EXHIBITOR'S NOTE

ENGLISH / मराठी

From the Seas to the Wells and Beyond: A Parsi's Water Tale

Water is regarded as the second creation and plays a significant role
in
the lives of ethical and righteous Zoroastrians.

Zoroastrianism originated in the year 1500 B.C.E. and is recognized as the oldest, revealed, henotheist religion of the world. Zoroastrians believe in the preservation and promotion of the seven creations of Ahura Mazda, their principal divinity.

Having found peace and sanctuary in India after fleeing persecution and genocide in their ancient Iranian homeland, this short story from the lens of a young, local Zoroastrian captures the journey and impact this treasured community has had on the multi-culturalist water heritage of Greater Mumbai.

CONTRIBUTORS

Ervad Berjis Driver

फ्रॉम द सीज टू द वेल्स अँड बियॉन्ड: अ पारसीज वॉटर टेल

दुसरी निर्मिती मानले गेलेल्या पाण्याचा, नीतिमान,
प्रामाणिक झोराष्ट्रीयन समाजाच्या जीवनाशी खूप जवळचा संबंध आहे.

ख्रिस्त पुर्व १५०० वर्षांपूर्वी झोरॅष्ट्रियन (पारशी) धर्माची स्थापना झाली आणि आज देखील तो जगातील सर्वांत जुना, प्राचीन काळापासून अस्तित्वात असलेला व एकच इष्ट देवतेला पुजणारा धर्म म्हणून ओळखला जातो. ‘आहुरा माझदा’, त्यांचे सर्वश्रेष्ठ दैवत, यांनी निर्माण केलेल्या सात गोष्टींचे जतन करणे आणि त्या वृद्धिंगत करणे हे पारशी समाज स्वतःचे कर्तव्य मानतो. या सात निर्मितीतील दुसरी निर्मिती मानले गेलेल्या पाण्याचा, नीतिमान, प्रामाणिक झोराष्ट्रीयन समाजाच्या जीवनाशी खूप जवळचा संबंध आहे.

छळ आणि नरसंहारापासून स्वतःचे रक्षण करण्यासाठी प्राचीन ईराणी जन्मभूमीतून विस्थापित झालेल्या, शांतता आणि आश्रय मिळविण्यासाठी भारतात आलेल्या पारशी समाजाचा आत्तापर्यंतचा प्रवास आणि मुंबईच्या बहुरंगी सांस्कृतिवर त्यांचा प्रभाव याचा आढावा घेण्याचा रंजक प्रयत्न या शहरातीलच एक पारशी तरुणाने या लघुकथेद्वारे केला आहे.

योगदान

एरवड बरजिस ड्राइव्हर

FROM THE SEAS TO THE WELLS AND BEYOND
A PARSI’S WATER TALE
ERVAD BERJIS DRIVER

અત હિશ અવી ફર્ટાચેતિ * યાટ હિશ અવી ફ્રઝગરાઈટી * અરેડવી સુરા અનાહિતા
Yat hish avi fratachaiti Yat hish avi frazgaraiti Aredvi Sura Anahita

To whatever parts the undefiled Ardvi Sura (River) flows, she renders
those parts prosperous.

I am a young Zoroastrian priest, belonging to the twenty-third generation of a family which originated from the migrant, Kaka Pahlun.
He fled his Iranian homeland during the Arabian conquests, braved the perilous storms at sea and finally arrived on the shores of India as part of an exodus in the year 936 A.C.

My elders tell me of the ‘first teacher’ Spitama Zarathustra, who through his

hymns, described the existence of an all-knowing, eternal God – Ahura Mazda: the Lord of Wisdom. In order to vanquish the forces of evil, Ahura Mazda created the material world comprising of seven creations – each having their own meaning for mankind to value, preserve and protect. Water is regarded as the second creation. SEE LESS

Under Ahura Mazda, a host of Bounteous Immortals: the ‘Amesha Spentas’ and

Divine Beings Worthy of Veneration: the ‘Yazatas’ , further protect the seven creations and guide mankind. The Bounteous Immortal representative of Water, Haurvatat (Avestan), implies underlying virtues for righteous Zoroastrians to uphold, including striving towards a state of perfection and completeness in the physical world. SEE LESS

We were close to the seas in Gujarat during our initial period of settling in

India. The coastal village of Udvada is home to the most sacred Iranshah temple consecrated in the year 1742 CE When Aungier’s call came and it was made clear that the islands of Bombay were to be developed, my ancestors migrated from the villages of Gujarat to Fort George. SEE LESS

As Bombay kept growing, more and more Zoroastrians continued migrating from

Gujarat. Our reverence towards the waters continued through feats of charity, and prayers offered by the sea to the daughter of Ahura Mazda: Aredvi Sura Anahita, the bestower of health, fertility and prosperity. SEE LESS

Kuas (wells) are essential for the consecration of fire temples. In this regard,

the first in Bombay can be argued as part of the Banaji Limji fire temple established in the year 1709 CE inside Fort George. Sixteen years later a traveler from Bharuch, Bhikaji Behram ventured on foot to Bombay and would go onto dig the most resilient freshwater well of the city, close to the edge of the sea near the church side gate of the Fort, for quenching the thirst of incoming travelers. SEE LESS

As my community accords water with deep respect and treats it as a living entity, we

we ensure that our sacred Kuas are perpetually exposed to the sky, sources of light, and with the waters left to rest undisturbed; come nightfall – the peak period of evil. SEE LESS

The coming of dawn is observed as a triumph of good over evil.

Priests awaken the resting well waters by a process of withdrawal and expulsion: signifying the elimination of bad thoughts, bad words and bad deeds. Water for rituals is used only from the fourth draw. SEE LESS

Alongside the Panpois, Tanks and Pyaavs, the Zoroastrian Kuas on repeated

occurrences of drought attempted to meet a part of the water requirements of the Island City for a period close to 300 years. SEE LESS

Zoroastrian estate owners and philanthropists like F. Cowasjee, J.

Jeejeebhoy and D. N. Cama threw open their wells and tanks for general public use, thereby obliterating societal inequalities and barriers to access when water was needed the most during periods of scarcity in Bombay. SEE LESS

Given the progressive degree of development Mumbai has witnessed, I

recall the old 19th century, well-rich wadi of Maneckji Sett inside the erstwhile Fort George. SEE LESS

This 19th century wadi has since undergone a massive transformation and

once upon a time water-centric streets and public spaces have all but disappeared on account of the bubonic plague, flooding concerns and new water infrastructure additions. SEE LESS

However, the transitions of the built environment, coming of pipes, the plague

and the recent pandemic were not enough to disconnect the value of wells as an inherent place-making element and spiritual essential. They continue to be frequented and looked after by the last of a few Zoroastrians and their families still residing in the locality, including my own. SEE LESS

From the tanks to the kuas, the fountains and the pyaavs, the generations of

Zoroastrians before me in Greater Mumbai have laid down an ethical, charitable and people-centric water legacy to be inspired from. As one of many P(eople) A(lways) R(eady to) S(erve) I(ndia), I stand proud and ready to help the waters of Mumbai continue to thrive. SEE LESS

Parsi: Thy Name Will Eternally Remain (Water) Charity

Confluence

GALLERY 02 | WATER & CULTURE

EXHIBIT
03/03
03

Water and Communities

Umbracha Pani

Me Aahe Koli

From the Seas to the Wells and Beyond: A Parsi's Water Tale

Warli Folktales

From the Seas to the Wells and Beyond: A Parsi's Water Tale

CONTRIBUTORS

फ्रॉम द सीज टू द वेल्स अँड बियॉन्ड: अ पारसीज वॉटर टेल

योगदान

Afloat

POSTCARDS TO WATER

E/02G/02

GALLERY 01

WATER & BUILT HERITAGE

GALLERY 03

WATER & LIVELIHOODS

GALLERY 02 | WATER & CULTURE

EXHIBIT 03/03 03

Water and Communities

Umbracha Pani

Me Aahe Koli

From the Seas to the Wells and Beyond: A Parsi's Water Tale

Warli Folktales

From the Seas to the Wells and Beyond: A Parsi's Water Tale

CONTRIBUTORS

फ्रॉम द सीज टू द वेल्स अँड बियॉन्ड: अ पारसीज वॉटर टेल

योगदान

Afloat

POSTCARDS TO WATER

E/02G/02

GALLERY 01

WATER & BUILT HERITAGE

GALLERY 03

WATER & LIVELIHOODS

EXHIBIT
03/03
03