List of Parsis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was probably the best-known Parsi throughout the world.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by with reliable sources.

This is a list of notable Parsis. The Parsis constitute one of the two Zoroastrian communities of the Indian subcontinent, the other being Irani.


In science and industry[]

  • Aban Pestonjee: Sri Lankan entrepreneur
  • Adi Bulsara (born 1952): physicist
  • Adi Kanga (1923–2013): Indian Civil engineer, planned city of Navi Mumbai and Vashi bridge
  • Ardaseer Cursetjee (1808–1877) of the Wadia shipbuilding family: first Indian elected Fellow of the Royal Society
  • Ardeshir Darabshaw Shroff (1899–1965): Indian economist; delegate at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference; co-author of the Bombay Plan; founder-director of the Investment Corporation of India; first Indian chairman of the Bank of India
  • Ardeshir Godrej (1868–1936): Indian inventor; co-founder (with his brother Piroj) of the Godrej industrial empire
  • Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy (born c. 1793) Lady: continued her husband Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy philanthropic work; builder of Mahim Causeway, connects two islands of Bombay and Salsette (north Bombay)
  • Byram Dinshawji Avari (born 1942): Pakistan hotelier; founder and chairman of the Avari Group of companies
  • Zubin Damania (born 1973), physician, comedian, internet personality, musician, and founder of Turntable Health
  • Byramjee Jeejeebhoy (1822–1890) Esq., CSI: Indian philanthropist and founder of B.J. Medical College, Pune
  • Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir (1879–1962): Indian civil engineer; master constructor of Bombay
  • Cowasji Shavaksha Dinshaw (Adenwalla) (1827–1900): Indian entrepreneur
  • Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney Sir, (1812–1878): 1st Baronet, philanthropist, including various academic buildings of the Bombay University
  • Cyrus Chothia (1942–2019): molecular biologist
  • Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (born 1968): former chairman of Tata Group; Irish citizen businessman
  • Cyrus Poonawalla (born 1945): Indian Industrialist, pharmacologist; co-founder of the Serum Institute of India
  • Dhunjibhoy Bomanji, Sir (1862–1937): Indian Shipping Magnate, philanthropist
  • Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, Sir (1823–1901): founded the first textile factories in India
  • Dorabji Tata, Sir (1859–1932): Indian industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Dorab Tata Trust
  • Fardunjee Marzban (1787–1847): publisher, founded the first vernacular newspaper on the Indian subcontinent Bombay Samachar
  • Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960) publisher of The National Herald and The Navjivan newspapers and husband of Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India
  • Framji Cowasji Banaji, Esq (1767 – 12 February 1851): merchant, philanthropist, lease holder of Powai
  • Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909–1966): nuclear scientist and first chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission
  • Homi Maneck Mehta, Sir (1871–1948): industrialist in textiles, insurance, banking, chemicals & sugar. Represented India at League of Nations, Chairman of Bombay War Gift Fund and President of Victory Thanksgiving Fund.
  • Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (1923–2010): Padma Vibhushan awardee, chemical engineer; guided the development of India's first nuclear explosive device
  • Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody (1838–1911): financier and industrialist in Hong Kong. He contributed $150,000 to help establish the University of Hong Kong.
  • Sir Temulji Bhicaji Nariman (1848–1940): obstetrician. Co-founded one of Bombay's first Lying-in hospitals in 1887 and was knighted in 1914 for his work during the plague epidemic in India at the turn of the 19th century.
  • Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J. R. D.) Tata (1904–1993): industrialist; founder of Air India, India's first commercial airline
  • Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, Sir (1783–1859): opened sea trade with China; philanthropist, J J Hospital,
  • Jamsetji Tata (1839–1904): industrialist; founder of the Tata Group of companies, titled a "One-Man Planning Commission" by Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Jehangir Ghandy, Sir (1896–1972): built Tata Steel at Jamshedpur
  • Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (1880–1960): industrialist; founded Hong Kong's first brewery; established the first anti-tuberculosis sanatorium in the Andajat
  • John Abraham A well known Actor in Bollywood who acted in many films
  • Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia (1702–1774): shipwright and naval architect; builder of the first dry-dock in Asia
  • Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (18??–1924?): industrialist and philanthropist; NED Engineering College
  • Nariman Mehta (1920–2014): organic chemist and inventor of bupropion, the most commonly used antidepressant drug
  • Nergis Mavalvala (born 1968): astrophysicist and professor at MIT
  • Neville Wadia (1911–1996): businessman and son-in-law of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
  • Nusli Wadia (born 1944): chairman of the Wadia Group
  • Ness Wadia (born 1972): joint-managing director of Bombay Dyeing
  • Noshir Gowadia (born 1944): aircraft engineer and convicted spy
  • Nowroji Saklatwala (1875–1938): Chairman of Tata group of companies from 1932 until death by heart attack in 1938
  • Pallonji Mistry (born 1929): construction tycoon
  • Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej (1882–1972): entrepreneur; co-founder (with his brother Ardeshir) of the Godrej industrial empire
  • Ratan Tata (born 1937): chairman emeritus of Tata Sons; former chairman of the Tata Group of companies; member of the central board of the Reserve Bank of India
  • Russi Mody (1918–2014): former Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel Limited; son of Sir Homi Mody and brother of Piloo Mody
  • Rustom Jal Vakil (1911–1974): cardiologist
  • Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (1856–1926): a noted chairperson of Tata Group and Tata Sons; father of J. R. D. Tata
  • Sir Sorabji Nusserwanji Pochkhanawala (1881–1937): banker, co-founder of the Central Bank of India
  • Shiraz Minwalla (born 1973): theoretical physicist, String theorist
  • Spenta R. Wadia (born 1950): theoretical physicist
  • Ratanji Tata (1871–1918), Sir: younger son of Jamsetji Tata; industrialist and philanthropist; Sir Ratan Tata Trust
  • Villoo Morawala-Patell (born 1955), MD of Avesthagen: Officer of the National Order of Merit holder

In academia[]

  • Kaikhosrov D. Irani (1922–2017): former protégé of Albert Einstein; emeritus professor of Philosophy of Science at the City College of New York
  • Homi K. Bhabha (born 1949): cultural-studies theorist; Professor, Harvard University
  • Jamshed Bharucha (born 1956): President, Cooper Union. Formerly, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Dartmouth College (first Indian American to serve as the dean of a school at an Ivy League institution)
  • Mahzarin Banaji (born 1956): Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
  • Noshir Contractor (born 1959): Award-winning Professor of Behavioral Sciences, Communication and Management at Northwestern University
  • Rusi Taleyarkhan: Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University
  • Rohinton Kamakaka: Professor of Molecular Cell Developmental biology at University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Thrity Umrigar (born 1961): Armitage Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University
  • N. H. Wadia (1925–2016): Prominent neurologist; Director of Neurology at Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals for 25 years
  • Vistasp Karbhari: President, University of Texas at Arlington

Military[]

In entertainment, religion, sports[]

  • Aban Marker Kabraji (born 1953): Pakistani ecologist, Asian regional director of IUCN
  • Amyra Dastur (born 1993): model, film actress, television presenter
  • Alaya Furniturewala (born 1998): model and film actresses
  • Aneela Mirza, or Anila Mirza (born 8 October 1974), Danish singer who has found success as a member of the pop group Toy-Box and as a solo artist under the name of Aneela
  • Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926–2012): investigative journalist and newspaper columnist
  • Aruna Irani (born 18 August 1946), Bollywood actress and dancer
  • Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938): author and screenwriter; vocal proponent of women's rights
  • Behram "Busybee" Contractor (1930–2001): journalist and columnist
  • Behramji Malabari (1853–1912): poet, publicist, author, and social reformer
  • Bejan Daruwalla (1931-2020): astrologer
  • Burjor Khurshedji Karanjia (1919–2012): Indian film journalist and editor, chairman NFDC
  • Cyrus Broacha (born 1971): MTV India VJ and stand-up comedian
  • Cyrus Poncha (born 1976): Asian Squash Federation Junior Coach of the Year 2003–04
  • Deena M. Mistri (1924–2011): author and educationalist; recipient of Pakistan's "Pride of Performance" medal
  • Diana Eduljee (born 1956): first captain of the Indian women's Cricket team – from 1978 till 1993
  • Diana Penty (born 1985): Actress and model
  • Dinyar Contractor: Parsi stage actor, Comedian and Bollywood actor
  • Dolly Nazir (born 1935): swimmer
  • Erick Avari (born 1952): Hollywood actor.
  • Farokh Engineer (born 1938): cricketer.
  • Farrukh Dhondy (born 1944): novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, journalist.
  • Firdaus Kanga (born 1960): author, actor and screenwriter.
  • Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946–1991): rock icon and lead singer for Queen.
  • Fredoon Kabraji (1897–1986): poet, writer, journalist, and artist writing in English.
  • Gary Lawyer (born 1959): singer-songwriter
  • Godrej Sidhwa (1925-2011): theologian and historian.
  • Goshpi Avari (born 19??): first Pakistani woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.
  • Homai Vyarawalla (1913–2012): India's first woman photojournalist, Padma Vibhushan.
  • Homi Adajania (born 1972): Film Director, Writer and Scuba Diving Instructor
  • Jehan Daruvala (born 1998): Indian racing driver.
  • Jim Sarbh (born 1987): Actor on film, stage and television.
  • Jivanji Jamshedji Modi Sir: Zoroastrian scholar, Ph.D from Heidelberg, Germany, recognition and awards, for scholarship, from Sweden, France, and Hungary.
  • Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892–1988): composer, music critic, pianist, and writer.
  • Kaizad Gustad (born 1968): film director.
  • Karl Umrigar (1960–1979): Indian jockey
  • Keki Daruwalla (born 1937): poet and writer
  • Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla (1875–1956): high priest and religious scholar.
  • Mehli Irani (1930–2021), Indian cricketer
  • Mehli Mehta (1908–2002): musician; founder of the Bombay Philharmonic and Bombay String Orchestras.
  • Mehr Jesia (born 1968): Indian model
  • Nariman "Nari" Contractor (born 1934): cricketer; coach at the CCI Academy.
  • Nauheed Cyrusi (born 1982): model, film actress, television presenter
  • Nazneen Contractor (born 1982): film actress
  • Nina Wadia (born 1968): British-Indian comedian and television actress, currently and most notably from EastEnders.
  • Perizaad Zorabian (born 1973): model, film actress
  • Persis Khambatta (1950–1998): actress and model. Miss India in 1965.
  • Phiroz Mehta (1902–1994): writer on religious topics and philosopher.
  • Pahlan Ratanji "Polly" Umrigar (1926–2006): cricketer.
  • Rachel Viccaji Pakistani singer and musician.
  • Rashid Byramji Horse trainer
  • Rohinton Mistry (born 1952): novelist, short story author, screenplay writer.
  • Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia (1912–2008): journalist & editor, founder of India's first tabloid, Blitz.
  • Sanaya Irani (born 1983): Indian Actress
  • Sanaya Pithawalla (born 1993): Actress, TV personality.
  • Sam Dastor (born 1941): television actor and director.
  • Shapur Kharegat (1932–2000): journalist, editor and director of The Economist (Asia).
  • Shiamak Davar (born 1961): Bollywood choreographer
  • Sohrab Modi (1897–1984): stage and film actor, director and producer.
  • Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957): screenwriter, author and photographer.
  • Tara Sutaria (born 1995): Actress.
  • Varun Toorkey (born 1990): television and film actor.
  • Viraf Phiroz Patel (born 1980): The Grasim Mr. India 2005, model turned actor
  • Zarin Mehta (born 1938): musician; executive director of the New York Philharmonic since 2000
  • Zarnak Sidhwa (born 1972): Pakistani Chef with a TV show on Masala TV.
  • Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): human rights campaigner
  • Zoe Viccaji (born 1983): Pakistani singer and musician
  • Zubin Mehta (born 1936): musician; Musical Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, former director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and Bavarian State Opera.
  • Zubin Surkari (born 1980): Canadian international cricketer.
  • Zubin Varla (born 1970): stage actor.

Politicians, activists and bureaucrats[]

  • B. P. Wadia (1881–1958), Indian theosophist and labour activist. Pioneered the creation of workers unions in India.
  • Cowasji Jehangir (Readymoney) (1812–1878): J.P.; introduced income tax in India; first baronet of Bombay.
  • Frene Ginwala (born 1932): member of the ANC and aided Nelson Mandela in abolishing apartheid in South Africa. Later served for 7 years as Speaker Of the House of Parliament in South Africa
  • Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta (1886–1952): former Mayor of Karachi for 12 consecutive years.
  • Jamsheed Marker (1922–2018): Pakistani diplomat, ambassador to more countries than any other person; recipient of Hilal-i Imtiaz.
  • Justice Dorab Patel (1924–1997): former Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, former Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan and human rights campaigner.
  • K. N. Choksy (1933–2015): Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka
  • Mancherjee Bhownagree (1851–1933): politician, second Asian to be elected to the House of Commons (Conservative).
  • Minocher Bhandara (1937?–2008): Pakistani parliamentarian and owner of Muree Brewery.
  • Minoo Masani (1905–1998): author, parliamentarian and a member of the Constituent Assembly.
  • Piloo Mody (1926–1983): architect, parliamentarian, one of the founder-members of the Swatantra Party.
  • Rustam S. Sidhwa (1927–1997): judge on the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well as one of the original eleven judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
  • Sanjay Gandhi (1946–1980): the younger son of Indira Gandhi and Feroz Gandhi, who followed his father's Parsi religion throughout his life.
  • Shapurji Saklatvala (1874–1936): socialist, workers' welfare activist, third Asian to be elected to the House of Commons (Communist, Labour).
  • Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): author and founder of the ASHA Centre made political history being elected as the first non-white woman for the Liberal Party in 1982.

Indian independence movement[]

  • Bhikaiji Cama (1861–1936): political activist, co-creator of the Indian nationalist flag.
  • Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917): economist, political activist, first Asian to be elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (Liberal), first to publicly demand independence for India.
  • Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960): journalist and politician; Indian MP under his father-in-law Jawaharlal Nehru; husband of Indira Gandhi, father of Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi, and grandfather of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi.
  • Khurshed Framji Nariman (18??–19??): social activist, Mayor of Bombay. Member of the Indian National Congress.
  • Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir (1845–1915): political activist, co-founder and a President of the Indian National Congress, founder of the Bombay Municipal Corporation

Law[]

Others[]

  • Bhicaji Balsara (1872–1962): first Indian to become a naturalized US Citizen
  • Bukhtyar Rustomji (1899–1936): Mumbai-born Lancaster doctor executed for murdering his wife and a maid
  • Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja (1873–1947): first Indian to be appointed appraiser of precious stones to British Indian customs. Awarded the title of Khan Sahib
  • Lady Frainy Dhunjibhoy Bomanji (14 September 1893 – 1986): Lady Harrogate, philanthropist, Honorary Freemanship of the Borough in 1984
  • Jimmy Bharucha (died 2005): Sri Lankan broadcaster
  • Keiki R. Mehta: ophthalmologist and Padma Shri awardee
  • Rattanbai Petit (1900–1929): second wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah
  • Goshpi Avari: Asian Games gold-medalist and Pride of Performance honorary
  • Jehangir Hormasji Kothari (1857–1934): philanthropist and world traveller.

In arts[]

Fictional characters[]

  • The Cake "Parsee" (colloquial British spelling of Parsi) in "", a chapter in Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. Kipling names him as Pestonjee Bomonjee in the illustration accompanying the story.

See also[]

References[]


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