Zoroastrians in Britain: The Ratanbai Katrak Lectures, University of Oxford 1985 / Edition 1

by John R. Hinnells

Overview

Zoroastrianism is the religion of ancient Iran, dating back centuries before the coming of Islam. It stresses the duality between goodness and evil, light and happiness, and darkness and suffering. The Zoroastrians are also the oldest South Asian minority in Britain—with a history going back to 1724. This is the first study of British Zoroastrianism, covering personalities, traditions, and the contemporary concerns of this enduring but little known ancient religion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198261933
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	02/28/1996
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 8.81(h) x 0.99(d)
Lexile:	1390L (what's this?)

About the Author

University London

Table of Contents

Abbreviations		xv
1. Introduction		1	(49)
(a) A Brief Overview of Zoroastrian History		1	(26)
(b) South Asians in Britain		27	(17)
(c) Some Questions of Terminology		44	(6)
2. Zoroastrian Perspectives on Contacts with the British		50	(27)
(a) Iranian Zoroastrians and the British		50	(3)
(b) Anglo-Parsi Relations in India		53	(5)
(c) Parsis and the British in Pakistan		58	(2)
(d) Parsi Experiences in East Africa		60	(7)
(e) British-Zoroastrian Religious Interaction		67	(7)
(f) Conclusion		74	(3)
3. Early Zoroastrian Arrivals in Britain		77	(30)
(a) The Earliest Arrivals		77	(11)
(b) Nineteenth Century Parsi Travellers' Diaries		88	(9)
(c) Zoroastrian Literature for the British		97	(5)
(d) Conclusion		102	(5)
4. A Century of Zoroastrian Associations in Britain (1860s-1960s)		107	(48)
(a) The Founding of the London Association		107	(4)
(b) London and the Iranian Zoroastrians		111	(3)
(c) The Incorporation of the Association		114	(3)
(d) The Parsi Social Union		117	(2)
(e) Broacha House, Edinburgh		119	(2)
(f) Growing Numbers, Problems, and the Need for a Zoroastrian House		121	(4)
(g) Personalities and Politics within the Community		125	(7)
(h) London: An International Center		132	(1)
(i) The Post-War Situation		133	(1)
(j) The London Funeral Ground		134	(4)
(k) A New Zoroastrian House and Community Religious Needs		138	(4)
(l) Zoroastrian 'Boundaries'		142	(2)
(m) The World Zoroastrian Organization (WZO)		144	(4)
(n) Local Zoroastrian Associations		148	(2)
(o) Conclusion		150	(5)
5. Zoroastrians in British Politics		155	(72)
(a) Dadabhoy Naoroji (1825-1917; MP 1892-1895)		156	(18)
(b) Muncherji Bhownagree (1851-1933; MP 1895-1905)		174	(20)
(c) Shapurji Saklatvala (1874-1936; MP 1922-1923, 1924-1929)		194	(24)
(d) Zerbanoo Gifford (1950-)		218	(3)
(e) Conclusion		221	(6)
6. British Zoroastrian Approaching the Third Millennium		227	(52)
(a) Some Observations on Research Methods		227	(3)
(b) A Broad Demographic Picture		230	(3)
(c) Religion and a Sense of Identity		233	(2)
(d) Zoroastrians and the British		235	(3)
(e) Does being a Zoroastrian Conflict with being British?		238	(3)
(f) The Country of British and the Preservation of Heritage		241	(2)
(g) Decade of Arrival and Religious Practice		243	(2)
(h) Contacts with the Old Country		245	(1)
(i) Differences between the Generations		246	(3)
(j) Some Gender Issues		249	(1)
(k) Intermarriage		250	(5)
(l) Transmitting the Tradition: The Social Context		255	(3)
(m) Transmitting the Tradition: Religious Knowledge		258	(3)
(n) The Practice of the Religion		261	(11)
(o) British Zoroastrians in International Perspective		272	(3)
(p) Conclusion		275	(4)
7. Conclusion		279	(32)
(a) Zoroastrians in Britain: An Overview		279	(17)
(b) Zoroastrians and other South Asian Religious in Britain		296	(7)
(c) Another Comparison		303	(2)
(d) The Study of Diaspora Religions		305	(4)
(e) The Future for British Zoroastrians		309	(2)
Bibliography		311	(10)
Glossary		321	(4)
Index		325

Editorial Reviews

"Absorbing, sensitive, and exhaustively researched, this book will remain the standard work for many years. Essential for college and research libraries."—Religious Studies Review

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