Homi Bhabha, Sam Maneckshaw, Ratan Tata, Fali Nariman, Nani Palkivala, and Cornelia Sorabji are a few names of Parsis who excelled in their respective fields. Find out more about people from other communities that made India their home and their contributions.
Students should research and document contributions of people from various communities that made India their home: From the Jewish community: David Sassoon (philanthropist who established educational institutions), Esther David (author and artist); From the Syriac Christian community: Various leaders in Kerala's social and educational development; From the Parsi community (beyond those mentioned): Dadabhai Naoroji (freedom fighter and 'Grand Old Man of India'), Jamsetji Tata (industrialist), Freddie Mercury (musician), Zubin Mehta (conductor); From the Tibetan community: The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate), Tibetan scholars and monks preserving Buddhist texts; From the Armenian community: Various merchants and professionals who contributed to trade and commerce in Kolkata, Chennai, and other cities. Students should identify the field of contribution (science, arts, business, military, law, social work) and describe how each person enriched Indian society.
Explanation
The chapter mentions several notable Parsis and encourages students to research people from other communities. The chapter provides context about various communities: Jews (Bene Israel became 'the largest Jewish community in India'), Parsis ('Today India has the largest population of followers of Zoroastrianism in the world'), Armenians ('Armenians began to play important roles in the Mughal royal household, the army, as well as the administration'), and Tibetans (the Dalai Lama's 'Four Commitments' include 'the preservation of Tibetan culture' and 'revival of India's civilisational heritage'). Hirabai Lobi from the Siddi community was awarded the Padma Shri in 2023 for her service.