the story of learning. Our small community has produced giants in every field because teachers, within and outside the community, built the foundation. They sharpened our minds, strengthened our values and instilled in us the courage to dream. As we salute them, let us remember that behind every Parsi success is the guiding hand of a teacher. To honour them is to honour the very spirit of our community.