Parsis in India observe ‘Homaji ni Baaj’ every year on Roj Govad of Mah Dae. However, few have heard about Cama Homa who, long before Homaji, also sacrificed his life and was hailed by the community, especially in Bharuch, as a martyred religious hero. While Homaji (Behdin Homa Behdin Jamshed) was falsely accused and hanged in Mumbai in the year 1783, Cama Homa was hanged in the year 1703 in Bharuch, for calling his business partner a kafir, which in Arabic means unbeliever or infidel. The term comes from kufr, which means disbelief or denial of God’s authority.

The Story Of Homaji

Before we come to the story of Cama Homa, it may not be out of place to quickly summarise the story of Homaji. A pregnant Parsi lady belonging to the Kadmi sect falsely accused the pious Homa, , son of Jamshed Zaahiaa who was a weaver and well-known poet of Bharuch, for kicking her and causing her to have a miscarriage. Homaji belonged to the Shehenshahi sect. This was a period when the Parsi community was not only sharply divided over the needless calendar controversy but also took to rioting and acts of verbal and physical violence.

As an accused, Homaji was first brought to trial before the Nawab of Bharuch and then to Bombay before the British court. Homa pleaded his innocence, however, he was sentenced and hanged to death at the corner of Bazaar-gate in Fort, Bombay, on Mah Dae, Roj Govad 1152 Y.Z., (1783 AD). Before he was hanged, he declared that he was innocent of the charge brought against him and that his sentence was not just. He reportedly added that the person who had levelled the false charge against him would be found dead on the fourth day (Chahrum) after his death. He is also believed to have said that all those who will remember him for his honesty and innocence will receive his blessings.

Reportedly, the lady who had falsely accused him was found dead in her home on the Chahrum day of the pious and blameless Homaji. There is also another version that the death sentence was finally pronounced because a Kadmi belonging to the Wadia family stood as a false witness and that this witness was found dead on the day of Homaji’s Chahrum.

To this day, devout Parsis (and particularly those hassled in life with false litigations and accusations) observe Dae Mah Govad Roj as the day of Homaji ni Baj and perform religious ceremonies in his pious memory. Homaji is the patron Saint of all those who are meek, gentle, falsely accused and generally beleaguered. In our Aafringaan prayers, his name is recited as Behdin Homa Behdin Jamshed.

The Story Of Cama Homa

Cama Homa was a weaver in Bharuch and he had a Muslim business partner who cheated him and caused him huge financial losses. In a fit of anger, Cama called him a kafir. Angered by this derogatory slur, the Muslim partner took the matter up to the Qazi-e-Sarkar (Islamic court of that period) which was presided over by an Islamic judge.

In eighteenth century, Bharuch, the Qazi-e-Sarkar was a high-ranking judicial and administrative official, essentially the Islamic judge and chief civil magistrate responsible for administering justice according to Sharia law and local customs. The title Sarkar, which is of Persian origin means government or ruler indicating that he was an important state-appointed functionary. The Qazi’s duties were extensive and vital to the local governance of Bharuch, which during the eighteenth century transitioned through Mughal, Maratha, and eventually British East India Company rule.

During the trial, Cama Homa remained faithful to the truth and confessed that in a fit of rage he did call his Muslim business partner a kafir. Unfortunately, this was sufficient ground for the Qazi (judge) to pass a death sentence for Cama. However, the death sentence came with a clemency clause, that if Cama would renounce his Zoroastrian faith and embrace Islam, his death sentence would be waived. Cama however refused and was hanged on Roj Amardad of Mah Ardibehesht, 1072 YZ (1703).

Cama Homa’s sacrifice had a huge impact on the Parsi community, instilling a deeper sense of pride and faith in the Zoroastrian religion. The priests of Bharuch included his name for invocation in all religious ceremonies and the laity hailed him as a martyred hero.

The story of Cama Homa embodies the spirit of self-sacrifice, dignity, devotion and unflinching faith in the Zoroastrian religion. He is remembered for preferring death rather than the dishonour of renouncing his Zoroastrian religion.