The Stream

India’s declining Parsi population

Is the community under threat of extinction?

“Be responsible – don’t use a condom tonight.” That’s just one ad in a campaign encouraging India’s Parsis to procreate. Parsis are Zoroastrians who emigrated from Persia more than a thousand years ago. “Jiyo (Live) Parsi” was launched by the government to combat the community’s dwindling numbers, last estimated to be around 69,000. While some have lauded the effort, others say it is sexist and ineffective.

In this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Shireen Havewala @ReturnToRoots1
Co-founder, Return to Roots
zororoots.org

Hoshaang Gotla @hgotla
Founder, Xtremely Young Zoroastrians (XYZ)
xyzfoundation.net

Simin Patel @siminpatel
Blogger, Bombaywalla
Bombaywalla.org

Arzan Sam Wadia @parsikhabar
Co-founder, Parsikhabar.net
parsikhabar.net

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.