Iran League quarterly

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Official Organ of the Iran League, Bombay

Vol. Ill JUNE 1933









CONTENTS page

The Editor's Notes #
Persia and Her Nationality Groups
Purification of Persian ...

The Origin of the Yazidi Tribe and Their Present Home in Iraq 221
Persia's Spirit of Adventure ...
Our Teheran Letter *
Aft airs in Kerman
Our Baghdad Letter

The Pestonji Dossabhoy Marker Boys' Orphanage and Day

School, Yezd
Kurdish Women.
Persia and India

Conversion from the Viewpoint of Zoroastrianism
Ancient Iran: Its Contribution to Human Progress ...
Dokhtar-e-Lore







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a

The Hon- Sir Phiroze Sethna is a Member of the Council of State and one
of the leading moderate politicians of India. Having been also appointed on
the Joint Select Committee, he is now in London giving his share in moulding
the political future of India. And well may he do so, for, it was his ancestor
Rustam Manek who had introduced the British to the great court of Aurangzeb
for gaining important privileges which led to the founding of their great empire
in India. He is a life member of the Iran League, and is taking a keen interest
in Persia.



The Hon- Sir Hor-
n asji M- Mehta is

a leading industria-
list of India, and one
of the Patrons and
Yice-Chairmen of the
"Iran League." He
is appointed on the
Indian Delegation to
the League of Na-
tions. He is also
taking a prominent
part in organising
the New Indian Air
Services.



Since the death of
Sir Dorab Tata, the
head of the great
house of the Tatas,
Sir Naorozeji B-
Saklatvala has suc-
ceeded him as Chair-
man of Messrs. Tata
Sons, Ltd., and is
guiding their multi-
farious affairs with
much .sagacity and
practical wisdom.



THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

Vol. Ill ] JUNE 1933 [ No. 4

THE EDITOR'S NOTES

Pabsis and Peesia

The Persian people had hailed with pleasure the pros-
pect of the Parsis taking a direct interest in
E^terpru0/ the uplift of their ancient land. Special Parsi
PerBia commissions and individuals had visited the

country, and its great men had given them every help to
understand the state of things and the brilliant prospects in
many a field which was almost unexplored or in the hands of
foreigners. Glowing accounts of the success of their visits had
been given here and the prospectus of a trading corporation
had soon after been announced. But as considerable time
since elapsed, and nothing appeared so far to have materialized,
some people have been led to suppose that the whole enthusiasm
has died out just at present. We are glad to have to say that
this supposition is not entirely correct. The industry that had
seriously been thought of then was the textile manufacture;
and practical measures have already been taken for launching
it in Persia in the immediate future. The whole scheme is in
safe hands, and we hope to announce more facts hereafter.

It may however be admitted in this connection that certain
circumstances had damped the ardour of those
Bumâ„¢tifn9ineyand days in some people. And they were led to

Groundless Pears ^ ^ ^^ fae ^ t() invegt anything


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in Persia in the present circumstances. We think the grounds
on which such assumptions were made were not quite sound.
We hope people do know well that not only Persian Zoroas-
trians but also some Indian Parsis have been doing tbriviDg
business in Persia in their own way and since decades. None
of them have Buffered in any instance owing to obstruction or
unfair dealing with them. And they had started when circum-
stances were less clear or favourable.

Such unnecessary doubts and delays are not wise, for,
Persia must get on with her great work of
national progress. Her programme must pro-

notbethrownaway

to the most sentimental causes. The Persians have to do it
regretfully whenever things they expect the Parsis to be inter-
ested in have to be entrusted to other hands. But the fault
would then lie with the Parsis, if they would allow golden
opportunities to be lost which other people would be grabbing
at with rapacious haste.

Owing to the political turmoil in India and the most un-
settled state of business here, probably some
ment of Some of Parsi capital has been lying idle. Cannot the
Our Capital Parsis employ some of it most advantageously

in Persia now? Leaving aside the appeal it would make to
their sentiment to have business connections with Persia, they
are bound, as astute business people, to take advantage of the
opportunities that great and resourceful land offers them in
industry and trade. There can be no business without risks.
Even in India, the Parsis have lost crores of rupees in business
and investments in recent years. So they can spare a few lacs
more with some of their unemployed talent to go to Persia and
try the opportunities there? It need hardly be added that a
responsive addition to Indo-Persian trade would also follow.


1933]

THE EDITOK'S NOTES

199

Nation Building

Communalism has been'India's great curse; and that curse
shows no sign of disappearing or abating soon.
Distinotuma °laS8 Community is ranged against community, sect
against sect and caste against caste. How can a
nation emerge out of such seething cauldron of communalism ?
But India is not alone in being subject to this gross human
frailty.

The Jewish race has given some of the best talents to the
European countries. Among these Germany has
jews m Germany their services. In finance

or higher science, in philosophy or music or public service, they
have added lustre to her talented race. In the wave of national
consciousness that has been surging across the land, the pos-
sible errors of some Jews have been made the excuse for the
persecution of the whole race. Taking all power out of the
claws of real mischief makers ought to be regarded a patriotic and
wise act; but visiting even the innocents with the penalties of
the others' appears to the rest of the world to be a most attro-
cious act. The present delicate condition of international rela-
tions has much stifled the world's just indignation. We how-
ever hope, the practical wisdom of the German people will soon
overcome this temporary weakness, and deal out just treatment
to this integral and useful section of her community.

We have elsewhere published in this number a thoughtful
article on this subject by a young Persian
Right'wiy the s°holar. He rightly points out the weakness
which consists in class distinctions in coun-
tries, pointedly referring to his own. Our inquiries however
inform us that Persia has already commenced sinking these
distinctions, and is carefully planning measures for doing so
by removing all discriminations among her nationals in all
state dealings. Indeed the Persian Government started this
long ago when the discriminating signs in dress were removed
by a general decree commanding all nationals to wear the


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'Parsifal"

same dress without distinctions- There can be no doubt that
if the authorities maintain this attitude in all actions, the
difficult problem of unification of the people would be soon and
easily solved.

World's One More Debt to Persia

In the great world of music Germany has had quite
the leading way. And among all the great
musical talents of Germany Eichard Wagner
has been an unchallenged stalwart of the 19th century.
His influence upon the musical art was the greatest
during that century. He introduced continuity of musical
thought and action in the Opera, and by doing so revolutionised
the old operatic methods of set ballads and choruses. To-day
his is acknowledged to be the only and right interpretation
of dramatic musical art. His musical dramas have always
been regarded magnificent performances; but in his great
religious Opera "Parsifal" may be found the fulness of his
powers.

The cycles of legends that have prevailed in Europe, had
its Great story been thought to be of Celtic origin, and so had
Legends" Iranian been regarded the legend from which grew
Wagner's great work. A talented writer in a
local weekly however draws our attention to the valuable
researches of an Austrian scientist, Dr. Fritz Suhtseck, which
have dissipated the old belief and proved the Iranian origin
of the legend. He has shown that it is the Persian legends
of the Barzu Nama to which the story of " Parsifal " is really
indebted.

Indeed this should not be wondered at when we know so
well the great debt the world owes to Persia

The World's „ , . , . , , .

Debt to Persia. in all her varied progress. As we showed in
a previous number, even in literary field, suoh
stalwarts as Milton, Goethe and Dante owed not a little


1933]

THE EDITOR'S NOTES

10

to ancient Persia in the subject of their great themes. Indeed
it was only accidental that the great genius of Shakespeare
too did not come under her spell. Had these noble tales
come his way, he would certainly have added greater glamour
both to their fame and to his own wonderful achievement.
The interest he evinced in the Persian Embassy of the Great

Sophi would indeed show this.

* * *

Persia Day by Day

The progress of the country is going apace, and the
great undertakings she has on hand are pushed
Working of New onwards with unflagging energy. The Govern-
Oii Fields ment is planning means of independently

working the great oilfield tracts which the Anglo-Persian Oil
Company had to surrender under the new treaty which has
subsequently been ratified by the Persian Parliament. This
will have to be done with proper care, as not only has Russia
been vastly expanding her oil industry, but great developments
are taking shape also in Iraq.

A new railway commission composed of engineering
experts has been appointed in Persia to serve

Pushing on the

Great Railway as an advisory body on the irans-Persian
Project Railway. The line will run from Bunder Shah

on the Caspian Sea down to Bunder Shahpur on the Persian
Gulf, Aliabad, Feerozekoh, Teheran, Kazvin, Hamadan, Dizful
and Naseiri being the main intermediary stations. The northern
section of 127 kilometres from Bunder Shah to Aliabad, and
the southern between Dizful and Bunder Shahpur have already
been completed and are successfully working for increasing
traffic. The next stages, both north and south, are simultan-
eously to be taken in hand, and the entire system to be com-
pleted within six years.

A smaller but very valuable project is the extension of
the Teheran-Shah-Azim Railway some six miles onwards to


202

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [ J une

some coal mines. This will solve the difficulty of supplying
fuel to the growing industries in and about Teheran.

Orders have been placed with a leading British firm for
cotton spinning machinery for factories in three
pwidTnâ„¢gNew in- important towns. This is the result of private
dustnes enterprise, and sufficient scope exists for many

more in other places. Two sugar refineries are working in the
neighbourhood of Teheran, and orders for constructing six
more have been issued by the Government. And a Swedish
firm has obtained contract for erecting a cement factory in
another place. All this is a convincing indication of the
nation's determination to push ahead in every department of
industrial life.

We have previously referred to the desirability of reclaim-
ing Persia's vast desert areas. Various me-
sia^CDesertgAreas foods have been employed for the purpose,
and the experiments of the French Govern-
ment in her North African desert regions may be studied with
advantage in this connection. It may be noted that the
thornless prickly pear has yielded very successful results.
This not only encroaches on the desert areas, but also supplies
food for animals. The great quantity of water it contains
renders it a specially advantageous growth in such regions.
If it could be grown on the fringe of the Persian desert areas
and if flocks of sheep thrive on it, an excellent occupation for
a section of the Persian population might grow out of it with
large yields of valuable wool, mutton and tallow, and regular
supplies of milk, butter and cheese.

The account of the interesting ceremony of laying the
foundation stone of the new premises of Seth
ker^Orphanage^in Peshotanji Marker Orphanage in Yezd, appears
Yezd elsewhere in this number. Nothing would raise

the condition of the Zoroastrians in "Yezd as measures for edu-
cating them in a sound and liberal way. No Zoroastrian boy
or girl there should be without the blessings of such education.


1933]

THE EDITOR'S NOTES

203

This must be supplemented by night classes for elderly people,
where not only ordinary process of literary training should be
followed but a judicious course of lectures on subjects of general
culture, hygiene, agriculture and gardening, dairy and poultry
farming etc. should also be delivered by capable men. These
olasses and lectures, may be open to the other peole of Yezd too
if convenient.

* * *

Persia and Her Neighbours
Russia

The trade relations with Persia remaining straitened, the
Persian products of the northern provinces are
sknTride°f Per" compelled to divert the channel of trade to
Persia's southern ports. A beneficial result will
follow this trouble, because this prepares the traders for the
eventual use of the Trans-Persian Railway for their purposes.

In London was signed on July 3rd a non-aggression pact
between the Soviet, Esthonia, Afghanistan,
iione^,ct"Ageres' Latvia, Persia, Poland, Roumania and Turkey.

The Pact comprises five articles and one annexe,
which last stipulates that no consideration of any kind will
serve as a pretext or justification for aggression. This pact
thus concerns all Russia's near neighbours excepting Finland
and must be reassuring at least to the smaller powers in the
Entente.

As Britain had thought the trial and imprisonment of the
Metropolitan Vickers engineers by the Soviet

Settlement with „ . , ,

Britain Government as unjust and tyrannous, the

British Government placed embargo on Russian
goods. This reduced the Soviet Government to the necessity
of deputing M. Litvinoff to come to a settlement with Britain.
This resulted in the British engineers being released and the
embargo lifted.


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In the meantime the Soviet Government had opened

m . t negotiations with the United States for a trade

Trade by Bai ter °

by barter between the two countries. This
method initiated by Persia in an essential way in her foreign
trade regulations has already been followed by some other coun-
tries and is now proposed between these two great powers. The
barter would be between American cotton and livestock and
Eussian manganese, chrome ore, pulpwood and asbestos. This
however does not appear to have resulted in any agreement,
and the Soviet was subsequently found to arrange credit of
5,000,000 dollars in America for the purchase of U. S. cotton.

We had previously seen the colossal project to connect
the Caspian with the Black Sea; and now we
Bait Sea find that the White Sea and Baltic Canal which
the Soviet had already in hand is now declared
open and is regarded to be an outstanding engineering feat of
the century. It reduces the waterway route between European
and White Sea ports by 2200 miles, an advantage in everyway
considerable. The work has been achieved by providing a sea
level waterway from Soroka on the White Sea to Leningrad.

Turkey

Camel and Cock fighting had always been popular in
Turkey and indiscriminate shooting of wild
Cruelty to^Ariimak birds had been unobstructed. Turkey has taken
a further step in progress by projecting penal
legislation against these.

At Caesarieh in Anatolia a textile factory has been set
up with Eussian machinery, and the looms will

Textile Industry r

be working next year and producing some
32,C00,000 yards of cloth. British textile industry is expected
to loose that much of Turkish market.


1933]

THE EDITOR'S NOTES

205

A telephone service has now been opened between London
and Constantinople. A three minutes call
^Telephone Ser- between 8 A.M. and 7 P.M. will cost £ 1 3s.,
and 14s. at other times.

Iraq

Great activity is shown in acquiring and working oil con-
cessions in Iraq, Bahrein and Koweit. The Iraq
Government have sanctioned the transfer to the
Mosul Oilfields Limited, of the concession originally granted
to the British Oil Development Company. The concession
comprises 46000 square miles of rich oil bearing lands on west
of the river Tigris. The Mosul Oilfields intend to start drilling
operations immediately. Anglo-American interests have
already acquired oil concessions in the Bahrein isles, and their
representative, Major Holmes, had been negotiating with the
Shaikh of Koweit for an oil concession in his territory, and has
succeeded in his object.

The Anglo-Persian Oil Company have so far had to take
their tankers across the Suez Canal and to

Pipe-linea ac-
ross the Iraq pay the heavy canal dues. The Iraq conces-
sions intend to avoid this by constructing huge
pipe-lines across the Iraq desert and beyond. Two such lines
are in hand, one leading to Haifa in Palestine, and the
other to Tripoli in Syria. They start together from Kirkuk
and thus proceed up to Haditha on the Euphrates, where they
diverge to their different termini. There will be eight pumping
stations between Kirkuk and Haifa, the last being 140 miles
east of the latter place. From this last pumping station to the
terminus at Haifa the oil will flow down by gravity.

The King of Iraq's recent visit to England and other
places in Europe, shows his interest in Western
meiba6 Arabian enterprise, methods and culture. His subjects
seem to follow him closely and it was just in


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that spirit that there recently appeared in Baghdad Miss Um
Kalthum, the Arabian Melba. Her style and tunes are quite
different from those in vogue in the West; but they have capti-
vated the world for which they are intended. She happens to
be a remarkably handsome woman, and just 26 years old.
She simply dresses in black, but her audience is invariably
thrown under the spell of her personality and is extremely
appreciative. What is more, it comprises all classes, from the

Effendi down to the Arab of the desert.

* * *

India

The Joint Select Committee is still meeting in London,
and the political future of the country is still
houtiookCal iQ the melting pot. The Congress leaders are
not satisfied with the results so far, and the
civil disobedience movement which had been called off, ap-
pears about to be restarted in some less virulent form. The
wiser section of the community have seen the futility of such
activity, which instead of destroying the Government's authori-
ty, has ruined Indian industry, disorganized the country's
trade and fed the canker of communalism, besides enforcing
higher taxation in various departments of Government dues.
This has reduced some sections of the general community to
a pitiable state.

Mr. Gandhi's fast for the relief of the Harijans has come
and gone, without bringing the problem any
eupiTftan nearer solution. Indeed the numerous princes
and multimillionaires of India did not pour
their treasures in Mr. Gandhi's lap to help him in his project;
and probably the largest amount he received was the £ 1000
Mr. Sorabji, a Parsi, sent to him from South Africa out
of his father Mr. Eustomji's Trust monies! The noble
Parsi stands by his duty notwithstanding the frenzied effort
of some patriots to elbow him out of the envious position he
has so far enjoyed as a due reward of his merit.


1933]

the editor's notes

207

The Parsis

In the great events of these days the Parsis are doing
their little bit in helping their compatriots to
Ppoiitic3n achieve their proper aims. Sir Pheroze Sethna,
Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Junior, Sir Jehangirshah
Coyaji, Mr. H. P. Mody, Mr. N. N. Anklesaria and others are
working their best for the cause. And though the stalwarts
of the days of Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji, India's G.O.M., and Sir
Pherozeshah Mehta, the great, leader of the moderates, are not
apparent nowadays, the same blood is yet there and as soon
as the general political clamour subsides their sterling merit
will be recognised and they will again rise to the top and lead
the dear mother country along the path of real and dignified
progress.

The Parsis had a fair share in the Honours' List published
on the King's Birthday. Mr. N. B. Saklatwala,
H°Parsi?Bfor the Chairman of Messrs. Tata Sons, and Mr.

H. M. Mehta, a distinguished member of the
Bombay business world, got Knighthood, Mr. Noshervanji
N. Anklesaria, M.L.A., Khan Bahadur K. J. Petigara of the
Bombay Police, and Dr. Jamshed N. Duggan, the leading oph-
thalmic surgeon, got the insignia of C.I.E.

Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Junior, is mainly responsible for
a public school movement among the Parsis;
Pasohooibli° and his father Sir Cowasji, the Second Baronet
and an esteemed elder of the community, has
set apart a handsome sum of 1,500,000 rupees for the purpose.
The Deccan College premises were raised mainly through
Par si munificence and it would be in the fitness of things if
they were handed over to the Parsi community for a reason-
able consideration, on the closing of the College next year.
But we hope Sir Cowasji will reconsider his proposal, because
we deem it to be an erroneous measure to isolate young members
of our microscopic community from the chance of forming life-
long bonds of friendship and mutual regard with the youth of
sister communities which they have in mixed schools.


208

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The urgent need of the community is rather in regard to
Colleges. The community will do a far better
Education' amoDg thing to raise a Parsi Academy on that beauti-
the parai3 starting" with a Science College and a

proper Research Institute. The Seth Polytechnic Institute too
may be housed in the Academy and may add to its status and
value. It is a sad sight to see Parsi youth rushing from one
college to another for admission and to think of the volumes
of Parsi money spent on higher educational institutions
without proper safeguard of Parsi interests. We trust the
mistake will not be continued too long to mend.

Notwithstanding the difficulties coming their way in their
academic career, the Parsi youth are coming
tinftions6wonDl3" o£f well for their tiny number. Capt. Cavas
Hormuzshah Dhala has been admitted in the
Indian Medical Service and has a nice record of having
obtained the degrees of M,B. B.S. (Bom.), L.E.C.P. (Eng.),
M.RC.S. (Eng.), L.M. (Dublin), D.T.M. (Liverpool) and
D.Ph. (London); Mr. D. F. Karaka of Lincoln's College, has
been elected President of the Oxford University Liberal Club;
Mr. Firoze Aibara, the Nizam Government Scholar, has topped
the list in the Manchester University; Mr. Erachshah J.
Umrigar, the Bhavnagar State Scholar, has obtained the
B.Sc. of London University in the Engineering Section,
having also qualified for the full technological certificate of the
City and Guilds Institute; and last but not least, Miss
Avanbai Mehta of Colombo has been called to the English
Bar at the tender age of nineteen !

Heroic tales of old Parsi hunters are yet fresh with us.

And the class worthily survives. Mr. Bezonshah
Parsi Heroism Faridoonji Jalnavala is one of our foremost men

who have been maintaining the old tradition with distinction.
He has already brought down considerable wild game by his
unfailing gun. And we had just had hair-raising accounts in
the papers of his adventure with a panther in the Hyderabad
jungle. We are glad he has returned home cured from the
wounds he had recehed in bis Invt CLCuiiu Milh that Uaet.


PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS

Mostafa Vaziri, M.A., Chicago

[Mr. Moatafa Vaziri is a young Persian scholar, an M.A. reading for his doctorate
exemination in the Chicago University. He has specialized in Anthropology and
Scciology and also taken courses in Education and Psychology. He is likewise interested
in Coaching, Social Service and Administration. He is anxious to devote his services
to the Zoroastrian Schools in Teheran with the hope of adding a collegiate institute
to them. This ha would ultimately expand into a I niversity if means would be forth-
coming. His calibre may be judged from the following intelligent and interesting
contribution—Editor.]

Growth op Decisive Human Characteristics through

Group Life

We Persians have not yet learned how to live. To live
is not the same thing as life even tho living necessarily
involves life. By life I mean a biological quality or process
which is inherited and transmitted in the form of vitality and
animation through the physiological organs. Viewed in this
light, it is then evident that the human being is not so different
from the lower animal kingdom. But the similarity between
these two stops here. Thru being endowed particularly
with the power of speech and manipulating tools, the human
species follows a line which distinctly separates it from the
animal world. Even yet he does not become a distinctly
human being until he begins to live in association with other
people. To live in a group upon intellectual as well as emo-
tional level is decidedly a human characteristic. Without
participation in group life the individual is a mere abstraction.

Whatever be the faults of the sociologists and cultural
anthropologists, one must admit that in emphasising the role
and function of group life, they have made a significant
contribution to the understanding of personality and human
nature. In fact according to the leading social psychologists,
such as Dewey, Cooley and Mead, the rise of human


210 THE IBAN LEAGUE QUABTEBLy [June

nature is inconceivable without participation in some kind of
group lite. Cooley classifies the group into two types, the
primary and secondary. The primary group is by far the
most important and fundamental. It is characterized by
intimacy and face-to-face contact. The family is such a group.
It is in the primary group that the human nature arises.
From the scientific standpoint no definite agreement has yet
been reached in the analysis of the human nature. But by
far the best, or at least by far the most popular is the
definition given by Cooley. According to him human nature in
particular is composed of sympathy and the innumerable
sentiments into which sympathy enters, such as love, resent-
ment, ambition, vanity, hero-worship, and the feeling of social
right and wrong. " Man does not have it at birth; he cannot
acquire it except thru fellowship, and it decays in isolation."

Changed Modern Influences

The advance of science in modern times and the applica-
tion of its theories to practical problems has produced a great
change in social organizations and institutions. The family,
for example, which used to be the chief agent for educational,
religious, economic and recreational activities of its members
has at the present time undergone a tremendous change in its
functions. And consequently the intimate and face-to-face
relationship which characterized it a few decades ago has
tended to be loose, and without much guiding and controlling
force. But while fellowship in such a relationship has suffered
in the immediacy of contact, it has, on the other hand, gained
some ground through indirect channel such as the powers of
reading and writing. But reading in itself is of no value
unless one shares the experiences of others imaginatively;
unless one enters into the lives of people and grasps the
meaning of their interests, sentiments and ideals "sympatheti-
cally ". I think it is some such idea which is at back of John
Dewey's famous book called " Democracy and Education."
To Dewey democracy is essentially a community of interests


1933] pebsia and her nationality groups 211

shared collectively. A community becomes a community not
by communication and transmission, but in communication
and in transmission of shared experiences.

Flaws in the Body of the Persian Nation

Judged by this standard, it is evident that the Persians
have still a long journey ahead of them. It is not enough to
have a uniform dress, or a uniform standard of weights and
measures. The genuine unity of Persia cannot be based on
such superficial and material values. As long as there exists
no community of interests and sentiments, without that at the
same time rendering them sentimental, narrow-minded and
bigoted, so long Persia will be the land of a "people" but not of
" human beings ".

For the support of my thesis I do not have to adduce many
proofs. Any individual with some degree of liberal education
can bring forth much evidence of his own. But let me direct
your attention to the case of the so-called nationality groups in
Persia. Of such groups I may mention four, to wit: Armenians,
Assyrians, Jews and Zoroastrians. It is indeed a bad reflection
on the social organization of Persia that these people are
still designated as Armenians, or Jews, etc., and not as Persians.
These people have been living in Persia for many centuries
and yet we have disclaimed them any right to assimilate them-
selves either physically or culturally. What would have
happened to America if they had to follow our form of dealing
with their nationality groups ?

To the educated people some of the discriminations mani-
fested and permitted against these groups seem staggering.
Take for example the right of electing a representative to
the Persian Parliament. According to the Constitution, each
of these groups, except the Assyrians who vote together with
the Armenians, has the right to elect one representative
to the Parliament. By such a policy it was considered that the
interests of these groups could be safeguarded best. Out of


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joy, I think, Hobbes would have resurrected from his grave if
he had heard that an application was made of his theory
which held that the origin of the State was based upon the
fear and suspicion of people or groups of each other. But
there is absolutely no reason why the interests of the Moham-
madan Persians should be safeguarded against the interests of
Christian Persians, for example, if both of them, legally as
well as actually, belong to the same nation and strive for the
fulfilment of the same ideals.

Take another example. Not long time ago I received
some Persian papers. In looking over the section dealing
with the registration of deeds and properties, I came across
a ludicrous notice. In the notice it was announced that Mr. So-
and-So, a Ghabre, meaning Zoroastrian, had applied for the reg-
istration of his property, and therefore anybody who objected to
it would have to present his claims against the said property.
In this circumstance it is not my purpose to criticise the civil
registration of deeds and documents. In fact I have been much
in its favor, and appreciate very sincerely the efforts of the
Ministry of Justice in introducing it to such a country as Per-
sia. My whole objection is, why should such a modern institu-
tion, instead of limiting itself to the mentioning of the name of
the man in question, should go so far as to state the religious
affiliation of the individual ? Is it a mark of inferiority to be
a Christian, a Jew or a Zoroastrian and not a Mohammadan ?
Just what connection has the registration of one's properties
in a purely civil institution with one's religious affiliation or
preference which is purely a personal matter ? Don't we have
enough religious bigotry as to be in more need of focussing our
attention on the religious preferences of the people ? The whole
thing seems so ludicrous and at the same time so tragic that

K. WADIA

PH. NO 42483

f

DIAMOND MERCHANT,
GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY


1933] PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS 213

the sooner we get rid of this tendency the better off we will all
be. Citizenship in the Persian commonwealth cannot and
must not be based upon the religious affiliations of the people.
We do not need to construct a form of state in which one
brand of religion will be the only guiding and therefore the
only true standard of the conduct and beliefs of its constituent
members. The time has come that we should discard once
for all this kind of notions and replace them with the idea that
true citizenship consists in their power of entering into commu-
nion with the interests, hopes, ambitions and ideals of other
people with a truly critical, intelligent and yet sympathetic
attitude. It is in some such system of conduct that the man
finds himself free and liberalized. For it is in the process of
give and take and imaginative sharing of experiences that we
come to evaluate ourselves objectively and therefore critically.

The Great Bond of the Common Home

Let me give another example and then I will conclude
my thesis. Whatever may be said about the progress of educa-
tion in the present day Persia, it is my humble opinion that
still we are very far from the ideal standard of education.
We may learn many things, but that does not mean that we
are really educated. We may even know how to study more
effectively, but that does not mean either that we have
come to a position as to call ourselves educated. We must not
mistake the psychology of learning for the aims and ideals of
education. One of the aims of education is to make efficient
and intelligent citizens by transmitting the highest and the
best ideals of the group life. In so far as the nationality groups
in Persia are concerned, I must admit that these ideals of
education have not yet been carried out. Even now the
Armenians, for example, have their own schools in which the
teaching of Persian language is of secondary importance. The
zest with which the Armenian national anthem is sung reminds
one that these peoplej seem to owe allegiance to some other
country than Persia. Now I must admit that I am not a


214

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[ J une

nationalist in the sense that the chauvinists are. So I care whether the Armenians have a national song or not, or
whether they sing it with a gusto which is the characteristic of
every nationalist group. What I object to is that a
servant cannot serve two masters at the same time. A man
has to be either an Armenian, an internationalist or a
Persian. One cannot be all at the same time. When I say
that the Armenians have to be Persian in spirit as well as in
purpose, I say so not with the intention of implying that the
Armenians are inferior to the Persians or that the Persians
are superior to them, but because of the very fact that they live
in Persia. Living in the same locality and group necessarily
entails the sharing of sentiments, attitudes and ideals, other-
wise the person would not be a living being. He would be in a
symbiotic relationship in which there would be no intimate
contact but a sort of accommodation.

Here lies then, in my judgment, the whole trouble with the
nationality groups in Persia. They live in Persia but they are
not a part of it. Legally they are all Persian subjects, but
actually they are just as far removedfromus in their sentiments
and ideals as the English would be. All the " racial " animo-
sities which found such a ghastly expression during the World
War in the north-western section of Persia could not come into
existence if assimilation and not segregation had been our
policy. Who is to be blamed for all this ? The policy of our
government and our social attitude.

The Remedy lies in sinking existing Discriminations
by the Authorities

In the way of remedy the Persian Government can accom-
plish a great deal. As soon as the people are ready, she can
abolish the right of these nationality groups to elect their own
representatives to the Persian Parliament. The people, irrespect-
ive of religious affiliation, must be taught to be Persian first and
then Mohammadan, Christian or Zoroastrian, The interests of


1933] PEBSIA AND HEE NATIONALITY GBOUPS 215

these people should be not against one another but for the good
of the whole country, and, therefore, in electing representatives
to the Parliament they should elect those rwho seem to be the
best qualified for the task, disregarding the fact whether the
prospective representatives are Jews, Mohammadans or agnos-
tics.

In the same manner attempts should be made to mingle
freely the children of these nationality groups in the same
schools, instead of running them exclusively for the Mohamma-
dan or other children of the population. This means that we
should have schools designated no more as Armenian schools,
or Jewish schools, but schools which are open and free for all
who are Persian citizens. If the Government insists thatreligious
education in some form should be the basic element in these
schools, plans should be made that all of the children belonging
to different religious faiths should receive the same at specified
hours by competent teachers who are liberal enough not to
disseminate religious perjudice, bat to implant elements of
efficient citizenship in them.

I have been very much interested in the matter of the
students whom the Government has been sending to Europe
for the last four years. However, I have been very much
disappointed by the fact that I have not been able to find even
a small portion of these students who are from among what we
may call Armenians, Zoroastrians or Assyrians.* Why such
discrimination ? It may, perhaps, be said that the applicants of
these nationality groups have not shown scholastic qualifications
so as to be candidates for the Persian Government scholarships.
But whose fault is it ?—one might retort. I think the whole
fault lies with our system of national education. There must
not be one system of education for the Armenians or Assyrians,
for example, and another system for the Mohammadan Per-
sians. And furthermore, whatever educational facilities we may

* It may be noted that in the group that was selected last for the purpose, was
inoluded a bright Zoroaitrian student from Yezd.—Editor.


216

the Iran League quarterly

[iJune

have, they should be open for all the Persian citizens freely,
so that in sharing the cultural heritage of Persia all the parti-
cipants shall become the active and efficient members of the
Persian commonwealth.

There are many other ways by which the Persian Govern-
ment can accomplish this end. It can, for example, make the
appointment or election to high offices such as the head of a
department or the governorship of a province free to all the
Persian citizens. And I do not see any reason why a capable
Armenian or Zoroastrian should not make as efficient a gover-
nor or administrator of some state department, as any capable
Mohammadan Persian would or could.

The Duty op the Public to help in National Unification

While the Persian Government in many Tespects can
accomplish much good in this matter, in other respects she can-
not go very far. The governmental policies or decrees can be-
come effective only to the extent that the public are prepared to
understand and appreciate them. It is for this reason that I
hold that the public should also do their share in remedying
the situation which has arisen from our inability to assimilate

SWADESHI

& BEST


1933] PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS 26

the various nationality groups which exist in Persia to-day.
In the absence of assimilation we have segregation, and segre-
gation is due to the cultural isolation of these groups from the
total and dominating life of the country. To remedy it we
must permit more contact between these groups. The contact
of these groups should be not on the basis of formality but on
intimacy. With intimate contact it is impossible to be into-
lerant, selfish and clannish. In the schools our policy should be
the encouragement of close contact between these various cul-
tural groups In the schools the pupils should be taught above
all to be Persians, and only secondarily Mohammadans or
Christians. Whatever be the importance of religion in one's
life, its importance should be regarded only a private affair.
It should not be imposed upon somebody else or made the object
of intolerance and bigotry. The main object of our educational
ideal should be to enable the students to live well, that is, intelli-
gently and sympathetically.

Thru various devices the public should be taught to see
that there is intrinsically nothing wrong in the intermarriage of
various distinct groups. They have to be made cognizant of
the fact that there is involved no eternal condemnation or social
contamination in the intermarriage of say, a Mohammadan
Persian with a Persian of another faith. The right of the
Persians to live as " human" and "civilized " beings will be
greatly impaired if we allowed the dead-hand of narrow-minded-
ness and national prejudices to rule us ruthlessly as has happen-
ed so far.

We cannot attain our goal except through the intelligent
construction of a society in which there will exist not so many
distinct nationality groups each leading and safeguarding its
own life, but a unified society in which the community of in-
terests, hopes and ideals, with due allowance to individual
" freedom " and critical evaluation of the existing social order,
will be supreme. The freedom for cultural as well as physical
assimilation is a way full of hopes and promises.




PURIFICATION OF PERSIAN

A SUGGESTION

sohbab h. batliwala

It ia gratifying to know that modern Persians are trying
to rid their language of its foreign elements, and to evolve one
more akin to the Perso-Aryan languages of yore. In this
connection, I think, it is necessary that their Prosody, which is
based on that of the Arabs, should be discarded, and in its
place, I suggest, the Avestan be adopted. The Gathas alone
furnish us with five different metres, and there are many pas-
sages in various metres in the Yashts and the Yasna. These
present beautiful models of poetry to the modern Persian and
will considerably help them in evolving a new Iranian Prosody.
The metres of the Vedas could also be profitably investigated,
as they are akin to those of the Gathas and the later Avesta.
If the Persians take to a deep and reverential study of the
Avesta, it is easy to conjecture that within the next few decades
the Persian language will change its complexion entirely, just
as a similar study of Arabic changed Pazend into Persian of
the present day.

In this connection it * would be worth considering the
question of the Script also. According to Aga Pour-e Davoud,
the Avesta characters are the best that the Persians could adopt
for their language. Apart from certain technical reasons
strongly in their favou r, these were the characters used by the
forefathers of the modern Persians for preserving the most
cherished portions of their literature. Besides, they could be
easily learnt within a few hours. Aga Pour-e Davoud's arguments
against the adoption of the Latin Script for the Persian langu-
age ought to convince those who advocate its adoption, that the
Avesta characters are best suited to Persian.


220

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[ J une

Thus it will be seen that there is a wide field for the deve-
lopment of Persian through Avesta, a field hitherto totally
neglected. This development will also help the modern
Persian authors in ousting the Arabic words, idioms, metres etc.
from their language, and it will enable them to cultivate it on
entirely new lines so that their future literature may faithfully
reflect the true Aryan characteristics of the Persians.

THE IRAN LEAGUE, |

S

Kamar Bldg., Cowasji Patel Street,
FORT, BOMBAY.

Literature relating to Persia. jg

The following books etc. are available for sale at the ^

offioe of the Iran League to its members at a reduced p

price:— |

Bs. a. fe

The Gathas, by Aga Pour-e Davoud with notes in L

English by Mr. D. J. Irani ... cloth bound 8 8 g

paper bound 2 8 p
The Yashts, Volume I, by Aga Pour-e Davoud ... 6 8

, H, ' „ „ ... 4 0 |

Khordeh Avesta „ „ ... 4 8 &

Avestana Javahiro, by Mr. F. K. Dadachanji, Vol. I ... 3 0 ?

Vol. II . 3 4 f

Parsis—A People of the Book, by Prof. Eezvi

paper bound 2 8 fe

card bound 3 0 fa

Iran-Iraq Guide (in Q-ujarati) by Mr. K. A. Fitter ... 1 4 £

Armaghan Nawruz ... ... ...08 F

Circle of Perfection (a chart) ... ... ...02 [§

Coloured picture of Prophet Zoroaster ... ... 0 4

Biography of the first Parsi Missionary Mr. Maneckji fa

L. Hataria, by Messrs. G. K. N. and K. A. F. ...06 I

Persia and Parsis by Mr. G. K. N. ... ...10 f

Persian Pictorial Post cards (24) ... ...18 $

Album (by Messrs. Fitter & Chaina) ...2 4 Eg

Coloured picture of Darius the Great, 4x3" size ...0 6 fa

| 10-Coloured picture of H. I. M. Eeza Shah ...0 8 |

j| (Postage extra.) jg


THE ORIGIN OF THE YAZ1DI TRIBE AND THEIR
PRESENT HOME IN IRAQ

AN ACCOUNT GIVEN IN PERSIAN BY THE IRANI
GLOBE-TROTTER Db. A. MOHAQQAQI

Translated and summarised by
P. P. Bharuoha and R. K. Jehanbaxi

[At a reception given by a well-known Iranophil of Bombay
to the Persian globe-trotter Aqa Abu'l-Qasim Mohaqqaqi on
the 15th of June last, the traveller was requested to narrate
some of his experiences, during his peregrinations. He chose
to give an account of the old Iranian tribe known as the Yazi-
dis (Yazidiyan) of whom various narratives are occasionally
published by travellers and writers.

The subject being interesting, we give below its summaris-
ed English version.

Aqa Mohaqqaqi has written about 150 pages on the sub-
ject, and given in them accurate dates etc. But they are not
with him in Bombay, and in consequence he had to jot down
hurriedly for the occasion some salient points respecting the
tribe.

Under the circumstances the translators have taken the
liberty of arranging the information in proper order and adding
sub-headings for the facility of the readers. Some repetitions
occurring in the Persian manuscript have been eliminated while
the quotation from the history of Mosul is abridged.

On not finding any information in the MS. about the
means of livelihood of the tribe, we made personal enquiry of
'the traveller and were informed that most of the people were en-
gaged in fruit-growing and cultivation of the soil. There is no
mention of the women-folk and the treatment they receive from
the male members of the small community; but the globe-


222

the iran league quarterly

[ J une

trotter informed us that his orignal papers contained a full
account which he offered to send to Bombay if so desired.

Considering the personsal risk involved in the enterprise
and the constant apprehension of discovery of his own faith,
any deficiency in the investigation can be easily understood;
still the subject is so treated that it has sufficient interest
for all those who may be concerned in anthropology, and especi-
ally in the ancient faith of Iran.—Translators.]

A Tour in Yazidi Land

After I finished a part of my travels in Europe and Africa,
said Aqa Mohaqqaqi, I decided about a year back to go to the
interior of some of the less known districts of Asia Minor and
the Arab territories, with a view to acquire some knowledge of
the manners, customs and ways of living of the people and
to learn some of their ideas, both secular and religious.

I first went to Syria and thence entered Mosul, a province
of Mesopotamia, and on being struck with the manners and
customs of the inhabitants, I made up my mind to carry on an
anthropological investigation in the surrounding territory.

My attention was most attracted by the ways of the tribe
known as the Yazidis (Yazidiyan) and having previously read
something about them in the history of Mosul I was led by
curiosity to observe them in their home. This was however
a task full of personal danger as the Yazidis were said to be
very jealous of strangers, especially of the Moslems. But
thanks to the kindly interest taken in my welfare by H. E. Aqa
Abdul Samadkhan, the consul at Mosul of His Persian Majesty,
the difficulties were practically overcome. Disguised in the
costume of a Yazidi, I sallied forth one day and left Mosul.

K. WADIA,

PM NO 42483

DIAMOND MERCHANT,
GRANT ROAD. BOMBAY.


1933]

the yazidi tribe in iraq

223

As an inquirer after Zoroastrian lore I stayed among the
tribesmen for a period of 35 days.

The Yazidis' present home is the mountainous territory to
the north of Mosul. They are spread in five
^pu1aMonters and towns known as Baashifeh (790 families), Beh-
zani (385 families), Aine Safni (650 families),
Baazra (560 families), Shaikh Aadi (279 families), and the San jar
district (1036 families). In all there are at present 3700 families
in these places.

This people enjoy a free and independent mountainous life
which seems to agree well with them. For,
anc^and'Tratoof generally they are tall of stature, well-built,
Character healthy, strong and ruddy-faced. Their personal

courage and intrepidity are manifest on their faces. Unity
among themselves and resoluteness are the common features of
their character. They are not known to have yielded to the
oppression of any nation or tribe.

The Yazidi language is similar to Persian Most of its
words and phrases resemble those of the dialect
Language 0f Mazenderan or Gilan though generally the

Yazidi language is taken to be a Kurdish dialect. The Kurds
however oannot understand it.

On personal enquiry from one of the chiefs of the tribe
I came to know that the present Yazidis are
Origin & Histoiy reaUy 0f Persian Zoroastrian extraction and that
their ancestors were once the residents of Persia proper.

After the Arab conquest when a number of Persians emi-
grated to other climes in order to escape fanatical persecution,
some took their way southwards and came to India while others
taking the northern route settled in the vicinity of what are
now the Russian frontiers. Here they were known as "Yazdan-
parast" and they gradually spread towards Turkey and various
cities like Tiflis, Erzerum and Anfcioch. They adopted a kind,
of segregated life and held to their faith by preaching among


224

HE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

themselves. After the lapse of some years when quarrels broke
out among the Arabs on the question of Khilafat and when
some fighting took place in the neighbourhood of Niniveh,
which was about 2000 metres from Mosul, the Yazidis thought
it a proper opportunity to make a move towards the interior of
Iraq. Their longstanding desire for occupying some towns
appears to have been fulfilled. For they were able at the time
to spread in the above mentioned five towns.

[At this stage Aqa Mohaqqaqi gave an account, taken down
from a history of Mosul in Arabic, of the service of the Yazidi
chief Gordi under two Christian missionaries; his struggle
against them, fight and death; the final success of Gordi's son
Shaikh Aadi and the ruins of the place named after him.]

The Yazidi Religion

The present religion of the Yazidi tribe, continued Aqa
Mohaqqaqi, h*3 some resemblanc e to the Maz-

Religiou a Distort-
ed Form of Maz- dayasnian faith. Although they observe some

Zoroastrian customs and possess a book called
Zand-Avesta, their circumstances, the flight of tima and the
absence of proper and well-informed preachers have all con-
tributed in changing to a great extent the original fai th. They
possess only one book of Zand-Ave3ta and it is not shown to
any one nor is it intelligible to the masses of the Yazidis
themselves. Only the chief in whom the secular power
appears to have combined with ecclesiastical authority, recites
from the book and explains the contents to his fold.

At the time Shaikh Aadi obtained success in uniting the
Yazidi tribe he wrote two new books. One was entitled " Jel-
weh " and the other " Asvad". The former enjoins good con-
duot in life and the latter prohibits actions to the contrary.
Though the ultimate object of both these books is the same, viz.,
the duty of man, they give some faint notion, says the Travel-
ler, of the primeval polar principles of good and evil.


1933]

the yazidi tribe in iraq 34

For the time the tribe was known as " Yazdanparast," their
religious customs were well preserved. But
dJteeofcPor°rapmtion Bince the figWing near Niniveh not only did
enceForeign Infll" they lose some of their rites and ceremonies,
but a number of foreign elements appear to
have crept into their belief.

For the salvation of the soul this people believe in their
" Malek Taoos", which probably shows a very
ofcforTuptTonUres distant relation with the idea of " Faroher " and
with the cock which has been considered a
sacred bird by the old Persians. They have an idol of "Malek
Taoos" which they conduct in procession to their houses twice
every year. Such processions are generally led by "Mir-Miran",
i.e., the supreme head of the community and voluntary alms or
propitiatory offerings are collected from every house ; the belief
being that such payments will ward off future calamities and
evils. Also in the time of difficulties they promise mentally to
give the alms or offerings on a future occasion and believe in
the efficacy of the same. The fund thus collected is spent
after the comforts of the pilgrims who attend the tomb of
their famous leader Shaikh Aadi.

They have a priestly chief in every one of the five towns
. , and he is called Baba Shaikh. At the head of

Their priests

the five Baba-Sliaikh s is the " Mir-Miran" on
whose death his son succeeds him.

If he happens to leave no male-issue, one of his near rela-
tives who may be well-versed in the communal lore is selected
for the high priesthood. His present headquarter is Aine
Safni which is called the province of the Shaikhs. But
the Mir-Miran tours in all the places inhabited by the
Yaiiidis*

The Yazidis rise early and offer their prayers at the dawn
Prayer Time and also at sunset.


226

the iran league quarterly [ J une

To extinguish fire with water or by any disrespectful
means and to blow out light with the breath of

The importance

of Fire and Mazda- the mouth are considered heinous sins. For

yasnian Influence ,,, . , ,, , „ ,,

the purpose or blowing oud the lamp or fire chey
have a special implement.

Nails of fingers and toes are not to be thrown carelessly in
the way of passers-by. But they are to be wrapped in a piece of
paper or cloth and interred in a hole away from ordinary resorts.

The Yazidis observe fast on three days since the first of
Fast-Days October1, i.e., they do not take anything between

sunrise and sunset.

This people have a great aversion to lettuce and pumpkins;

so much so that they would not even name
DiaUkea Cunous them Also they avoid such words as contain
the Perso-Arabic letter J- " Shin" and the Ara-
bic \> " Toi" in their spellings. Also they consider the mule as
a freak of nature and hold that this animal is an outcast of
God's creation. They do not allow it to approach their houses.
If however one of the Yazidis has the temerity to employ a
mule as a beast of burden, he is looked upon with great abhorr-
ence. They have an equally strong antipathy for blue colour
which they avoid wearing. Nay there should not be even a
blue thread in their dress.

Yazidi Festivals

The Yazidis observe several festivals, the chief of which is
the new year day on the first of the month of
Festivals Farvardin. On its eve they decorate their

houses with tulips and other flowers and collect faggot in an

1 About five or six decadaa ago the Zoroastrians of Persia used to observe similar
fast but the time was different. They connected it with the beginning of the Rapith-
vin Qah from the third day after the naw year. On the other hand the Yazidis ap-
pear to observe fast at the approach of autumn when the period of the seven months of
the " Rapithvin Gah '' nears its end. Considering the derivation of the word Rapi-
thvin which has connection with the mid-day meal which was to be taken during the
â– even summer-months, the observance by the Yazidis of the fa'st appears to be more
in keeping with the original spirit than the usage of tlio Persian Zoroastrians, most of
whom have by now discarded it.— Translators.


1933]

THE YAZIDI TRIBE IN IRAQ

227

appointed place. As the day of the new year dawns they
engage themselves in prayers after which all the family mem-
bers join together at the place where the faggot has been kept
since the previous night. Kindling a large fire they burn in it
dates and nuts as an auspicious omen for the new year.

They hold a sacrificial function in the middle of the year
M.d when they sacrifice some male animals and

»n/ Rcurfousiy birds. A man dips his finger in the blood and
o^the^aor^ce1106 stains with it the foreheads of all the members
of the family; their belief being that the mark
has the potency of granting them exemption from wretchedness
and poverty. Then they roast the animal and taking out its
tongue, cut it into small pieces which they distribute among the
family. They believe that by eating the tongue their own
tongue will remain steadfast in praise of their faith and will
not calumniate their own co-religionists. The same procedure
is adopted with respect to the heart of the animal, it being held
that it will be a potent factor in keeping them united with their
brethren. The head is eaten with a view to have their own
heads immune from evil thoughts.1

On the last Wednesday of the year, continued AqaMohaq-
qaqi the Yazidis collect straw and faggot and

Leaping across

Fire for bein^g ab- kindle a fire. They leap across it with the
object of becoming absolved from the past
sins and to have done with all that was evil in the ending year.

1 The mid-year sacrificial festivity is evidently the relic of the well-known
Mehergan. About half a century ago the Irani Zoroastrians of Yezd and Kirman
used to celebrate the occasion in almost similar fashion. But instead of marking
the forehead with the blood of the animal, this was mixed with some other articles,
cooked and eaten. The tongue was given to the priest who recited the Yaana.
Cooking blood and eating it may at first eight appear distasteful and a savage practice;
but we cannot ignore the fact that we assiduously take as restoratives, imported
preparations containing haematin, a constituent of haemoglobin, the colouring matter
of the red corpuscles of the blood. Moreover, raw meat juice or hemal food is
commonly prescribed for patients suffering from wasting diseases like phthisis or
pulmonary consumption. However, the practice was disliked by the first Parsi
missionary to Persia, the late Mr. M. L. Hataria of revered memory, and he dissuaded
the Persian Zoroastrians from continuing it, and it is almpst dead now.— Translators,


228

HE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[June

Then they pray and ask to be forgiven and await the new year
with a desire for prosperity and plenty.1

Some Social Customs

When two parties agree upon a marriage, they assemble

in a public hall and their religious leader, who
mM«nage Cere- ^^ «BabaMir» Qr « Baba ghaikh asks

the contracting parties whether they approve
of the union. On receiving the affirmative answer he rises up
from his seat and recites some prayers. The hands of the
couple are joined together, blessings are pronounced and the
party goes about the streets in procession with music, dancing
and merry-making.

There appears to be a kind of basilica for dispensing
Legal Procedure justice to disputants. It is attended by a
rngdtheatTrufthteU" " Qazi" arid some members of the legal profession
in whose presence the cases are conducted.
The Qazi keeps before him two pieces of paper, one crimson
and the other black, they being symbolical of the following-
oath to be taken by the defendant: " May ' Malek-TaooB'
send me from the crimson world to the black and dark region
if I lie." Aqa Mohaqqaqi surmises that this custom of oath
has begun among the Yazidis after the Arab conquest. For,
the Yazidis consider the crimson world as their own domain
and the black one as that of Islam.2

The Yazidi Dress

The Yazidi dress consists of a tunic about two yards in
length with long sleeves and a pair of loose

Costume

trousers. Over the tunic they put on a kind oi
jacket which is usually embroidered with gold thread. On the

1 This i3 probably a trace of the Jashn-e-Sadeh of old Persia, which was
celebrated 50 days before the now year, and when a kindling fire and gamboling
around it were customary.— Tranxiaiora.

2 The crimson world and the dark region may as well be an allusion to heaven
•nd the internal region.— Translators.


1933]

the Yazidi tribe in iraq

229

head they wear a kerchief after the fashion of the Persian
Kurds. The priests however put on occasionally a short cloak
which reaches to the knees. Blue colour is studiously avoided
as mentioned above. And to put on garment of this colour
is considered as a grave transgression.

Most of the Yazidis put on a uniform dress except those
inhabiting the neighbourhood of Sanjar which is situated
about 300 metres to the west of Mosul. These grow
their hair in locks and dress themselves in long white robes.
Their headgear is dome-like and pointed. This clan of the
Yazidis is said to be especially inimical to Moslems, killing of
whom is assumed to be an act of duty.

[The traveller informed us orally that the sign by which
a Yazidi recognises his co-religionist is the round shape of the
neck of his tunic. The 'V' shape is always avoided. About
women's dress he subsequently gave us to understand that they
wear a kind of long robe reaching to the ankles ; they cover
them heads but their faces are not veiled.]

Up to the time of Shaikh Gordi, Dr. Moliaqqaqi added, the
Yazidis consigned the dead to towers of silence,
ti^hdeadlsp0Bal °£ but in the time of Shaikh Aadi the custom
disappeared. In fact the first body interred by
them was that of their leader Shaikh Aadi himself. His tomb is
their place of pilgrimage. They appear however to have
preserved a tinge of their old usage in this matter also. They
do not bury a corpse at night but wash it and keep it ready
by dawn at the grave-yard. With the rising of the sun they
kneel down, join their two hands in praying attitude and
supplicate the Deity to pardon the dead person for the sins
committed. Then they put the body in its grave, taking good
care to keep the face to the east. The pit is always dug north
to south for the purpose.


ORIENTAL

GOVERNMENT SECURITY

LIFE ASSURANCE CO., LTD.

Incorporated in India 1874-

Head Office:—BOMBAY.

1932 Results

New Business : 29,982 Policies assuring Rs. 594 Lakhs.
Claims Paid during the Year: 3,816 for Rs. 85 Lakhs.
Funds Increased to Nearly Rs. 12| Crores.
Policies In Force: 2,07,531 Assuring with Bonuses Nearly Rs. 44 Crores.
LOW EXPENSE RATIO OF 21% OF THE PREMIUM INCOME.

NEXT DIVISION OF PROFITS

fails to be made as at 81st December 1933.

Participating Policies effected in the Current Year will be
entitled to participate in the Division of Profits
if in force as at 31st December 1933.

Applications for further information should be addressed to\
The MANAGER, ORIENTAL BUILDINGS, BOMBAY

Agra

Ahmedabad

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Bangalore

BareiUy

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Dacca
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Lahore Patna

Lucknow Poona

Madras Eaipur

Mandalay Eajshahi

Mercara Banchi

Rangoon

Rawalpindi

Singapore

Sukkur

Trichinopoly

Trivandrum

Vizagapatam


PERSIA'S SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

Kaikhosbu A. Fitter
An Adventurous Persian Scout

Dr. Abul Fazl Mohaquki is a Persian Scout and ' Globe-
trotter.' He was recently in Bombay for a short period of two
weeks. He has been travelling on foot since he left Persia
in 1927. He has traversed 52,000 kilometres in going round
all countries of Europe and then biked across Greece, Egypt,
Turkey, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Iraq. From Hedjaz
in Arabia, he crossed over to Karachi. He has passed through
many thrilling experiences and some of the stories of his
adventure would be interesting to the local Scouting
organizations in Bombay. The 32nd Karachi Troop has
done its bit towards helping this Persian Scout in every way.
Dr. Mohaquki is a Ph.D. of the Berlin University, and has a
literary turn of mind. He intends to write a book of his adven-
tures in Persian. His idea is to fire the souls of the rising
generation of Iran, by the story of his thrilling adventures and
by presenting an intimate knowledge of the Scout organizations
all over the world. The adventures of Sinbad the Sailor
are too old-fashioned for the modern Persian youths. The
ambition of young Doctor Mohaquki is to appear in the
role of a modern Sinbad before his countrymen. It is a very
encouraging and healthy sign for regenerated Iran that her sons
rush boldly into unknown perils with true sririt of adventure
and sportsmanship. Here is a Persian youth who left his
comfortable home in Iran, six years ago with a few silver
Krans, and a small load of belongings in his knapsack. This
youth maintains himself in an honourable manner by delivering
lectures on interesting literary subjects as well as on his travel


232

the iran league quarterly [ J une

experiences. He can speak French, German, Italian, Arabic,
Turkish and Egyptian besides his sweet mother tongue
Persian. The future programme of the youth is to visit all the
important towns of India and from thence to go across
Afghanistan, China, Japan, America and Australia.

His presence in Bombay will be particularly interesting to
the Parsis as he has lived for about 35 days among that peculiar
and mysterious sect called the 'Yazidis'. They live near Mosul
(Iraq) and are, through ignorance, called by some European
writers, " Devil worshippers." Doctor Mohaquki says this
people are following some form of Zoroastrianism, and even
their sacred book is called " Zend Avesta" which is written in
Kurdish language. They give great respect to the rising and
setting Sun, and they never blow out fire or light by their
breath.

Dr. Mohaquki was entertained to Tea on 15th June 1933 at
Mr. Dinshah Irani's bungalow, where before a select gathering
Dr. Mohaquki read his essay on the Yazidis of Mosul. H. E.
Mirza Hasan Khan Pir Nazar, Persian Consul of Bombay, after
praising the laudable enterprize of the young Persian, presented
him a modest purse collected from his admiring Parsi friends.
He was also entertained by the Parsi Scout Federation at
their annual Jashan and Dinner function. Dr. Mohaquki's inte-
resting article on the Yazidis appears elsewhere in this
number.

The Mysterious Sect of the Yazidis

Parsi Hospitality

k. wad i a

DIAMOND MERCHANT,
GRANT ROAD. BOMBAY.

PH. NO 42483


OUR TEHERAN LETTER

(From Our Correspondent at Ahwaz)
Mattebs Relating to Parsees in Persian Railway Service

well settled

I am pleased to have to say that the question of discharge
and the redaction of pays of some of the Parsee employees
of the S. P. S. Ry., has now been quite satisfactorily settled.
It was due to a little misunderstanding on the part of an
officer, but after the matters were brought to the knowledge
of the Government through the very kind endeavours of
Arbab Kaikhashru Sharukh and Mr. Jehangir Badhni, they
were promptly put right and now the Parsees are working
quite contentedly. Arbab Kaikhashru took a very kind
interest in our affairs and the successful result is mainly due
to his endeavours. I have had the honour of a few inter-
views with the Arbab and other Government Officers and
Ministers, all of whom were very kind and paid immediate
attention to the complaints.

Business Opportunities in Persia

I have been in Persia for about a year, and during that
time I have had various opportunities not only of studying this
country, and its people and Government, but also the probable
fields of enterprize; and though I am a pessimist, I could
not help coming to the conclusion that there are certain
fields in this country, such as Hydro-electricity, sanitary
engineering and plumbing, glass manufacture, textile industry,
etc., which if taken a prompt advantage of by any capitalist
will not fail to yield a rich harvest in very near future. It is
not I alone who have got this conviction, but many
others have had the same. Especially the foreigners with
their keen foresight have been leaving no stone unturned
to capture these fields. Persia is at present passiag through a
period of transition, making a rapid progress in every direction
and, believe me, it is a most ripe time and grand opportunity


234

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[ J une

for our capitalists to remodel and swell their fortunes by
employing a part of their capital in the rich but so far untitled
fields here. By virtue of the Foreign Policy of the Persian
Government these opportunities are not within an easy reach
of the foreigners, but these have been still persevering in
their efforts towards that goal.

Iran's Preferential Regard for the Parsis

The Parsis have the good fortune of enjoying a preferential
regard of H.I.M. the Shah and the Government of Persia , and
it is a most opportune moment for Parsi capitalists to
invest their capital or a portion of it, in some of the very
promising fields here. It will be a good and wise policy on
their part not only to advance thus their own interests, but
also to earn thereby name for themselves as leading Industrial
Pioneers in Iran. Now it is not a matter for vascillation on
their part, but for firm decision and prompt action. Once
the opportunity is lost, it is lost for ever.
Teheran 7th June 1933. p, S. M.

SAVINGS BANK-

Money saved Wisely in these days brings Happiness
and when spent Unwisely it brings overwhelming Debts,
Worry, Unkappiness and Distress.

Make therefore a regular saving by opening a
Home Savings Safe Account with the

CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA, LIMITED,
BOMBAY

and earn interest on Daily Balances.

Our Home Savings-Safe will teach you and your
family Thrift and Economy.

S. N. POCHKHANAWALA,
Managing Director.


AFFAIRS IN KERMAN

Jehangib Rustam Fravahar, Kerman

Schools In Kebman

The following faots regarding the Zoroastrian educational
institutions in Kerraan deserve perusal and kind consideration
by your readers.

The Zoroastrian Anjuman of Kerman is at present
conducting two boys' schools and one girls' school:—

(1) The National Middle School: This has four upper
classes of the elementary grade, and one middle class of the
secondary grade. The number of students is 138 Zoroas-
trians and 22 Mohammedans. It has a staff of 10 teachers,
including the Superintendent, the Principal and the Gym-
nastic Instructor. The monthly salaries for these amount
to Rials 2,500.

(2) TheKavani Boys Elementary School'. This has
three lower classes each class having a sub-division, owing
to the great number of students. These comprise 170
Zoroastrians and 43 Mohammedans. It has a staff of the
Principal and six teachers. The total monthly salaries for
these amount to Rials 1,000.

(3) Shahriari Girls' School: This has seven elemen-
tary classes. The number of students is 210 Zoroastrians
and 36 Mohammedans. It has a staff of nine teachers,
including the Principal and instructor for needle work
etc., etc.

You are no doubt aware that in spite of the world-wide
financial crisis, Persia has advanced by leaps and bounds in the
direction of progress and reforms during the last few yares
under the benevolent regime of H. I. M. Reza Shah. Now in this


236

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[ J une

forward movement, if the Zoroastrians would not be ahead, you
will agree with us that they should not at least be behind others.
Previously our Arbabs, i.e., landlords, were helping our
schools, but unfortunately, it has so happened during
two years, that owing to the depression of trade, as well
as ruinous floods those Arbabs suffered great loses and they
are naturally unable to help our schools. We are also obliged
to close one of our middle classes, viz. the 8th class. For this
reason we made an appeal to our Parsi brothers in India
through the columns of the Kaiser-i-Hind newspaper, but
tnat was not responded to.

Sir Dinshaw Petit's Untimely Death

Mr. F. M. Master telephoned to us from Yezd and informed
us of the sad and untimely death of Sir Dinshaw Petit. So the

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1933]

AFFAIRS IN KERMAN

237

Herman An juman at once made an announcement in the Bazar,
and all shops were closed in honour of the deceased gentleman
on the 4th April, and so were the schools. Religious ceremony
was performed in the Zoroastrian Middle School on the same day.
The An juman met in the school, and well-known gentlemen gather-
ed to pay honour to his memory. His Excellency the Governor
General of Kerman kindly attended our sad Posseh Majlis. At
this gathering, the Governor General Aga Kazemi and Mr. Pheroze
H. Karkaria, the manager of S. Dorabjee & Co. in Kerman,
suggested to collect a fund in memory of Sir Dinshaw, in order
to work the 8th class of the school for one year. We are glad
to inform you that the sum of Rials 15,000 was gathered for
this fund. These events were reported by Mr. Phiroze H.
Karkaria, to the deceased's eldest son, Sir Dinshaw Petit the third
Baronet, and the Kerman Anjuman sent a condolence letter to his
family with a request for a portrait of the deceased for our school.
But we are sorry to say we have received no reply up to now.

There are two Parsi gentlemen in Kerman, Mr. Phiroze H,
Karkaria, the Manager of S. Dorabjee & Co. in Kerman, and Dr.
Kaykobad Dumree, who is practising as doctor here.

This Anjuman has no helper excepting our Parsi brothers in
Bombay, and we look up to them for their kind assistance in ways
they deem best. It is a matter of great regret, that the Kerman
Zoroastrians are quite forgotten in the eyes of our Parsi brothers.
Our Zoroastrian Anjuman will be highly obliged, if you will
allow us to make an appeal to our Parsi brothers in India to aid
our schools. It is unfortunate that many Parsi gentlemen are coming
to Persia, but they r,ever visit the Kerman district and quite forget
the Kermani Zoroastrians. For some reason their help preponderates
in Teheran and in Yezd. Nobody is knowing our poor condition,
and how we are living in Kerman. Many Zoroastrian families
here are unable to maintain themselves and the youth of the
community are helpless without education. The new census
of Zoroastrians is going on at the expense of this Anjuman,
and a report on it will be published as soon as it is completed.


OUR BAGHDAD LETTER

(From Our Correspondent in Baghdad)
Baghdad Summer

The heat of Baghdad is intolerable, and a man from the
north is not accustomed to it. It is impossible for him to do
any work comfortably here at present.

Latin Scbipt foe Kubdish

Colonel Tawfik Wahbi Bey, I understand, is just now very
busy in writing a booklet on the use of Latin characters in
the Kurdish language. It differs greatly from those of the
Bedirkhanis and is based on quite a scientific basis and is
specially fitting the peculiarities of our language. He will
certainly send you some copies when published.

The " Zanist Danish"

I understand that the Komal-i-Zanist of Sulaimani will
shortly start publishing a fortnightly review under the title
" Zanist Danish " or " Zanist Knowledge."

A Tbip Through Southern Kubdistan

I have applied for two months leave with effect from 7th
July 1933. During the first half of my leave I propose to
make a trip through the Southern Kurdistan, while I hope to
pass the second half in Sulaimani. During my leave I shall
try my best to gather some materials to interest your readers
and shall forward them to you as soon as possible.

M. R. N.


THE PESTONJI DOSSABHOY MARKER BOYS'
ORPHANAGE AND DAY SCHOOL, YEZD

P. P. Bhar uoha

Ceremony of Laying the Foundation-Stoke of the
New Premises

Mr. Pestonji Marker, the well-known Iranophil citizen of
Bombay, conferred an additional boon on the Zoroastrians of
Yezd by purchasing a large plot of land near the Bunder-
Abbas-Teheran Main Road, in the vicinity of Elyas in Yezd,
for erecting new premises of the Orphanage and School.

It was a sore need; and the economical, and none the
less progressive and efficient, administration of the Orphanage
by the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman of Bombay, combined
with the munificence of Mr. Marker, has enabled the Anjuman
to embark on a scheme of having their own building for their
institutions.

A pleasant function took plaoe when the Foundation
Stone was laid at Yezd in the afternoon of the 12th of April
last. It was the anniversary of the founder's mother's demise
and the foundation day of the Orphanage exactly ten years
back. Dr. Minocher Bustomji Vesuna, the Medical Officer
of Sir Eatan Tata Medical Hall and Bai Dinamae Desai
Dispensary, opened the proceedings by delivering in fluent
Persian a speech welcoming His Excellency the Governor of
Yezd who was kind enough to postpone for the purpose
his departure to Isfahan, and all the other guests. About a
hundred well-known oitizens including Persian Government
officials and the medical officer of the English Missionary
Hospital had gathered. In requesting His Excellenoy Mirza
Ovessi to lay the stone Dr. Vesuna gave a brief history of thQ


240 the iran league quarterly [Jutl6

institution. It was followed by a suitable speech by one of the
orphans. Then the Governor laid the foundation stone and
amidst cheering applause he paid a very eloquent tribute to
the high aims and ideals of Mr Peshotanji Marker. He said
that Mr. Marker's name would be perpetually remembered by
the Iranians as one of their forem ost benefactors. His services
to the regeneration of the ancient community was as unique
as they were spontaneous and timely. His Excellency
expressed his personal interest and sympathy for the poor
Zoroastrians of Yezd and invoked heavenly blessings for
Mr. Marker and his family who, he said, were contributing
such a large share in their ediicat ional, ethical and economic
uplift.

The pleasant function ended with light refreshments.

AVESTA-NA JAVAHIRO

(GEMS OF THE AYESTA.)

VOL. I & II (IN GU JAR ATI).

Compiler—Ms.. Fredoon K. Dadachanji, Solicitor.

Price :—Rs. 3-8 for Vol. I and Rs. 3-12 for Vol. II. As. 8/-
reduction to Members of the Iran League and
the Jashan Committee. V. P. P. As. 12/- extra.

The books have been published by the Seth Pestonjl flarker
Religious Literature Fund and are being sold at a nominal price.
They cover 550 and 580 pages with illustrations and the Zoroastrian
spiritual and religious philosophy culled from the entire Avesta.
Further, the Gems gathered together in them are explained and
compared with other religions and religious aDd moral literature, and
the greatness of Zoroastriauisra and similarities of other religions
therewith are exhaustively set out.

The books (pronounced by a noted Parsi Scholar : " the most
excellent reference books") throw a new light on the Zoroastrian and
other religions and furnishes a preoious treasure to the writer, speaker,
teacher, thinker and the religiously inclined.

Apply :—The Secretary, The Iran League,

Kamar Bldg., Cowasji Patel Street, Fort, BOMBAY.


[/ran League Quarterly

The foundation stone of the new premises of Seth Marker's Orphanage in Yezd was laid by H. E. the Persian
Governor The above group shows the gathering that had assembled then.





P. D Marker Orphan ige and Boys' Day School. Yezd, started work in April,
1923, and have spread the blessings of education among the Zoroasfciians of that place,
besides saving a number of poor orphans from a hard fate.



KURDISH WOMEN

Db. Qamiran Ali Bedib Khan, Damascus

[Translated by Jamshed Rustam. Irani, B.A., from the original
French of Dr. Q. A. Bedir Khan. This had appeared in the
Kurdish Magazine " Iiawar " of Damascus, in its issue of
the llth April 19b3.]

Theib Healthy and Fbee Life

It appears to me that the review of the position of the
Kurdish women will form a very interesting subject for
European readers. The Kurds, though less used to modes of
civilized life, have from times immemorial, been holding fast to
the rights and dignities of their womankind whom they consi-
der as devoted partners of their married lives and as valuable
factors to look after their private, social and public activities.

By way of contrast I shall point out a truly typical trait
of their character, viz., the absence of a separate sphere for
the women, as would always hold them aloof from men. This
system which was first adopted by the ancient Greeks has
ruled, and still rules in a greater degree, the lives of the orien-
tal peoples, especially of the Mahomedans. It is but natural to
recall to memory the life of the ancient Greeks which was
greatly influenced by the tastes and habits of the Asiatic
peoples. The Kurdish women enjoy the same degree of liberty
and freedom as was being given to their women by the Bomans
in those ancient times. Still heavy conventionalities and
vexatious restrictions are not imposed upon their freedom as
was being done by the Romans on the liberty of their women.
In fact, their ultimate object of granting them freedom was to
make them lead healthy and independent lives.

It is but in vain to find any traces of progress by degrees
in the evolution of the life of the Kurdish women.


242

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

The Kurds possess a very fine idea of the different clas-
ses of human beings and impose rightly or wrongly very subtle
restrictions on the different social elements but have hardly
any idea of different human sexes, never thinking of the for-
mal or material restrictions on women. In fact, from the
ethnical points of view, they rightly deserve the confidence,
rights and responsibilities granted to them, but psychological-
ly they are ruled by the same factors of temptation and
virtues and vices as is often found with other nations. This
spirit is worth being noted, and it really shows the absence of
the terrible effects of the sense of sex superiority generally
found everywhere else.

The information about Kurdistan and its women is full of
interesting details. It is universally admitted that the Kurdish
women enjoy greater independence and freedom than any other
women of the Bast.

European travellers have particularly noted that the
Kurdish women employ male servants in their homes without
subjecting them to any restrictions and amputations, as have
been imposed upon the harem eunuchs of the eastern countries.

I shall try to describle the life of the Kurdish women very
objectively, via. as a young girl, as a wife, as a woman, as a
mother, as a head of a family and lastly as a political chief of
a tribe or a territory.

The Life of a Young Girl

Hygienic and educative principles are seldomobservedinthe
localities where these young girls spend their time, but it is
essential to note that since their birth they are much loved and
looked after with a view to increase their intellectual power.
They enjoy the same happiness which falls to the lot of boys;
and national songs, dances and horse-riding are the chief
subjects that are taught them.

Manual work, embroidery, sewing, weaving of fine carpets
and much other work of that sort develops in them a fine sense


1938]

KURDISH WOMEN

243

of rhythm, colour, harmony and ornamentation. It is essential
to note that it is the mother who is responsible for their educa-
tion, but the father too often being free from the daily worries
sometimes superintends their studies, but after the girls reach
the age of 10 they no more remain under the care of the father
who does not even inflict the mildest punishment. It is the
mother who is responsible for this kind of work. Till a certain
age they help their mothers but are free to enjoy the pleasures
of young age, viz. dancing once a week with their companions.
It is through dancing that they get an opportunity of selecting
their future husbands. These dances,— specially marriage
dances,—are held for three to seven days beginning from the dawn
of the day and ending late at night. It is really a wonderful
sight to see these beautiful Kurdish girls mixing with young
brave boys in this fine and joyful gathering, where the radiance
of youth shines like the dawn of the day.

As a Wife

There are many other sources besides dances which permit
and facilitate their seeking company of men. The Kurdish
women are allowed to enjoy horse-riding, to have walks in
gardens, to receive guests and to be hosts for any number of
days. These facilities are peculiar to their young age.

rlhese meetings and granting and paying interviews are
particularly meant to fill their hearts with joy and pleasures of
youth In a corner of a garden or under the shade of a tree, or
on a moonlight night when the silvery rays of the moon play
on the ground, these women are seen enjoying the pleasures of
tbe company of men. They generally come fully scented and
by opening their heart and exchanging stories of joy and
sadness they introduce themselves promising love and fidelity
till death.

Solitary night walks do not carry any importance at all, as
these walks do not mean any idea of love and marriage and no
dramatic or lyric expressions can be lent to such scenes.


244 the iban league quarterly [e7 une

The Marriage

Generally it is marriage that results fiom these liberties
and walks in the garden.

It is evident that there is war and danger in the Kurdish
countries, and it is only the love of liberty and country which
keep them united. The love of independence and liberty is
strongly cherished in their hearts being surrounded by moun-
tains on all aides. The Kurds look in marriage a divine as well
as human agency.

Divoboe Forbidden

The Kurds are not allowed to divorce their wives as they
look upon marriage as a holy bond, whereas those who have
embraced the Islamic religion can do so. The Kurds think
divorce a very dishonourable act. The woman really being
the mistress of the house conducts the management of the
house. Men have to earn to provide for the family, whioh
women too are able to do in case men are incapacitated.

Marriage limits and prevents certain enjoyments and
pleasures to women but permits them indulgence in danceB,
music and societies of men. During conversation they gene-
rally use sweet voice and keep the hearer spell-bound without
showing in the least any signs of coquetry.

Warbiobs

They talk, laugh and prattle as if it is natural with them.
During revolution they accompany their husbands fully armed
and fight as men taking greatest pleasure in those deeds.

They fully realize that it is highly honourable to die to
save their nation which is perpetually oppressed. The wives,
mothers and daughters of the warrior encourage and cheer the
fighters by helping and nursing the wounded. The heroic
women of this beautiful country cheer their husbands and
encourage them by singing national songs to fight for their
country.

If the father has shown no bravery in war, it is a national
custom with the Kurds to name their children after their
mother when she has earned remown for her bravery,


1933]

KURDISH WOMEN

246

Education

Women play an important part in the literature of the
country. Being Aryan in blood they take to chibalrous edu-
cation and create in themselves that spirit of profound literary
inclination which is often found in the bards of the Middle
Age. Most of the songs and sonnets produced by them are full
of melody, sweetness and rhythm.

In the absence of her husband, the wife represents his
interests to strangers. The two statues of the female chieftains
erected before the Great War in Pichedar Zone are still held
in highest esteem, the one being of Pura Halim, the head of the
Kafourouchi tribe, and the other of Quah Narkiz, the head of
the Chovan tribe.

After the murder of their husbands by the Turks, they
placed themselves at the head of an army and fought very
bravely against them for several years. Sitting in the evening
in spring-time on the banks of the river Zab, they still sing the
epic songs of bravery and sacrifice of these brave people oj
Piohedar.

Political Life

Coming to recent years, we shall describe the life of
the female chief of the Adile Hanoum tribe who died in 1924.
For 15 years she managed the social and political affairs of the
Djaff territory as her husband Osman Pasha Djaff was quite
incapable. It was a very magnificient and a grand sight to see
Lady Adile Hanoum of slender physique, blue eyes, shining
intelligence, sitting in her hall administering justice and guiding
the affairs of the little state, called Djaff, with justice, foresight
and kindness.

The beautiful sister of Shaikh Mahomand well deserved
the applause of the people for her supreme efforts to defend the
rights of her citizens.

As a signal for renaissance, this little information about
Kurdish ladies should be very enoouraging to the Oriental
people.


PERSIA AND INDIA

A Lecture by Aga Pour-e Davoud*

To-day I am very glad and feel myself honoured that under the
presidentship of Dew an Bahadur Krishnalal M. Zaveri, a Persian scholar
of repute in your City of Bombay, I am addressing you, or rather,
am giving you a heart to heart talk, on the close and sincere relations
that had for so long existed between India and Iran, and the Indians
and the Iranians. I do not presume to give you an erudite lecture
in a flowery language, burdened with the heavy terms of science and
learning. For, to my mind, a friendly talk in a simple language,
will be a better proof of our sincerity of purpose to-day than otherwise.

Reviving Ancient Iban's Soul

The object of my first visit to India, which lasted from November
1925 to April 1928, was to acquaint myself-more intimately with, and to
perfect my knowledge of, the ancient religion of my ancestors with the
help of my brothers, the Parsi scholars of India. During that first visit
of mine, as much as it was possible for me, I gathered all materials
and information, added the same to the treasury of my knowledge and
have since then published several volumes on the Mazdayasnian Literature
and am glad to learn that I have supplied in them, the means of fostering
and increasing the affection existing between the Parsis and the Persians.
Clouds of wrong impressions and false ideas which ignorance and unthink-
ing fanaticism had raised up before the eyes of my own countrymen,
have been to a great extent removed, and a sense of brotherhood, not
only due to our same descent but also due to the holding of similar high
ideals and principles, have been fostered by the proper representation of
the noble principles and ideals of the ancient Iranians. This, the wish
nearest to the hearts of my friend Mr. Dinshaw Irani and myself,
I have been able to fulfil; and as our object was pure and disinterested,
God Almighty helped us and my works have met with the approval
of my beloved countrymen. Now that a complete translation, with
detailed commentaries, of the ancient literature of Persia rendered in
modern Persian is before my brothers, I hope they will receive an
impetus to publish themselves more and more volumes containing the
result of their researches, on the same sacred subject.

* Thia lecture was delivered on Thursday, the 29th June last., at K. R. Cama
Oriental Institute, under the auspices of the Iran League, when Dewan Bahadur
Zaveri M. A-, LL.B., was in the ohair.


PERSIA AND INDIA

c247

The Fascinating Contact of Iran and Hind

This second visit of mine to India which began in December 1932,
seems also to have been designed by Divine Providence, to have an
equally holy object, viz., of being an intermediary between Hind and
Iran, through the understanding of each other's cultures. Thus my
duty during this sojourn of mine in your land is equally sacred to my
mind, viz., to foster and to increase the love and affection existing
between my countrymen, the Iranians, and the people of this vast and
great country of India. I have no doubt in my mind that the fire
of love between the Indians and the Iranians has been burning more
or less brightly or dimly, but is yet burning, for thousands of years
till to-day. If it is burning slack now, I have just to fan this divine
fire that it may burst into a flame and lit up the path where we two
nations, inclined towards each other, may meet and grasp closely
our hands of friendship for ever and ever. And wonderfully enough,
this duty imposed on me now has been my ardent wish all along, and
the feelings therefore which I express are not manufactured by myself
only for to-day and for the sake of my friends before whom I stand.

Our Government which is indeed the true representative of the
feelings of our nation and the country of Iran, has selected me to
carry out this object. Lest their pure intentions may ever be sought
to be tainted with any doubt of some political object, perhaps their
selection has falllen on a simple and retired student like my humble self
to give my lectures and views in Dr. Tagore's University in Santiniketan
on the culture of Iran. Consequently all along, my lectures have
hitherto been and will be on the ethics, the literature and the history
of ancient Persia, and at times with its literature after the Arab
conquest too. And all throughout my only object has been to place
before my hearers the beautiful culture of Iran, right down from ancient
times, and to show how the Persians have taken their due share in
offering to mankind its civilization. Our present day civilization follows
the civilization of ancient times and in the civilization of ancient times,
the influence of Iran's ethical output is engraved on the tablets
of Time. And indeed in my humble opinion, this sort of sincere
interpretation of each other's cultures before the two great nations of
Iran and India, rather than political and economic discussions which
have fed many a fiery feud between the closest of friends and brothers,
is the best way to bring about harmonious relations between the two
nations. Apart from the fact that I am not born for politics, I know
positively that every single individual of my countrymen, will wish


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to establish' closer relationship with the brothers in India of all races
and creeds and not through the artificial and changing modes of
politics and economy. He will prefer the sounder grounds on which we
stand. A few months back, I read in some Journals that a former
Minister of Turkey had come to India and had told his studience
addressing one section of Indians only that contrary to what is being said
in the papers, the Turks have never relaxed their religious fervour and
and they are near to their brothers in India, because of this religious
fervour they yet possess.

The Holt Bond of the Abyan Blood

In my opinion the very fact that we belong to Asia is enough to
prompt us to unite and join with each other in sincere friendship
to resist the overpowering flood, political and economic of the West.
This is the best argument that can be addressed to any Asian of whatever
creed or religion. Consequently my words are addressed not to a part
of the Indian nation but to one and all of the sons of this sacred
soil. For indeed whether Musalmans or Hindoos, we count Indians as
"Aryans" of the same descent, and therefore our brothers. And if
our Moslem brethren also held us dear from the point of view of
religion too, so muc'i the better. This is only natural, just as to some of
our Persians themselves, Parsis and the followers of H. H. Aga Khan
and the Bora community seem to be nearer than the rest of the Indians.
But if there is only one word which should endear all the various com-
munities of India to the Iranians and vice versa, it is the word " Aryan",
as much respected and loved in Iran as it is in India today. Leaving
aside all question as to how much admixture of blood there is on the
one side or the other, one thing is certain that we Iranians look upon
Indians in the majority as of Aryan descent, and therefore our brothers.
I will repeat and assert that the love of the Iranians and the Indians for
each other and specially their common and ancient high culture, are
heirlooms left to us by our forefathers which we have at present kept
under lock and key in a safe, the precious value of which we have not
been able to see and appreciate during the last one century in
particular for various reasons. I repeat and assert that in the mutual
appreciation of the portion of the old teasure each of us possesses, lies
the stock of our friendship and, may I prophesy ? our salvation.

Iban and India drifting a way from Each Otheb

Our own individual difficulties, our pre-occupations and accidents of
life during the last one century in tHese two sacred realms of ours, have


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not permitted us even to exchange greetings between ourselves, two
sister nations. Iran for over a century and a half was cruslied under
the rule of the Kajjar dynasty. During their regime gradually the
rank and position of Iran which the Safavis had last built up, were all
lost; and .the doors of misfortune were opened on the country from every
side. During these times India made its connection with England and
the contact of European civilization severed the connecting link between
our two sister countries of Iran and India. The Persian language, which
formed one of the strongest link of cultural and friendly contact be-
tween India and Iran, no more enjoyed the position it did during the
time of the Moghul Emperors. Slowly but surely the two countries drift-
ed from each other, till today both of them know hardly anything well
about each other. Most surprisingly I find that in India today, few
people know about the right state of affairs in Persia. In the same way
till recently, we Persians too, were not aware of the pulsating life of
India. If accidentally we read some information about Iran in the
papers, more often than not, it is far from the truth. My appeal
therefore to all the Indians is to get at facts, to try to learn and study the
soul and the culture of Persia as manifested in its advancement today,
in order better to enable the two sister nations to be intimate friends. I
read in the papers the message of Aga Abdulhussein Khan Forugi sent
to all the Indians—Parsis, Moslems and Hindus—at the meeting of the
Literary Society of Teheran an evening before the departure of Dr.
Tagore and Mr. Dinshaw from Teheran, but as yet from no side what-
ever, except in Santiniketan, I have heard a corresponding response.
Now let my brethren in India turn their eyes towards Iran and see what
they have done during the last few years. I will tell you.

Iran's Recent Revival

After a long long sleep the Iranians woke up and found that they
had been left behind in the race. They bucked themselves up to recover
the lost ground, and fortunately enough, God Almighty granted them a
great man to be the leader of the caravan,—an embodiment of zeal, energy
and self-respect, patriotic to the very core, the very incarnation of the
Iranian spirit of heroism has been gifted to us. We thank God for the
same. He has chosen for his Ministers the very best from his subjects
and he has placed in the hands of these educated and enlightened
sons of the soil the various departments of Government. The
wheels of the chariot of the state have been set well on the road
and it is only a question of time when, God granting, the world
will witness Iran reaching the goal of its desire. All the materials)


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necessary for the economic advancement of a country ure ready at
hand in Persia. All the energy and enthusiasm necessary for a
nation are at present there. National feelings and patriotism
which alone can prove to be the salvation of a country are
present, and far from what some foolish writers think, by employing the
means and materials at her own hand, by the exertions of its own labour-
ers and peasants, by the employment of her own energies and resources,
Persia will stand on its own feet before people have time to be wide
awake and see.

In these efforts of ours we only want the good wishes of real friends
and we hope and believe that India and the Indians are and will be our
real friends.

Iran's Glorious and Inspiring Past

In this advancement of ours, ancient Persia, the shining pages of its
history, its beautiful literature, are all matters of national pride to us.
The attention of the whole of Iran is turned towards the past, and
remember we so do it out of the purest of national feelings, for no nation
can advance without taking inspiration from its past records; and
although it may look as if I am speaking too much about my own coun-
try, I draw your attention shortly to the ebbs and tides in its history, just
to show that for the present renaissance, our past experiences and re-
cords have been of great use. Perhaps because of its climate or the
natural environment, the Iranians love rank and position and therefore
are never wanting in enterprise. They might fall, and fall heavily,
bOt again and again they will strive to rise and succeed.

Iran has Survived the Gravest Calamities

Look at the past history of Iran. It has suffered calamities and
catastrophes which I believe hardly any other nation has suffered,
and whereas ancient Greece and Borne are no more, Iran has again and
again, after repeated catastrophes survived and come up. Look at the
blow that was dealt by Alexander in Achaemenian times. Persia fell
and again rose under Ardeshir the Sasanian. Then the blow of the
Arabs fell but yet Iran survived and recovered under the powerful
dynasty of the Saljuks. For a third time, the onslaught, massacres and
plunders of the Mongols, Changis, Taimur and Halaku sacked practi-
cally the whole of Persia and turned it into a heap of dust and corpses;
yet for the fourth time Persia arose under the Safavis and at last came
the foreign-minded Kajjars and whilst Europe advanced Persia


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PERSIA AND INDIA

degenerated until it was on the point of being wiped off a few decades
ago. But this degrading and terrible age too came to an end after the
great war, and for the fifth time in its long history of thousands of
years, by the help and guidance of its powerful leader and patriot
H. I. M. Rezashah Pahlavi, Persia has definitely revived and is opening
the shining doors of its ancient grandeur. Let the results show that
Iran is an old old tree which the terrific storms of life are unable to
uproot. Autumns may shed its leaves, winter deprive it of fruit, but
spring time comes again and again with green foliage and luscious
fruit. The progress Persia has made during the last seven years gives
us every hope that what position we had lost we are regaining and will
regain completely.

Ancient and Modern Fellowship

I often wonder why India knows so little about Iran. Perhaps
India's preoccupations about her own affairs and the fact that we are
very much backward in the Western methods of propaganda may be
the case of this ignorance. For this reason how well it was that last
year one of India's greatest sons Dr. Rabindranath Tagore visited Iran
and with his own eyes saw things, about which you have recently heard
and read something. This must have proved to you that the old old blood
of the Iranians still flows in their veins and I hope messages of the
recent visitors have delighted the hearts of our brother Aryans on this
side of the Indus. For you can be sure that over the other side
we Iranians look with great satisfaction over the awakening that has
come over this land. We love your great men Gandhi and Tagore
and we wish from all our hearts that India may take steady and
rational steps towards being a great and self-governing nation. You
will please remember that this fellow-feeling amongst us is very
natural when we remember that a big part of our own Aryan race
are the residents of our neighbouring land India. I, who have passed
half of my life in Europe at the centres of European civilization and
culture, can assure you that the four years of my stay in India I consi-
der one of the most valuable portions of my life, for the spiritual and
moral instruction I have received here, about the ancient wisdom of
the East, both Iranian and Indian. At Dr. Tagore's University where
I have come in contact with cultural Indians I have been impressed
both by their ideals as by their simplicity and tolerance. Following
the foot-steps of a great predecessor of mine centuries ago, I hope I
may be able in the future to place the materials I have gathered about
India and the Indians in the form of a volume before my own country-


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men i n Persia and thereby forge a small link in the chain of friendship
and brotherhood we are seeking to forge, for the time is ripe for our
close friendship. It is time that we two great neighbours should under-
stand each other well. It is time that we should hold each other's hand
of friendship and co-operate with each other, both for the welfare of
our spiritual and material existence. For that reason quite in a friendly
spirit, let us learn each other's languages, each other's history and each
other's religions and cultures, as we have done from times of old.
History tells us that in the times of Darius the Great in the 6th cen-
tury B.C. a part of India was the part of the Iranian Empire. Hero-
dotus tells us how " The Indians wore cotton dresses and carried bows
of cane and arrows also of cane with iron heads. Such was the
equipment of the Indians and they marched under the command of
Phernazethres, the son of Artabates". (7, 65.)

Again Herodotus in Book III speaks about the tributes from every
country or satrapy that were paid annually into the Iranian treasury
by them. In para 94 he speaks about the Indian tribute this way:—" The
Indians who are more numerous than any other nation with which we
are acquainted, paid a tribute exceeding that of every other people, to
wit, three hundred and sixty talents of gold-dust. This was the
twentieth satrapy."

If I were to give quotations and proofs about the inter-relations of
India and Iran, it would make an essay in itself. I therefore quote
only a few passages showing how the Iranians and the Indians were the
branches of the same family. This will show that the Indians and the
Iranians formed one group centuries before, and only history gave them
separate names from the two different places they began to inhabit.

From the Indo-European race these two branches claiming the same
one origin and stock, have their sacred literatures which are the most
convincing proofs of their unity; and I shall just refer to them.

Airyana Vae.ta or Iran Ve,t

To the Indo-Europeans the Yedas of the Hindus and the Avesta of
the Iranians are like the Torah to the Semitic races; these are all the
oldest scriptural documents in the whole world. The Hindus and the
Iranians both called themselves Aryans. The word Aryan means noble.
We read in the Rig-Veda that the Hindug who came from Indus and
Punjab and fought with the old inhabitants of this land called this
aboriginal people Dasa, and meaning savage or enemy, and in order t,o
distinguish themselves from them theyc ailed themselves Aryans. Accord-


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263

illg to the information we gather from Herodotus (7,62), in the
eighth century before Christ the people of Media in Western Iran, where
they, formed their first kingdom, were generally called Aryans. The
great Achaemenian emperor Darius who flourished in the sixth century
before Christ, in his inscriptions of Nakshe-Rustom in South Persia
said with great pride: " I am Darius, the Great King, the King of Kings,
the King of many Kingdoms and Races, the King of this great and
vast land, the Son of Vishtasp (Hystaspes), the Hakhamanian, a
Persian, the son of a Persian, an Aryan, of Aryan descent." The
Iranians after separating from the HinduB gave their name to the land
which they conquered and that land was called Airyana, which at present
is known as Iran. Few centuries before (550 years), the same was
rightly pronounced "Eran". The country Airyana and its people
Airya, which in cuneiform and in Sanskrit too is called Arya, are
often mentioned in the holy books of the Avesta. For example, Gaya-
Maretan, who is called " Kayumars" in modern Persian and who was
the first human being according to the Avesta, like Adam in the Semitic
religion, is mentioned in Farvardin Yasht, paragraph 87; and there it is
said, " Gayomard was the fiist man who listened to the admontions and
teachings of Ahura Mazda. Ahura Mazda created from him the original
root and the race of the Iranian (i.e., Aryan) countries."

Community op Thought in the Twin Literatures

We in our deep researches relating to the Hindus and the Iranians
go so far as to find more and more in the oldest documents of the
Vedas and the Avesta, that there is a closer resemblance between the
languages, religions, the ways of thought, customs and manners of
these two peoples. Consequently, there is not the least doubt that these
two peoples are from the same race, once they Jived in one and the
same land, and they had one language, one religion and one character.
The language of the Avesta and the language of the Vedas have only
dialectic difference. As there is the same dialectic difference between the
Avesta and the cuneiform of which we have a sample in the inscription
of the Achaemenians. Strabo in the first century before Christ wrote
in his Geography that all the Aryan languages were one and the same:
only there was the difference in dialect. The late great German scholar
Bartholomae who was a great authority in Avestan studies and who
for showing the closest relationship between the language of Avesta
and the language of Sanskrit has taken one sentence from Yasna 10
(para 8) which is one very important part of the Avestan writings


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and translated it word for word into Sanskrit as follows :—

cTC"!^ 5*n* W

This A vesta sentence means " Haoma gives healing and sound
health to those men who offer propitiation to him as to a tender child."

How Sanskrit and Pahlavi help in the Interpbetation of the Past

Undoubtedly, if we had not the Sanskrit literature in abundance, a
part of the Mazdayasnian literature (i.e., Zoroastrian religion) would have
remained ambiguous. A French scholar Burnouf translated in 1833,
through the help of Sanskrit, the Avesta Tasna which also includes
the Gathas which form the most difficult portion of it. Thenceforward,
through the light of Sanskrit, Avesta learning proceeded on a scientific
basis. From the progress of the science of philology in Europe and
investigation into the ancient knowledge of India, the contents of the
Avesta gradually came to light. The Pahlavi commentary of Avesta,
called "Zand ", is a traditional commentary which, in relation to the
commentary through philology, is less reliable. Yet this Pahlavi
commentary is a key to understand the Avesta, and for the elucidation
and resolution of many of the Avestan passages it is a sure and useful
guide. It is necessary to state further that the Avesta' language
whose commentary was written in Sassanian times was forgotten in
that time. The commentators in Sassanian time were obliged to content
themselves with the traditional commentary of the holy scriptures.
Not only we require the help of Sanskrit language for finding the
real meaning of words, but for understanding the contents of the
Avesta, excepting the Gathas, we also require the help of Sanskrit
literature. There is also a class of the later Avesta, the contents of which
are explained by the Vedas and the famous epic Mahabharat. We
have some names of the common deities and heroes in Avesta as wtll
as in Sanskrit. There is also no doubt that the Vedic scholars in turn
require the help of the old Persian scriptures for their work and
researches. According to the researches of the Orientalists, one part
of the Vedas was written on the Iranian soil and some of the Rishis
(the singers of the Vedas) were Iranians and many of these songs of the
Vedas breathe the Iranian spirit. To support this statement, I should
like to mention, just for an instance, that the Vedic writers speak of


1933]

PERSIA AND INDIA

26-5

beautiful horses; and that is purely an Iranian trait. The Avesta and the
Vedas are tlie monuments to the two Aryan brothers. Even to-day, after
many thousands of years, we are able to understand the feelings and
thoughts of our renowned ancestors. These two books are quite free from
the pollution of Politics and Economics of the last centuries, and
are only the unique and holy heritage of the sayings of heart relations
of the ancient Iranians and the Indians which have come down to us.

The Divergence in Dispositions Caused by Different Homes

To-day we cannot say with certainty at what place we Indians
and Iranians stayed together in olden times and when we separated
from each other. I will not enter into this subject and waste my
time by hypothetical speculations. Some of the historians conjecture
that the appearance of holy Zarathushtra and the promulgation
of his new religion were the causes of the separation of the
Indians and the Iranians. We cannot pay any attention to this
baseless hypothesis. This is certainly without doubt that it was
only after the separation and after the Iranians had settled in Iran,
that the holy Prophet Zarathushtra appeared. (In a separate paper I
hope to speak about the age of Zarathushtra.)

Looking into the books of the Avesta and the Vedas we find that
there is a close resemblance between the Hindus and the Iranians in every
thing. But when we look into the histories of the later times, we see a diffe-
rence between the character of these two peoples. These differences are
shown to be the influences of the climate of their respective countries.
The Hindus after their emigration to the shores of the Indus and into
the plains of the Punjab, had gradually occupied the whole of India.
The place of their sojourn was very hot and full of water, and the land
was very fertile, so that for existence they had not to toil very hard
and they could get all the necessaries of life in abundance and easily.
In this land of abundance and rest they became thinkers and meditators.
On the other hand the Iranians who migrated to the plains of Oxus
(—Amu-darya) and Jaxartes (—Sir Darya), and who gradually spread
over the whole of Iranian tableland, were in a waterless and dry
country. They had to suffer a very hot summer and a freezing winter.
They were forced to fighl^hard and labour for their livelihood. This
hard land and nature's obstructions made them valiant warr iors. This
hardness of life made them heroic and firm. The valour and .steadfastness
of the Iranians and their glorious suzerainty over a large portion of
the world, were results of the hard conditions of their land.


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The Name "Hind" given by Iran

The Indians too gave the name'of Arya Vartta to whichever of lands
they emigrated to, also calling it Bharatavarsha or Bharatbhumi. The
name Hind or Hindustan by which India is more commonly known
to-day, has been adopted from the name given to their country by the
Iranians. At four places in the Avesta, we find reference to the word
"Hind". In Vendidad Fgd. 1, § 18, in Yasna 57, § 29, in the
Tir Yas'it, § 32, and the Meher Yasht, § 104, the name "Hindu" is
used, and that practiee was followed in the Achaemenian Persian
times too. Darius the Great, in his inscriptions at Naksh-e Eustom,
whilst recounting the countries he had conquered, mentions the same
name Hindu which is the Indus of the Greeks. It is the Iranian form
of Sindhu or Indus which is known till to-day. The Indians first having
settled round about the river Indus in the Punjab and thence
migrated to the Grangetic Plains, the whole dominion occupied by
them came to be known by the Iranians as " Hind ". Till this day the
same name is retained by our Hindu brothers.

In short, the Avesta and the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of the
Iranians and the Indians, are the best and the most sacred evidence of
the unity of the two races in the ancient times.

it will be profitable to mention here all the passages that we find
regarding India in Avesta. In the first chapter of Vendidad where
16 countries are mentioned, at one place India is mentioned too. The
paragraph 18 of the same chapter runs thus:—" The fifteenth best

im







PARSIS: A PEOPLE OF THE BOOK.

By Prof. Rezwi, m.a.

An interesting study of the Zoroastrian religion in the light
of Biblical and Quranic teachings. Highly spoken of by eminent
2^1 scholars of India and Europe. To be had of the Manager,
The Moslem Chronicle, 6, Hastings Street, Calcutta, and the
Iran League, at Kamar Bldg., Cawasji Patel Str., Fort, Bombay.
Price Rs. 3 (Board), Rs. 2-8 (Paper).



m



1933]

persia and india

257

place and country that I Ahura Mazda created was " Seven Hindu"
but Angra-Mainyu full of harm created there, in opposition, unnatural
menstruation and unnatural heat." Implicitly, the Avesta word Hapt-
Hindu is equivalent to the Sanskrit Sapta-Sindhva that is the Indus
land. Yasna 57 is the chapter of the Srosh Yasht, dedicated to Srosha,
the angel of obedience. In its paragraph 2 is said " If the fiend be in
the East in India or in the West, the holy Sraosha will find it out
and seize it.''

The Tir Yasht is the 8th Yasht and is dedicated to the star
Tishtriya or the star of rain which is identified with Sirius. In this
gorgeous piece of literature the Angel of Rain fights with Apaosha, the
demon of draught, and after a dramatic and glorious battle the demon of
draught is vanquished and then the rain clouds rise from the mountains
in India and there is abundance of rain and plenty (Tir Yasht,
paragraph 32).

In paragraph 104 of the Metier Yasht, which is devoted to Mithra, the
Angel of Truth, Light and Promise, it is said: " Mithra with his long
arm overtakes and seizes the promise breakers, even if they are as far
away as in India in the East or in the West.''

I have many things to say, but for to-day this will suffice. And
in conclusion I will pray to Spenta Aramaitit—he Spirit of Love of
the ancient Iranians, and to Eadha—the Goddesss of Love of the
Indians, who are no personal spirits, but merely represent the abstract
concept of love in the One Supreme Being, that the old and precious
fire of Love and Friendship between the Indians and the Iranians
may again flare up into a flame in the hearts of the members of our two
sister nations. For, I assure you this fire will never scorch you. This
fire will only cleanse our hearts and let the pure gold that lies therein,
be seen by each other.


CONVERSION FROM THE VIEWPOINT
OF ZOROASTRIANISM*

On Monday, the 7th July, Mr. Sohrab J. Bulsara, our Editor, gave
the following Discourse before members of the Bombay International
Fellowship, at the Church of Scotland Mission, Gowalia Tank Road,
Bombay :—

All Religions which preach Righteousness are Zarathushtrian

With the Religion of Zarathushtra, the subject of Conversion
reduces itself to a simple problem. It does not become a matter
between Religion and Religion, because before Zarathushtra came there
was no proper religion in the world in that most ancient past. What
we know of the religions of such ancient peoples as the Chaldaeans or
the Egyptians proves this; and it is also plain from the account of the
early events of Zarathushtra's holy life, that as regards the Iranian
society itself too, though it was ordered, virtuous and good innately, it
was subject to the domination of a corrupt priesthood which played
upon the pious mentality of the people to gain their own ends and to
maintain their influence in life.

It is all a noble affair therefore, to find little Zarathushtra resisting
this order with courage and determination, and overcoming its prolonged
and stubborn opposition by an attitude of supreme holiness, rectitude
and divine love, for he preached the Religion of Wisdom, Divine Love
and Righteousness. And thus he and his apostles spread his noble faith
in all Iran and Turan, and elsewhere in the world.

Hence the struggle between the holy faith of Zarathushtra and the
beliefs exsting in the world when he came, was not between one religion
and another, but was between Religion and Superstition. The holy
effort started by him has never ceased; and though set-backs have not
been rare in the course of the great millenniums that have succeeded him,
the holy faith of Righteousness which he initiated and so well expounded,
has steadily been advancing in the Universe.

Other religions have arisen since, and in ignorance of the holy
tenets and teachings of the noble faith of Zarathushtra, some had pitched

* At its close, an English lady from the audience raised the significant questions,
"What have your people been doing for your boys and girle, when you have got those
beautiful things in your religion 1" " What are the people in your temples doing T'


1983]

CONVERSION IN ZOROASTRIAN ISM

259

themselves in opposition to it. The error of such attitude has not only
been seen by later researches in that holy faith, but will also be realized
from a few passages of the Holy Gathas we shall be examining this
evening. Indeed all faiths that preach and maintain righteousness,
preach and maintain the holy faith of Zarathushtra and their mission
is Zarathushtrian.

Noble Zaeathushtrian Influences

It is significant that while Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam used
political help in propating themselves, the great Zarathushtrian empires
encouraged nothing of that sort. Even the Sasanians confined them-
selves to protecting the Church against alien aggression. Rather, these
great empires consistently maintained a benevolent attitude towards the
subject nations, and a noble Cyrus or a great Darius building the
temples of the Babylonians, the Israelites or the Egyptians, or a wise
Chosroe defending Greek philosophy, are not rare instances in the
history of Iran. But it seems that under the great Achaemenian
Empire, an independent Zarathushtrian Church had carried on a peace-
ful and benevolent propaganda for the spread of the religion of Light
and Truth, and Justice, Duty and Love; and in the shape of Mithraism
it spread far and wide in the world. Foreign accretions however
spoiled it to a certain extent. Still it took so firm a hold of the Roman
world that it was after a hard struggle that Christianity with its simpler
creed supervened it.

But Christianity had to make compromises and adopt some of its
delightful festivals and creed from that earlier faith to get the people
reconciled to it. The noblest festivals of Christendom, Christmas and
Easter, are Mithraic and therefore Zarathushtrian, for, originally and
truly these represent the Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox celebra-
tions of the Mazdeans, for Mithra's periodic birth and for his assump-
tion, a season later, of the full splendour of the Vernal Glory of the Uni-
verse over which he ruled and which was symbolized in his Divine
Waggon of later Mysticism. The mystic phase of Mithraism is still
perhaps preserved in such semi-mystic creeds, as of Freemasonry, as a
cemparison of these would show to the most cursory inquirer.

So we repeat that all faiths that have succeeded Zarathushtra's, and
are maintaining the Faith of Righteousness, arc carrying on his divine
mission, and to see that clearly we shall pass on now to some of his
glorious teachings!


260

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[ J une

za bathu8htra's HOLY GOSPEL

The holy faith of Zarathushtra Is oalled the Right and True Philosophy.!
And Zarathushtra preaohes the Religion of Righteousness by means of Love,
Reason and Persuasion. And so he says:—

"Being enlightened through Good Mind's help and guidance,
And realizing in the Soul's illumined vision the Exalted State
of the Supreme Lord, the Beneficent Father,

And listening to the Holy Inner Voice which speaks
of the Highest Wisdom of the Lord,—

0 Righteousness!

How great do I find Thee!

And so are we most impelled to bring to the Holy Faith
even the worst of sinners,

By means of the Great Word of Illumined Reason,

and the persuasion of gentle and convincing tongue."2

Zarathushtra's mission Is for spreading Gladness In the Universe, and so
he prays:—

" Offering Thee my most humble Homage,

And praying to Thee in highest Aspiration of the Soal,

I beseech Thee Lord! to grant me

The Supreme portion of the Heavenly Joy

which belongs to Thy Most Holy and Beneficent Spirit,
0 Wisest one!

And the power to fulfil all actions which Righteousness approves,
And the Wisdom of the truthful and affectionate Good Mind ;
That herewith may I spread Gladness in the Universe,
And Joy in all its Souls!"3

And he is convlnoed of the Truth and Greatness of his Mission, because
the Holy Gospel has been Imparted to Zarathushtra by th« Just, Good and
Wise Lord:—

" The most exalted Blessing should be His

Who as the Ever Knowing One, would expound to me
The Holy Gospel of Righteousness,
That would lead to the blessings

of Universal Consciousness and Eternal knowledge.

1 Razishtam ChistAm. % Yasna XXVIII, 5. 3 Yasna XXVIII, 1,

-I,"


1983]

CONVERSION IN ZOROASTRIAN ISM

261

To the Wisest Lord belongs that Divine Power in the Holy Kingdom,
that has been advanced by Him by means of the Virtuous Reason
and the power of Divine Love and Goodness."1

And this Is how the Kingdom of Heaven Is fulfilled by this Holy Qospel:—

" Most knowing Lord!

Declare unto me the Most Excellent Teachings and Doings

Which would be the debt of the Glorifier to be discharged
by the Pure Reason and Good Mind's Loving Effort,
and by means of Righteousness.

Of this I am convinced

That through the power of Your Holy Kingdom

And according to Your Heavenly Wish

Would you be rendering Fresh and True all Existence."2

So again, the promulgation of the Holy Faith of Zarathushtra spreads
blessings In the Universe: for, It Is said:—

" When are,appearing 0 Wisest! the Enlighteners of the Days
for upholding the Life of Righteousness,
by help of the efficient teachings
of the Wisdom of the Benefactors of the Universe?

For rendering help unto what people would one such as these arrive
with the Love and Blessings of the Pure Reason
and the Virtuous Good Mind?

I would rather choose Thee my Lord!
As Instructor for my People.' '3

Now that Zarathushtra had realised the blessings of Righteousness, the
heavenly oharfty whloh abode In his bosom led him to resolve to preaoh
them to mankind:—

" I who would devote my soul

to the Divine Symphony of the Heavenly Blessing

By means of the Pure Reason

and the Affection and Power of thie Good Mind,

And have been knowing well the Blessings

of the Deeds of the Lord Who is the Wisest One,

As long as I have the will and power,

So long will I teach the World to aspire after Righteousness!"4

1 Yasna XXXI, 6. 2 Ya«na XXXIV, 15. 3 Yasna XLVI, 3.

4 Yams XXVIII, 4


262

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [ J une

And Zarathushtra's holy resolve had the Divine Sanotlon, for, he had been
appointed tc the Holy Mission by the Wise Lord God Himself:—

" As with such beliefs you have not held firm in the Sou)
the doubtless and superior Virtues,
So do I come unto ye all as the spiritual lord
Whom God, the Wisest One, hath chosen over both
the good and wicked people to lead,
That according to Righteousness may we all live I"1

In order that there may be no erring In the disoharge of his Holy Mission,
Zarathushtra seeks instruction from the Lord Himself:—

" What is Thy Holy Decree?

What desirest Thou ?

What about the Glorifier,

or what about devoted Worship?

Tell me that Lord, Thou Wisest One!

That the blessings of Thy Holy Ordinances be gained (by all).

Instruct us by means of Righteousness
in the very paths of Purest Reason
and of Good Mind's serenest Thought."2

And Zarathushtra seeks manifest sign of Heavenly Joy of the believer, and
the Holy Canon for him, that his preaohlng of the Holy Faith may win all souls
to It:—

" Grant Thou, 0 Holy Spirit! by means of the soul's holy fervour,

And by Righteousness point out

to both the good and the erring people,
The joy of heavenly and happy acumen!

And what would be as holy Canon for the discreet

• That with the tongue of Thy own mouth tell us for Enlightenment,

That therewith may we bring all the living to Faith."3

The Holy Faith which Zarathushtra preaohes is for all, and without
distinction, to bring them eternal Salvation and Happiness:—

" What is your Holy Command ?

What is Your Wish in regard to doings

by which I may prove my devoted friendship of You,

and afford asylum and help to Your Poor

by the means of Righteousness and Virtue, and Love and Goodness?

We on our part announce Your Greatness and Glory

before all mankind, whether they be misguided deceivers,

1 Yaana XXXI, 2. 2 Yasna XXXIV, 12.

3 Yaana XXXI, 3; see also Yasna XXVIII, 5,


1983]

CONVERSION IN ZOROASTRIAN ISM

263

despised sinners or men of innocence!"1

And this Holy Faith announces to the world, the Love of God, and ths
ways of finding Divine Truth:—

"I ardently declare my sublime love of You, 0 Wisest!

And Holiness announces ways for culling divine Truth
with the Mind of Your Perfect Wisdom,

So that we may sing glories of that Faith which is Yours, 0 Lord!''2

This Holy Faith Zarathushtra offers to mankind to bs aooepted, not on
mere authority, hut by Individual, free and intelligen t oholoe:—

" Listen and pay heed unto the Most Excellent Things I announce,
And with radiant mind visualize those canons of the Holy Faith,

which men have to adopt by free and individual choice,
That ye be prepared for the Supreme Effort in which

the Enlightened ones are to be instructed and initiated by us!"3

The following are the blessings whloh the practice of the Holy Faith of
Zarathushtra earns:—

" Zarathushtra 0 Lord! embraces Thy Spirit,

And any the most beneficent man endeavours in Faith

That Righteousness in Body shall be strong even with Life!

And Duty shall rule in the sun-resplendent Kingdom,
And with blessings shall reward deeds
which Virtue and Reason Pursue!"4

And so again:—

"He indeed 0 Wisest! is truest wealth and riches,
who exalts the Holy Faith
by means of Virtue, Love and Reason,

And any the man who adheres to Duty by the means of Righteousness,
Is in Thy Kingdom, 0 Lord! the noble citizen
possessing all these heavenly wealth and riches."5

All, Holy Faiths shall unite in Zabathushtba
We have so far then seen how the Holy Faith of Zarathushtra
promulgates the noble creed of Righteousness and of Wisdom and
Charity, and deserves to be ardently preached to all mankind. Still
indeed, whether we are Zarathushtrians or Christians, Hindus or
Buddhists, Moslems or Israelites, in so far as we adhere to the tenets of
that noble Faith, in that far are we all Zarathushtrians; and may in
Zarathushtra be found the common ground on which all Faiths and
Creeds may meet in amity, fraternity and mutual love, in which all
children of the Same Heavenly Father are bound to live!

1 Yasna XXXIV, 5. 2 Yasna XLIX, 6. 3 Yaana XXX,

i Yaana XLU, 16. 5 Yasna XLIX, 5,


Ancient iran

its contribution to human progress

IRAN AND INDIA: EARLY ASSOCIATIONS
. OF A COMMON HOME

(iContinued from p. 179, Vol. Ill, No. 3, April 1933.)

Both the religions held Fire to be very sacred. The Hindus kept
their Fire in what they called Agnyagar or Fire-houses ; and this name
has been corrupted by the Parsis into the modern Gujarati Agiari
whioh is the name they use for their smaller Fire Temples.1

In mythology too there was a great deal of similarity, for we find
that the heroes of both these nations are identical.2 Yama of the
Hindus is Yima (Jamshed) of the Iranians. Kavi Ushana of the
Hindus corresponds to Kavi Ushan (Kai Kaus of the Kayanian dynasty)
of the Iranians. And the Avesta Thrita is the same as the Yedic Trita.

Thus, in brief, we have seen that the ancient Iranians and Indians
at one time lived together in one place as brothers and had identical
religious beliefs and customs. But a time came when they disagreed
over some points and this led to the brothers of one time being separat-
ed now. The schism, we are told, was due to an economic as well
as religious cause. For want of food supply for their increasing
population, the Iranians and the Indians left their home in Central
Asia in search of it. They went from one place to another till at last
the Iranians decided to settle in Iran and go no further. But the
Brahmanical tribes disagreed and they separated from the Iranians,
continued their nomadic life and at last settled in the Punjab. From
this onwards, the Iranians lived and flourished in Iran and the Indians
made India tbeir permanent home. The other cause of the schism is
suggested by Dr. J. J. Modi. According to him at first both the Iranians
and the Indians believed that there was Law as well as War in nature —
Law because everything moves on this earth according to the Divine
Law, and War because in nature we find a constant struggle between
the good and the evil. But after some time the Hindus did not

1 Hodivala, lndo-lranian Religion, p. 61.

8 Ibid. pp. 125 ff; also Modi, Dante Papers, p. 06•


1933] ancient iran : its contribution to human progress 26S

continue to believe in this notion and thus the two separated.1 That the
Iranians believed in this notion even after the separation can be seen
from the fact that Zoroastrianism itself is based on the belief that the
world moves on in accordance with God's will, and that still there is a
constant fight between the good and the evil, and that to come out
victorious from this fight man must practise good thoughts, good words
and good deeds, the chief principles on which Zoroastrianism is based.

The split which thus arose among the Iranians and the Indians
did not fail to have its influence on their beliefs. Both the people,
being in something like a state of hostility, either side despised the good
things of the other. The name'Deva'2 was used to indioate God by both
the nations, but after the schism the Hindus alone retained this
meaning of Deva, whereas the Iranians attached an adverse meaning
to it and hence we see that in the whole Avesta the word Deva stands
for an evil power or being, and not God. As an answer to this party
word of Deva meaning God among the Hindus, the Iranians chose the
name Ahura their God. But this party word of the Iranians, as it
were, was translated by the Hindus to mean an evil power or being
and not God, for we see that Asura in the Vedas stands for the Devil.
Hence both sides had their party words, the Hindus having their
Deva and the Iranians their Ahura, which among the opposite side
had a bad distorted, meaning.3 Besides these, we find from the
Avesta4 that Indra too had gained a bad meaning among the
Iranians, whereas among the Hindu deities it holds a high place.

Iranian Name of the New Hindu Home

Leaving behind the discussion of the traditional period, we now
come to surer grounds. The very first fact which will strike a student
of history is that the name itself of this vast country of India is not
an indigenous name, but a name given to her by an outside people.
It may seen strange, but nevertheless it is true, that it was the
Iranian nation who gave to India its present name: India is referred
to in the Avesta of the Parsis as Hapta Hindu while in the Vedas it is
called Sapta Sindhu ; hence according to the Vedas it should have been
called Sindhusthana and not Hindustan as it is done.

1 Modi, Daote Papers, pp. 93, 97.

2 The Avesta Daeva, and the Sanskrit Deva are the iwo Aryan words and they
are the roots of Latin Deus, French Dieu, Lithuanian Devas and Euglish Deity, all
meaning God.

3 Hodivala, Indo-Iranian Religion, p. 38.

4 Vendidad, XIX-43.


266 the i'ran league quarterly [June

India is referred to in the Avesta in the following places:—(1)
Sarosh Yaaht, (2) Meher Yasht, (3) Tir Yasht, and (4) The Vendidad.
In the Sarosh Yasht1 we read that Sarosh—the Yazata or Angel of
Obedience—is represented as going in his chariot from the East to the
"West, and there India is taken as the Eastern boundary of Iran and
Nineveh, the capital of A ssyria, is taken to be the Western boundary

of Iran. The passage contains these words, "......who goes from

Hindustan in the East to Nineveh in the West."

The second reference to India in the Avesta is in the Meher
Yasht. There Mithra, the Yazata or Angel of Light or Truthful-
ness, is said to help those who adhere truthfully to their promise,
whether these persons who ask his help are in India or in Nineveh.

The passage runs thus: " We invoke Mithra of wide pastures......, whose

extended arms help that person who adheres to his promise, whether
such person be in Hindustan in the East or in Nineveh in the West."2

The other reference we find in the Tir Yasht. The Tistrya Yazata
is the angel presiding over rain and so regarding the vapour which
forms rain we are told : " Then vapour arises from the Mount
Hindu."3

But of all these references the one in the Vendidad is of the great-
est importance. In the first chapter of the Vendidad we have a list
of 16 countries which belonged to Iran and where one by one Zoroas-
trianism is said to have spread. The fifteenth of these sixteen coun-
tries is India and we read: " I, Who am Ahura Mazda, created as the
fifteenth best place and country, Hapta Hindu, which extends from
the East of the Hindu (the Indus) up to the West of the Hindu. Then,
the evil spirit created therein, as a counter-act (against Ahura Mazda),
excessive menstruation and excessive heat."4

We learn from this passage that the country of India was called
Hapta Hindu, that there was excessive heat in India and consequently
there was early menstruation among the women of India. We know
from personal experience that India even to-day is a hot country and
students of physiology will tell you that in a hot climate women
menstruate earlier than in a cold climate like England, and that even
to-day Indian women have to experience menstruation earlier than the
women of England or other cold countries.

But the point of the utmost importance its that India was
known to the Iranians as Hapta Hindu. This Hapta Hindu of

1 Sarosh Yasht, Yasna LVII-29. 2 Meher Yaaht, 104.

3 Tir Yasht, 32. 4 Vendidad, 1-19.


1933] ANCIENT IBAN : ITS CONTBlBUTION TO HUMAN PBOGBEBB 267

the Vendidad is the Sapta Sindhu of the Yedas,1 because
the Punjab had in old days seven principal rivers including
the Indus, running through it, as they are even today, and not
five as was erroneously thought by the Mahomedans who
gave it the name of the Punjab {i.e. the land of five rivers).2 The
Punjab had seven rivers in old age running through it and so
the land watered by those rivers came to be known as Hapta
(seven) Hindu or Sapta (seven) Sindhu. Gradually the word for
seven was dropped and the Punjab came to be known only as Hindu-
stan, the land of the Hindu Biver. As time went on, this name of
Hindustan began to be applied to a vaster territory than merely the
Punjab and so the whole of India came to be known as Hindustan.

Hence, it sounds ridiculous, but still it is a fact, that India got
her name not from the Indians but from the Iranians, for according
to the Vedas of the Hindus and the word Sapta Sindhu therein, India
should have been called Sindhusthana, which is not the case, whereas
its name of Hindustan is derived from the Avesta word Hapta Hindu.
We know that the river Indus has preserved its old Vedic name of
Sindhu and has not taken the Iranian name of Hindu. But with
regard to the name of the country, since its indigenous Vedic name
should have been Sindhusthana, we see that it has taken the Iranian
name Hindustan.

The matter does not end here. Not only did the Iranians give
to Indians, the name cf Hindustan for their country but following
the Iranians, the other nations also called it Hindustan and not
Sindhusthana. As Bawlinson says, it was the Iranian nation that gave
the name ' Indus' (Indian Sindhu river) and ' Indians' to the Greeks.
He says, " It is interesting to notice that the Greeks talked of the
' Indus' and ' Indians ' whereas the inhabitants of the country itself
spoke of ' Sindhu' and ' Sindhava.' Later travellers noticed this with
surprise. ' Indus incolis Sindus appelatus est' (Indus is called Sindhu

1 The Eig Veda, Bk. 1V-28.

2 Vide The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I, p. 345 n 1. The seven
rivers are;—

Vedic Name. Greek Name. Modern Name.

Sindhu. Indus. Indus.

Vitaata. Hydaspes. Jhelum.

Aaibani (later Chandrabaga). Akesines. Chinab.

Parusbni (later Iravati). Hydraotes. B-avi.

Vipaa (later Vipasa). Hyphasis. Bias.

Sutudhri. Heaydrus. Sutlej.

Kubha. Ooph»n. Kabul.


268

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

by the Indians) says Pliny, and the author of the Periplus says that
the river is locally called Sin thus. The Persians softened the initial ' 3'
to ' h ' (Avesta word is Hindu); the Ionians having no aspirate, made
the word into Indus. The word reached Greece through Persia.'n
"We may add that the word not only reached Greece, but it has
reached the whole world today, through ancient Iran.

Influence of India over the Parsxs

Having seen that it was Iran that gave the very name of their
country to the Indians, we shall presently review the different depart-
ments in whioh Iran had her influence over India. In doing so
we cannot deny the influence of India over Iran. But since that is
not our task we shall not touch it at length, but merely mention that, as
seen before, India gave to Iran, for instance, the game of chess. Just as
there was a powerful influence over India there was a counter influence
over Iran too though that was not so powerful as the first. And indeed
it was an irony of fate that the followers of the powerful Achsemenian
and Sassanian Emperors, who exercised such vast influence over
India in the periods preceding and following the birth of Christ,
were themselves to be influenced by India when at the time
of the Arab conquest in the seventh century A.D. they were
driven from Iran and obliged to find a shelter in India, The
Parsis, who left their home and country then, to save their
religion from destruction, came to Sanjan amid hardships in 716 A.D.
Jadi Bana (Vijya-Ditya), King of Sanjan, gave shelter to the Parsis
and among the conditions imposed upon them were these, that they
were to give up their language and adopt that of the Rana, that
they should perform their marriage ceremonies, as the Hindus did, in
the evening instead of in the morning and that their womenfolk
should put on the Indian Saree and not the old Iranian dress.2 All
these conditions were faithfully kept and we see that' today the
Parsis speak Gujarati, the language of the province of their first
settlement, that their ladies have since then put on Saree and that
their marriage ceremonies are being performed in the evening. This
influence over the Parsis was a forced one. But we see that in
some of their customs there has been a natural and voluntary influence
of India. As an example of this may be mentioned the red pigment
mark made on important occasions among the Parsis on the forehead
of both men and women in whose connection the occasion is cele-

1 RawlinaoD, Intercourse between India and Vfeetern World, p. 20.

•2 Bodivala, Parsis of Ancient India, p. 69.


1933] ancient iran : its contribution to human progress 269

brated. In this survivies the old Hindu custom when on an important
celebration or occasion a sacrifice was made to avert all evil
and the blood of the sacrificed animal was then applied to the
forehead of the person concerned in the celebration. Gradually
the sacrifice stopped and the blood of the animal gave way to red
pigment. It was only in the application of the pigment that the
Parsis borrowed the Hindu custom. Tn the case of a male the mark
made on the forehead is a long one while in the case of the female it
is a small round one—the first to show that the man is compared to
the long rays of the sun as is done by the Hindus, for he is regarded
to be active as the sun, while the woman is compared to the moon
which owes its light to the sun, in which role shines the man in Hindu
conception. "We can also trace several other influences which India
has exercised over the Iranians. But we will only mention one or two
more and then resume our examination of Iranian influence over India.
As we have seen, the Parsi ladies of India have come to regard the
Saree as their national drets, although it formerly belonged to the
Hindus. But with regard to men, even though not obliged by the
conditions of Jadi Bana, we are told that nearly a quarter of a century
ago there were many Parsis in Gujarat who put on 'Dhoti' instead of
the ' Pyjama', being influenced by the Hindus in that habit. Nay, if
one goes to some old village on the Tapti-Valley Eailway line he will
see even today that many Parsis do not put on their national black
head-dress of ' Paghdi' or ' Fenta', but put on the red Hindu turban.
All this is. owing to the influence which India has exercised over the
Parsis. Being surrounded on all sides by none but the Hindus, there
was no alternative for them but to gradually adopt the customs and
manners of the Hindus. It was just in the same way that the Indians
too were influenced by Iran in old days, because the powerful Achse-
menian and Sassanian Empires of Iran could not fail to exercise
their influence on the country which was not far from theirs.

Some Events of Prehistoric Period

Before dealing with the contact of India and Iran in th&
Achsemenian days it will be profitable to see what connection there
was between them before that date, beside that in the matters of
religion which we have already seen. In this examination the works
of two Mahomedan writers will be of help to us; they are Firdawsi—
the Homer of Persia—and Abvl Fazal, the learned minister of Akbar
the Great.


270

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY

[June

Mentioning the Iranians who came to India from the beginning
of creation, Abul Fazal begins with King Hoshang of the Peshdadian
Dynasty, son of Siyamak and grandson of Kayomars, who was the
first to whom the name of sovereign was applied. According to
Abul Fazal he was the author of the " Eternal Wisdom," the fruit of
his mature experience.1 Next to Hoshang was Jamshed, son of
Tahmuras. When this king was pufted up with pride and proclaimed
himself God, his subjects got disgusted with him and invited Zohak,
the Syrian prince, the descendant of Shedad, to rule over them.
Jamshed was pursued by the followers of Zohak and he there-
fore escaped from Iran to Seistan and India. While in India he
was on the point of being discovered and therefore he set out for
China by way of Bengal, but was murdered by the followers of
Zohak on the way.2 The third king of Iran to visit India was Zohak,
son of Mardas. He visited India several times, the last being when he
was defeated by Faredun and escaped to India.3 Then, according to
Firdawsi, Faredun was the next Iranian to come to India. One night
Zohak saw a dream which was interpreted as follows: A child
named Faridun would be born to the pious Abtin and his wife Faranak,
and he would be brought up on the milk of a cow named Purmaeh. It
would be this child who would kill Zohak. Thereupon Zohak sent for
Abtin and he was killed, and coming to know of the cow Purmaeh he
had it also killed. But then Faridun's mother Faranak did not lose
courage, but said,

Thus, Faridun came to India in his youth with his mother. Then
came Garshasp (Kershasp) the last king of the Peshdadian Dynasty.5
Isfandyar followed him to propagate the religion of Zoroaster in

1 Abul Fazal, Ain-i-Akbari, tr. by Jarrefc, Vol. Ill, p. 325.

2 Ibid. pp. 327-328.

3 Ibid. p. 328.

4 Firdawsi, The Bhah-Namah, by Rogers, p. 38.

5 Abul Fazal, Ain-i-Akbari, tr, by Janet, Vol. Ill, p. 328.

Now from this land of magic I must flee,
And bear him oft to Hindustan with me."4

k. wadia

*

DIAMOND MERCHANT,
GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY.

>3.


19331 ancient iran : its contribution to human progress 271

India in obedience to the command of his father, King G-ushtasp.1
Nariman, son of Kershasp, Sam, son of Nariman, Zal, son of Sam,
Faramroz, son of Rustam, and Bahman, son of Isfandyar, also came
to India.2

But all these personages of Iran came to India in the prehistoric
times of 'which we have little or no authentic information, save that
derived from tradition. We now come to the historic period whence
Iran and India both commence their true history, the period begin-
ning from the sixth century before Christ.

India as a Province of Iran

It was Darius who first conquered the North-West of India, his
predecessor Cyrus having come as far as Gandhara only. The Behistun
inscription, cut on a rock 1,700 feet high and which contains
nearly a thousand lines, does not mention India but only speaks
of Gandhara as one of the provinces under the rule of Darius.3 But
the inscription of Darius on the wall of his palace at Persepolis says
that India formed a part of his dominion. The inscription on his
tomb at Nakshi Rustam too mentions the name of India as the
province which Darius conquered.5 His Persepolis inscription reads
thus: " I am Darius the great king, king of kings, king of many
countries, the son of Hystaspes, the Achsemenide. Says Darius the
king by the grace of Ahura Mazda these are the provinces which I
subdued with the help of the Persian army and which' feared me and
brought me tribute. Uvaja, Media, Babylon, Arabia, Assyria,
Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Sparda, Ionia, which are of the dry
land and which are of the sea, the provinces which are in the East,
Sagartia, Parthia, Zaranka, Haraiva, Bactria, Sugda, Uvarazamiya,
Thatagus, Harauvatis, India, Gandhara, Saka, Maka."3 Thus it
follows that India was conquered by Darius immediately after 517
B.C. when the Behistun inscription was cut, because it is mentioned
both in the Nakshi Rustam and Persepolis inscriptions as a province
of Iran.

(To be continued).

1 Abul Fa zal, Ain-i-Akbari, tr. by Jarreb, Vol. Ill, pp. 338-329. 2 Ibid, p. 329.

3 Tolman, Guide to Old Persian Inscriptions, p. 118.

4 Ibid. p. 147. 5 Ibid. p. 144.


DOKHTAR-E-LORE

THE FIRST ALL-TALKING-SINGING PERSIAN FILM
RELEASED IN BOMBAY UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED
PATRONAGE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF H. E. THE CONSUL
FOR PERSIA IN BOMBAY

At a time when the talkies in general have only recently begun to
hold the field all over the civilised world as a highly scientific and edu-
cative form of public entertainment, the appearance of an all-talking
Persian film in Bombay is a distinct matter for thanksgiving and
congratulations with all lovers of Persia and Persian enterprises. The
complete Persian talkie DOKHTAR-E-LORE is the result of the
pioneering enterprise of Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Merwan Irani, Managing
Partner of the well known Imperial Film Co., of Bombay, brought
about with the co-operation of Aga Spenta, the bright young scholar
and poet from Persia, and a band of enthusiastic Persians culled from
the staff of the Company.

The premiere release of the picture was inaugurated at the
Majestic Cinema by His Excellency the Consul for Persia in Bombay
amidst scenes of enthusiasm before an overflowing audience of Persians
and Parsees on Sunday the 6th August, 1933. H. E. the Consul's
speech inaugurating the release was not only an authentic appreciation
of the enterprise it involved, but also a fitting tribute to Khan Bahadur
Ardeshir Irani, the Producer, whose love for his fatherland, according
to the Consul, was the main inspiration for the first Persian talkie.
H. E. the Consul was followed on the platform by Mr. Dinshah Irani,.
Solicitor, who, in a neat little speech, emphasised that the magic inspira-
tion of H. I. M. Reza Shah Pahlavi had not only begun and ended in
Persia alone but that it had permeated the Persian fold even in Bombay
of which Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Irani and the first Persian talkie
were just proofs.

The story of DOKHTAR-E-LORE, as its title indicates, deals
ostensibly with the erstwhile bandits of Luristan and Khuzistan in the-
bad old days of Persia with a love interest between Gulnar and Jafar
furnishing the background. But this evidently is not all. As the


Khan Bahadur Ardeshir M. Irani is quite well-known to the
Bombay public as proprietor of the Imperial Film Compai y, which
recently produced the first Persian Musical Talkie, the " Dokhtar-5-
Lore."



[Iran League Quarterly

Miss Ruhangiz is the lovely Persian actress who plays a remarkably good
pvinciial part in the " Dokhtar-i-Lore.''



Mr- A Spenta,

the bright young
Persian poet, has
been instrumental
in bringing out the
first Persian Talkie
"Dokhtar-i-Lore.''





1933]

DOKHTAB-E-LOBE

273

cimax of robber-raids and highway caravan attacks passes bringing
the hero and the heroine closer together in bonds of true love, the story
developes i nto the fateful and God-given dawn of Iran's New Era of
Happiness—5th Ardibehesht 1305—with the Coronation of H. I. M. Eeza
Shah Pahlavi. Through rapid and clever cinematic dissolves the
audience is taken past the astounding changes achieved in the course of
a few years under the fostering care of H. I. M. Reza Shah Pahlavi,
as leadidg to the benefit of the Persians in Persia and redounding to
their credit and honour in foreign countries.

J udging by the ovation accorded to the screening of the first
Persian talkie, EOEETA R-E-LORE took in all sides of the house. The
producers have done well by linking up a good story with the intrinsic
substance of the modern progress in Persia. Credit is due to Aga
Spenta for having written the dialogue of the picture in such simple
and yet expressive Persian as to be intelligible to all. There is now and
again to be seen a successful attempt at poetic fancy as, for instance,
when Jafar sings, imprisoned in the well, addressing the bones of the
dead around him, and secondly when he bids farewell in pathetic
words to his own fatherland.

Khan Bahadur Ardeshir who personally handled the direction of
the picture appears to have realised the inevitable difficulties of making
a Persian talkie in Bombay. He has, nevertheless, succeedeid in bringing
into the picture typical Persian atmosphere by sheer creative art. The
scenes of revelry in the Persian coffee shop on the road to Khuzistan,
the cave scenes of the robber chieftain Kulikhan, and the love meetings of
Gulnar and Jafar are all handled with realistic sense and moderation.

DOKHTAR-E-LORE has proved a good picture well taken up by
the Persians and Parsees of Bombay. No critic entering the plan of
its making can fail to classify it as a Persian enterprise that makes a
bit of history for Persia where its exhibition in the near future, we have
no doubt, will be keenly looked forward to.


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PAGE 1

l l \ ( \ ( \ \ / I \!,he :J-v;~n 1!teti,S t &ua~t ~rtl~ OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE !RAN LEAGUE, BOMBAY Vol. Ill JUNE 1933 Noe 4 'CONTENTS The Editor's Nofa~s Persia and Her Nationality Groups . Purification of Persian ... The Origin of the Yazidi Tribe and ':Pheir Present Home in Iraq Persia's Spirit of ;-Adventure .. . .. . .. . . .. Our Teheran Letter • , ... PAGE 197 209 219 221 231 233 235 238 A.flairs in Kerman Out' Baghdail Letter The Pestonji Dossabhoy Marker Boys' Orphanage and Day School, Y ezd Kurdish ,Vomen Persia a1id India 239 241 246 258 2n4 272 Conversion from the Viewpoint of Zoroastrianism .. . Ancient Iran: Its Contribution to Human Progress .. . Dokhtar-e-Lore . . . ... . .. "-~)J' 0 Y' 0' , Y' io ,, Vi ... (.;.,..;(;,...,., ...l:>j rJ' .J.~ -ulJ1 .u\; li I .l'.:! J ,.::, Iv' J., u \~ ..\~J~ .:.,\:,r, .1.:~ \:_( J,1)1 ul:"'J~ J ,., ) .i.. \ff ..,~~' .:!==================:.:============================-ANNUAL SuBSCRlPTlON: IRAN Krs. 50: FoREIGN sh. 9: INDIA Rs. 6 _ . .__,,_ ~ -.:;..--'.l!ic -. p~,.___.J"' .,b ..... ,,._. 11~ -~--.... _......., -u -~..:..ru:ES~ NZ:: ~1':)Y~.,.,.:,, --c -~--; ':tr ...... ~..,c>. ......... ,..._._ ..,,._,_.._ i ' t . I I l ! . i . 1 i i { , I r I I r: i \ ( { I ( ) _ ... \ ! I I . ,_J \ I

PAGE 2

zr-. ---HOMEWARD Spring Setlson 1934 Book Early--A void Disappoint1ne.nt CHEAP-TOURIST CLASS PASSAGES .. BY .. LUXURIOUS tINERS All Discounts and Rebates obtained Through Tickets to the U: S. A. and Canada obtainable Rail Tickets issued * * ,i, Baggage insured Full Particulars on application to~ : JEl~JNA & CO. Official Passenger Booking .A gents BOMBAY, _J/ NOTE: We make no charge for arranging passages But secure the best available accommodation. Handbook of . fares issued free. Just published: "The Iran-Iraq Traveller's Guide," price R$.1/4

PAGE 3

1 I I I ,'> The Hon, Sir Phiroze Sethna is a Member of the Council of State and one of the leading moderate politiGians _ of India . Having been also appointed on the Joint Select Committee, he is now in London giving his l!lbare in moulding the politfoal future of India. And well m a y he do so, for, it w a s his a n cestor Rustam lvianek who had introduced the British to the grea t cou r t of Aurangzeb for gaining important p rivil eges which led to the fo1,ndi ng of t heir g re a t unpire in India. He is a life member of the Iran League, and is taking a k e en interei;,t in Persia. : J..r J1..1.:"1 0:: ... \: ... jl J~ J j.,-' <:fol) J;. .,~ \:; ... )J.;~ r J?"-1 ~\:.~ w..1.;J JJ WJ.:51 o..>..~J .. r w:AA rlll ~.: .. ":.:~.:..~.,.,a.: .:..-~.1..:~ LJJ::., .:..-I .....:...,\;...,.,_1.:111 r ...... J i.r .1.~ .....:..., ,~ .;.;.\==A d~_,!. , l":t... ..1.:111 o ..1.=-:T .:.. ... I:-" Jf..::.~ J., J ~; .,1' ..:..:.kl... ~= ... l1: fa ' <..S•tA j l::A I J~ I -1! j I I J I!: 11~ -1'. ..:..l _, , ' , J! d; IA J.. lS' ..l.:A, '.,.; ,.i..,.... '":"~..:, '--(;)., ' r~" ): J ..1.: 0 ..I.~.,_,( _1.:111 ) ' ..:..J J J w~ I <--(u: jl..,:I I; JJ;. J,;., .. J JI,; Jl.>.-.~ .... I •..>...\ .1. ,.,;. J~ :..1.t.: ;I rat1 .,1 . .&; I

PAGE 4

The Hon. Sir H or rr asji Jtl. M e hta is a leading industria list of India, an d one of the Patrons and Vice-Chairmen of the "Iran League. " He is appointed on the Indian Delegation to the League of Na t ions. He is also faking a prominent part in organising the New Indian Air Services. (ft';,.? ..J"' J~I "':"\~ j I '3(._ ~i . \::t.. i I ..\:• : .>..r '? li-:~I;.; IS' '?1-:f; "':'"~l;jl J ..1.:. 1::--'--~1; I.)~ I i:,~; I i:, I ,: ... : i.):~ u4:ii:!. i:,~ I L.f: ) ) .>.:• , .• f ..1.:~ ~-; o ..1.:. ; ./a.. JJ... C, I.~ I S ince the death of Sir Dorab Tata, the hea d of tl1e great house of the Tatas, Sir N aorozeji B. Saklatvala bas succeeded him as Chair man of Messrs. Tn.ta Sons, Ltd., and is . guiding their multi farions n.ffair9 wit h much sn.gac.ity and practical wisdom. "';"l;I' ..J"' .:., _,;.:,1u~ L t !,1.,:I;. '--);.J. I~\. 1./, I.}~ .)J)>; .r -'"' .....:., i:,:... ';J I _,i )\(., ~; \;'\~ ~'iJI ....:.,\~\;1 i:,_,(t. f.:fo \111 )6 J ., .>..!.JI .) I) ,J.;~.:, I ) \.~.~ I o; 1 ..) I J.r .;:'. ! .l~ J ..1._ l.:! .. [f ":n L eag11,e Quarterly I

PAGE 5

THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY Vol. III] JUNE 1933 [ No. 4 THE EDITOR'S NOTES PARSIS AND PERSIA The Persian people had hailed with pleasure the pros pect of the Parsis taking a direct interest in Prospect of Parsi f f . t l d S , p . Enterprise in the upli t o their an01en an . pemal ars1 Persia commissions and individuals had visited the country, and its great men had given them every help to understand the state of things and the brilliant prospects in many a field which was almost unexplored or in the hands of foreigners. Glowing accounts of the success of their visits had been given here and the prospectus of a trading corporation had soon after been announced. But as considerable time since elapsed, and nothing appeared so far to have materialized, some people have been led to suppose that the whole enthusiasm has died out just at present. We are glad to have to say that this supposition is not entirely correct. The industry that had seriously been thought of then was the textile manufacture; and practical measures have already been taken for launching it in Persia in the immediate future. The whole scheme is in safe hands, and we hope to announce more facts hereafter. It may however be admitted in t,his connection that certain circumstances had damped the ardour of those Some Flimsy As1 ,umptione and days in some people. And they were ed to Groundless Fears th' believe that it would be risky to mvest any mg

PAGE 6

198 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June in Persia in the present circumstances. We think the grounds on which such assumptions were made were not quite sound. We hope people do know well that not only Persian Zoroastrians but also some Indian Parsis have been doing thriving business in Persia in their own way and since decades. None of them have suffered in any instance owing to obstruction or unfair dealing with them. And they had started when circum stances were less clear or favourable. Such unnecessary doubts and delays are not wise, for, Persia must get on with her great work of Golden Opportu, nities Which moat national progress. Her programme must pro-notbethrownaway ceed in order and cannot be halted even owing to the most sentimental causes. The Persians have to do it regretfully whenever things they expect the Pn,rsis to be inter ested in have to be entrusted to other hands. But the fault would then lie with the Parsis, if they would allow golden opportunities to be lost which other people would be grabbing at with rapacious haste. Owing to the political turmoil in India and the most un settled state of business here, probably some Wise Employ, ment of Some of Parsi capital bas been lying idle. Cannot the Our Capital Parsis employ some of it most advantageously in Persia now? Leaving aside the appeal it would make to their sentiment to have business connections with Persia, they are bound, as astute business people, to take advantage of the opportunities that great and resourceful land offers them in industry and trade. There can be no business without risks. Even in India, the Parsis have lost crores of rupees in business and investments in recent years. So they can spare a few lacs more with some of their unemployed talent to go to Persia and try the opportunities there? It need hardly be added that a responsive addition to Indo-Persian trade would also follow. * *

PAGE 7

1933] . ' THE EDITOR S NOTEB 199 NATION BUILDING Commnnalism has been::India's great curse; and that curse shows no sign of disappearing or abating soon. Sinking Class C t d t 't t Distinctions ommum y 1s range agams commum y, sec against sect and caste against caste. How can a nation emerge out of such seething cauldron of communalism ? But India is not alone in being subject to this gross human frailty. The Jewish race has given some of the best talents to the European countries. Among these Germany has Jews in Germany had the fullest share of their services. In finance or higher science, in philosophy or music or public service, they have added lustre to her talented race. In the wave of national consciousness that has been surging across the land, the pos sible errors of some Jews have been made the excuse for the persecution of the whole race. Taking all power out of the claws of real mischief makers ought to be regarded a patriotic and wise act; but visiting even the innocents with the penalties of the others' appears to the rest of the world to be a most attro cious act. The present delicate condition of international rela tions has much stifled the world's just indignation. We however hope, the practical wisdom of the German people will soon overcome this temporary weakness, and deal out just treatment to this integral and useful section of her community. We have elsewhere published in this number a thoughtful article on this subject by a young Persian R~=h~aw~~ the scholar. He rightly points out the weakness which consists in class distinctions in coun tries, pointedly referring to his own. Our inquiries however inform us that Persia has already commenced sinking these distinctions, and is carefully planning measures for doing so by removing all discriminations among her nationaJs in all state dealings. Indeed the Persian Government started this long ago when the discriminating signs in dress were removed by a general decree commanding all nationals to wear the

PAGE 8

200 Tam IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY same dress without distinctions. There can be no doubt that if the authorities maintain this attitude in all actions, the difficult problem of unification of the people would be soon and easily solved. * * * WORLD'S ONE MORE DEBT TO PERSIA In the great world of music Germany bas had quite "Parsifal " the leading way. And among all the great musical talents of Germany Richard Wagner has been an unchallenged stalwart of the 19th century. His influence upon the musical art was the greatest during that century. He introduced continuity of musical thought and action in the Opera, and by doing so revolutionised the old operatic methods of set ballads and choruses. To-day his is acknowledged to be the only and right interpretation of dramatic musical art. His musical dramas bave always been regarded magnificent performances; but in bis great religious Opera '' Parsifal " may be found the fulness of his powers. The cycles of legends that have prevailed in Europe, had Its Great story been thought to be of Celtic origin, and so had traced to Iranian been regarded the legend from which grew Legends Wagner's great work. A talented writer in a local weekly however draws our attention to the valuable researches of an Austrian scientist, Dr. Fritz Suhtseck, which have dissipated the old belief and proved the Iranian origin of the legend. He has shown that it is the Persian legends of the Barzu Nama to which the story of "Parsifal " is really indebted. Indeed this should not be wondered at when we know so well the great debt the world owes to Persia The World's Debt to Persia. in all her varied progress. As we showed in a previous number, even in literary field, such stalwa:,;ts as Milton, Goethe and Dante owed not a little

PAGE 9

1933] THE EDITOR'S NOTES 201 to aneient Persia in the subject of their great themes. Indeea it was only accidental that the great genius of Shakespeare too did not come under her spell. Had these noble tales come his way, he would certainly have added greater glamour both to their fame and to his own wonderful achievement. The interest he evinced in the Persian Embassy of the Great Sophi would indeed show this. * * PERSIA DAY BY DAY The progress of the country is going apace, and the great undertakings she hus on hand are pushed Independent . . Working of New onwards with unflaggmg energy. The Govern-Oil Fields t l f d d tl men 1s p annmg means o m epen en y working the great oilfield tracts which the Anglo-Persian Oil Company had to surrender under the new treaty which has subsequently been ratified by the Persian Parliament. This will have to be done with proper care, as not only has Russia been vastly expanding her oil industry, but great developments are taking shape also in Iraq. A new railway commission composed of engineering experts has been appointed in Persia to serve Pushing on the Great Railway as an advisory body on the Trans-Persian Project Railway. The line will run from Bunder Shah on the Caspian Sea down to Bunder Shahpur on the Persian Gulf, Aliabad, Feerozekoh, Teheran, Kazvin, Hamadan, Dizful and Naseiri being the main intermediary stations. The northern section of 12 kilometres from Bnnder Shah to Aliabad, and the southern between Dizful and Bunder Shahpur have already been completed and are successfully working for increasing traffic. The next stages, both north and south, are simultan eously to be taken in hand, a,nd the entire system to be com pleted within six years: A smaller but very valuable project is the extension of the Teheran-Shah-Azim Railway some six miles onwards to

PAGE 10

202 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARrERLY some coal mines. This will solve the difficulty of supplying fuel to the growing industries in and about Teberan. Orders have been placed with a leading British firm for cotton spinning machinery for factories in three Opening and Ex-. t t t Th" th It f t panding New In-1mpor an owns. IS 18 e resu O priva e dustries enterprise, and sufficient scope exists for many more in other places. Two sugar refineries are working in the neighbourhood of Teheran, and orders for constructing six more have been issued by the Government. And a Swedish firm has obtained contract for erecting a cement factory in another place. All this is a convincing indication of the nation's determination to push ahead in every department of industrial life. We have previously referred to the desirability of reclaiming Persia's vast desert areas. Various me-Reclaiming Per. . th d h b l d f h sie!s Desert Areas O S ave een emp oye or t e purpose, and the experiments of the French Government in her North African desert regions ma.y be studied with advantage in this connection. It may be noted that the thornless prickly pear has yielded very successful results. This not only encroaches on the desert area'3, but also supplies food for animals. The great quantity of water it contains renders it a specially advantageous growth in such regions. If it could be grown on the fringe of the Persian desert areas and if flocks of sheep thrive on it, an excellent occupation for a section of the Persian population might grow out of it with large yields of valuable wool, mutton and tallow, and regular supplies of milk, butter and cheese. 1rhe account of the interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new premises of Seth l'eshotanji Mar-p ker Orphanage in eshotanji Marker Orphanage in Yezd, appears Yezd elsewhere in this number. Nothing would raise the condition of the Zoroastrians in Yezd as measures for edu cating them in a sound and liberal way, No Zoroastrian boy or girl there should be without the blessings of such education ..

PAGE 11

1933] THE EDITOR'S NOTES 203 This must be su pp]emented by night classes for elderly people, where not only ordinary process of literary training should be followed but a judicious course of lectures on subjects of general culture, hygiene, agriculture and gardening, dairy and poultry farming etc. should also be delivered by capable men. These classes and lectures, may be open to the other peole of Yezd too if convenient. * * PERSIA AND HER NEIGHBOURS RussIA * The t.rade relations with Persia remaining straitened, the Persian products of the northern provinces are sfa!:';r~~! of Per-compelled to divert the channel of trade to Persia's southern ports. A beneficial result will follow this trouble, because this prepares the traders for the eventual use of the Trans-Persian Railway for their purposes. In London was signed on July 3rd a non-aggression pact. between the Soviet, Esthonia, Afghanistan, ii~~\~~tAggresLatvia, Persia, Poland, Roumania and Turkey. The Pact comprises five articles and one annexe, which last stipulates that no consideration of any kind will serve as a pretext or justification for aggression. This pact thus concerns all Russia's near neighbours excepting Finland and must be reassuring at least to the smaller powers in the Entente. As Britain had thought the trial and imprisonment of the Metropolitan Vickers engineers by the Soviet Settlement with Britain Government as unjust and tyrannous, the British Government placed embargo on Russian goods. This reduced the Soviet Government to the necessit,y of deputing M. Litvinoff to come to a settlement with Britain. This resulted in the British engineers being released and the embargo lifted.

PAGE 12

204 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June In the meantime the Soviet Government had opened negotiations with the United States for a trade Trade by Barter by barter between the two countries. This method initiated by Persia in an essential way in her foreign trade regulations has already been followed by some other coun tries and is now proposed between these two great powers. The barter would be between American cotton and livestock and Russian manganese, chrome ore, pulpwood and asbestos. This however does not appear to have resulted in any agreement, and the Soviet was subsequently found to arrange credit of 5,000,000 dollars in America for the purchase of U. S. cotton. We bad previously seen the colossal project to connect the Caspian with the Black Sea; and now we Sea find that the White Sea and Baltic Canal which the Soviet had already in hand is now declared open and is regarded to be an outstanding engineering feat of the century. It reduces the waterway route between European and White Sea ports by 2200 miles, an advantage in everyway considerable. 'rhe work has been achieved by providing a sea level waterway from Soroka on the White ~efL to Leningrad. * * TURKEY Camel and Cock fighting had always been popular in Turkey and indiscriminate shooting of wild Prevention of bi'rds had been unobstructed. Turkey has taken Cruelty to Animals a further step in progress by projecting penal legislation against these. At Caesarieh in Anatolia a textile factory has been set up with Russian machinery, and the looms will Textile Industry be working next year and producing some 32,(00,000 yards o.f cloth. British textile industry is expected to loose that much of Turkish market.

PAGE 13

1933] THE EDITOR' 8 NOTES 205 A telephone service has now been opened between London and Constantinople. A three minutes call vi!:Iephone Sarbetween 8 A.M. and 7 P.M. will cost 1 3s., and 14s. at other times. * * * IRAQ Great activity is shown in acquiring and working oil con cessions in Iraq, Babrein and Koweit. The Iraq Oil Coni:,essions Government have sanctioned the transfer to the Mosul Oilfields Limited, of the concession originally granted to the British Oil Development Company. 11he concession corn prises 46000 square miles of rich oil bearing lands on west of the river Tigris. The Mosul Oilfields intend to start drilling operations immediately. Anglo-American interests have already acquired oil concessions in the Bahrein isles, and their representative, Major Holmes, bad been negotiating with the Shaikh of Koweit for an oil concession in bis territory, and has succeeded in bis object. The Anglo-Persian Oil Company have so far had to take their tankers across the Sue7, Canal and to Pipe-lines across the Iraq pay the heavy canal dues. The Iraq conces-Desert • t d t 'd h' b . sions m en o avo1 t 1s y constructing bug e pipe-lines across the Iraq desert and beyond. Two such lines are in band, one leading to Haifa in Palestine, and the other to Tripoli in Syria. They start together from Kirkuk and thus proceed up to Haditba on the Euphrates, where they diverge to their different termini. There will be eight pumping stations between Kirkuk and Haifa, the last being 140 miles east of the latter place. From this last pumping station to the terminus at Haifa the oil will flow down by gravity. The King of Iraq's recent visit to England and other places in Europe, shows his interest in Western Me!~e Arabian enterprise, methods and culture. His subjects seem to follow him closely and it was just in

PAGE 14

206 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June that spirit that there recently appeared in Baghdad Miss Um Kalthum, the Arabian Melba. Her style and tunes are quite different from those in vogue in the West; but they have capti vated the world for which they are intended. She happens to be a remarkably handsome woman, and just 26 years old. She simply dresses in black, but her audience is invariably thrown under the spell of her personality and is extremely appreciative. What is more, it comprises all classes, from the Effendi down to the Arab of the desert. * * * The Joint Select Committee is still meeting in London, The Political Outlook and the political future of the country is still in the melting pot. The Congress leaders are not satisfied with the results so far, and the civil disobedience movement which had been called off, ap pears about to be restarted in some less virulent form. The wiser section of the community have seen the futility of such activity, which instead of destroying the Government's authori ty, has ruined Indian industry, disorganized the country's trade and fed the canker of communalism, besides enforcing higher taxation in various departments of Government dues. This has reduced some sections of the general community to a pitiable state. Mr. Gandhi's fast for the relief of the Harijans has come The Harijan Uplift and gone, without bringing the problem any nearer solution. Indeed the numerous princes and multimillionaires of India did not pour their treasures in Mr. Gandhi's lap to help bim in his project; and probably the largest amount he received was the 1000 Mr. Sorabji, a Parsi, sent to him from South Africa out of his father Mr. Rustomji's Trust monies! The noble Parsi stands by his duty notwithstanding the frenzied effort of some patriots to elbow him out of the envious position he has so far enjoyed as a due reward of his merit.

PAGE 15

1933] TEE EDITOR'S NOTES 207 TaE PARSIS In the great events of theHe days the Parsis are doing Parsis in Politics their little bit in helping their compatriots to achieve their proper aims. Sir Pheroie Sethna, Sir Oowasji J ehangir, Junior, Sir J ehangirshah Ooyaji, Mr. H. P. Mody, Mr. N. N. Anklesaria and others are working their best for the cause. And though the stalwarts of the days oE Mr. Dadabhai Na.oroji, India's G.O.M., and Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, the great leader of the moderates, are not apparent nowadays, the same blood is yet there and as soon as the general political clamour subsides their sterling merit will be recognised and they will again rise to the top and lead the dear mother country along the path of real and dignified progress. The Parsis had a fair share in the fI onours' List published Honours for Parsis on the King's Birthday. Mr. N. B. Saklatwala, the Chairman of Messrs. Tata Sons, and Mr. H. M. Mehta, a distinguished member of the Bombay business world, got Knighthood. Mr. Noshervanji N. Anklesaria, M.L. A., Khan Bahadur K. J. Petigara of the Bombay Police, and Dr. Jamsbed N. Duggan, the leading oph thalmic surgeon, got the insignia of 0.1.E. Sir Oowasji J ebangir, Junior, is mainly responsible for Parsi Public School a public school movement among the Parsis; and his father Sir Oowasji, the Second Baronet and an esteemed elder of the community, has set apart a handsome sum of 1,500,000 rupees for the purpose. The Deccan College premises were raised mainly through Parsi munificence and it would be in the fitness of things if they were handed over to the Parsi community for a reason able consideration, on the closing of the College next year. But we hope Sir Cowasji will reconsider his proposal, because we deem it to be an erroneous measure to isolate young members of our microscopic community from the chance of forming life long bonds of friendship and mutual regard with the youth of sister communities which they have in mixed schools.

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208 THE IBAN LEAGUE QUARTEBLY [June The urgent need of the community is rather in regard to Colleges. Tbe community will do a far better Needs of Higher Education a.moog thing to raise a Parsi Academy on that beauti-the Pa.rais d ful site, starting with a Science College an a proper Research Institute. The Seth Polytechnic Institute too may be housed in the Academy and may add to its status and value. It is a sad sight to see Parsi youth rushing from one college to another for admission and to think of the volumes of Parsi money spent on higher educational institutions without proper safeguard of Parsi interests. We trust the mistake will not be continued too long to mend. Notwithstanding the difficulties coming their way in their academic career, the Parsi youth are coming Academic Dis• tinction6 Won off well for their tiny number. Capt. Cavas Hormuz8hah Dhala has been admitted in the Indian Medical Service and has a nice record of having obtained the degrees of M.B. B.S. (Born.), L.R.C.P. (Eng.), M.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.M. (Dublin), D.T.M. (Liverpool) and D.Ph. (London); Mr. D. F. Karaka of Lincoln's College, has been elected President of the Oxford University Liberal Club; Mr. Firoze Aibara, the Nizam Government Scholar, has topped the list in the Manchester University; Mr. Erachshah J. Umrigar, the Bhavnagar State Scholar, has obtained the B.Sc. of London University in the Engineering Section, having also qualified for the full technological certificate of the City and Guilds Institute ; and last but not least, Miss A vanbai Mehta of Colombo has been called to the English Bar at the tender age of nineteen ! Heroic tales of old Parsi hunters are yet fresh with us. Parsi Heroism And the class worthily survives. Mr. Bezonshah Paridoonji J alnavala is one of our foremost men who have been maintaining the old tradition with distinction. He has already brought down considerable wild game by his unfailing gun. And we had just had hair-raising accounts in the papers of his adventure with a panther in the Hyderabad jungle. We are glad he has returned home cured from the wounds he had nceind in Lis hHE c u u it c 1 Vi i1 h t:ba.t hast.

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PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS MosTAFA VAZIRI, M.A., CHICAGO [Mr. Mostafe. Vaziri iB a young Persian scholar, an M.A. reading for his doctorate e:irnmination in the Chicago University. He has specialized in Anthropology and Scciology and also taken courses in Education and Psychology. He ie likewise interested in Coaching, Social Service and Administration, He is e.nxions to devote bis services to the Zoroastrian Schools in Teheran v;ith the hope of adding a collegiate institute to t,hem. This he would ultimately expand into a t niversity if means would be forth• coming. His calibre may be judged from the following intelligent and interecting contribution-Editor.] GROWTH OP DECISIVE HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS THROUGH GROUP LIFE We Persians have not yet learned how to live. To live is not the same thing as life even tho living necessarily involves life. By life I mean a biological quality or process which is inherited and transmitted in the form of vitality and animation through the physiological organs. Viewed in this light, it is then evident that the human being is not so different from the lower animal kingdom. But the similarity between these two stops here. Thru being endowed particularly with the power of speech and manipulating tools, the human species follows a line which distinctly separates it from the animal world. Even yet he does not become a distinctly human being until he begins to live in association with other people. To live in a group upon intellectual as well as emo tional level is decidedly a human characteristic. Without participation in group life the individual is a mere abstraction. Whatever be the faults of the sociologists and cultural anthropologists, one must admit that in emphasising the role and function of group life, they have made a significant contribution to the understanding of personality and human nature. In fact according to the leading social psychologists, such as Dewey, Cooley and Mead, the rise of human

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210 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June nature is inconceivable without participation in some kind of group life. Cooley classifies the group into two types, the primary and secondary. The primary group is by far the most important and fundamental. H is characterized by intimacy and face-to-face contact. The family is such a group. It is in the primary group that the human nature arises. From the scientific standpoint no definite agreement has yet been reached in the analysis of the human nature. But by far the best, or at least by far the most popular is the definition given by Cooley. According to him human nature in particular is composed of sympathy and the innumerable sentiments into which sympathy enters, such as love, resent ment, ambition, vanity, hero-worship, and the feeling of social right and wrong. " Man does not have it at birth; he cannot acquire it except thru fellowship, and it decays in isolation." CHANGED MODERN INFLUENCES The advance of science in modern times and the applica tion of its theories to practical problems has produced a great change in socia] organizations and institut,ions. The family, for example, which used to be the chief agent for educational, religious, economic and recreational activities of its members has at the present time undergone a tremendous change in its functions. And consequently the intimate and face-to-face relationship which characterized it a few decades ago has tended to be loose, and without much guiding and controlling force. But while fellowship in such a relationship has suffered in the immediacy of contact, it has, on the other hand, gained some ground through indirect channel such as the powers of reading and writing. But reading in itself is of no value unless one shares the experiences of ot.hers imaginatively; unless one enters into the lives of people and grasps the meaning of their interests, sentiments and ideals "sympathetically", I think it is some such idea which is at back of John Dewey's famous book called '' Democracy and Education." To Dewey democracy is essentially a community of interests

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1933] PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS 211 shared collectively. A community becomes a community not by communication and tr,i,nsmission, but in communication and in transmission of shared experiences. FLAWS IN THE Bony oF THE PERSIAN NATION Judged by this standard, it is evident that the Persians have still a long journey ahead of them. It is not enough to have a uniform dress, or a uniform standard of weights and measures. The genuine unity of Persia cannot be based on such superficial and material values. As long as there exists no community of interest3 and sentiments, without that at the same time rendering them sentimental, narrow-minded and bigoted, so long Persia will be the land of a ''people" but not of '' human beings". For the support of my thesis I do not have to adduce many proofs. Any individual with some degree of liberal education can bring forth much evidence of his own. But let me direct your attention to the case of the so-called nationality groups in Persia. 0 such groups I may mention four, to wit: Armenians, Assyrians, Jews and Zoroastrians. It is indeed a bad reflection on the social organization of Persia that these people are still designated as Armenians, or Jews, etc., and not as Persians. These people have been living in Persia for many centuries and yet we have disclaimed them any right to assimilate them selves either physically or culturally. What would have happened to America if they had to follow our form of dealing with their nationality groups ? To the educated people some of the discriminations mani fested and permitted against these groups seem staggering. Take for example the right of electing a representative to the Persian Parliament. According to the Constitution, each of these groups, except the Assyrians who vote together with the Armenians, has the right to elect one representative to the Parliament. By such a policy it was considered that the interests of these groups could be safeguarded best. Out of

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212 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [Jun joy, I think, Hobbes would have resurrected from his grave if he had heard that an application was made of his theory which held that the origin of the State was based upon the fear and suspicion of people or groups of each other. But there is absolutely no reason why the interests of the Moham madan Persians should be safeguarded against the interests of Christian Persians, for example, if both of them, legally as well . as actually, belong to the same nation and strive for the fulfilment of the same ideals. Take another example. Not long time ago I received some Persian papers. In looking over the section dealing with the registration of deeds and properties, I came across a ludicrous notice. In the notice it was announced that Mr. Soand-So, a Ghabre, meaning Zoroastrian, had applied for the reg istration of his property, and therefore anybody who objected to it would have ho present his claims against the said property. In this circumstance it is not my purpose to criticise the civil registration of deeds and documents. In fact I have been much in its favor, and appreciate very sincerely the efforts of the Ministry of Justice in introducing it to such a country as Per sia. My whole objection is, why should such a modern institu tion, instead of limiting itself to the mentioning of the name of the man in question, should go so far as to state the religious affiliation of the individual ? Is it a mark of inferiority to be a Christian, a Jew or a Zoroastrian and not a Mohammadan ? Just what connection has the registration of one's properties in a purely civil institution with one's religious affiliation or preference which is purely a personal matter? Don't we have enough religious bigotry as to be in more need of focussing our attention on the religious preferences of the people? The whole thing seems so ludicrous and at the same time so tragic that ------------------------K.. WAD I A, PH,N0,42483 DIAMOND MERCHANT, GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY,

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1933] PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS 213 the sooner we get rid of this tendency the better off we will all be. Citizenship in the Persian commonwealth cannot and must not be based upon the religious affiliations of the people. We do not need to construct a form of state in which one brand of religion will be the only guiding and therefore the only true standard of the conduct and beliefs of its constituent members. The time has come that we should discard once for all this kind of notions and replace them with the idea that true citizenship consists in their power of entering into commu nion with the interests, hopes, ambitions and ideals of other people with a truly critical, intelligent and yet sympathetic attitude. It is in some such system of conduct that the man finds himself free and liberalized. For it is in the process of give and take and imaginative sharing of experiences that we come to evaluate ourselves objectively and therefore criticaJly. THE GREAT BoND OF THE COMMON Hoirn Let me give another example and then I will conclude my thesis. Whatever may be said about the progress of educa tion in the present day Persia, it is my humble opinion that still we are very far from the ideal standard of education. We may learn many things, but that does not mean that we are really educated. We may even know how to study more effectively, but that does not mean either that we have come to a position as to call ourselves educated. We must not mistake the psychology of learning for the aims and ideals of education. One of the aims of education is to make efficient and intelligent citizens by transmitting the highest and the best ideals of the group life. In so far as the nationality groups in Persia are concerned, I must admit that these ideals of education have not yet been carried out. Even now the Armenians, for example, have their own schools in which the teaching of Persian language is of secondary importance. The zest with which the Armenian national anthem is sung reminds one that these people~ seem to owe allegiance to some other country than Persia. Now I must admit that I am not a

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214 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [Jun, nationalist in the sense that the chauvinists are. So I tlo not care whether the Armenians have a national song or not, or whether they sing it with a gusto which is the characteristic of every nationalist group. What I object to is that a servant cannot serve two masters at the same time. A man has to be either an Armenian, an internationalist or a Persian. One cannot be all at the same time. When I say that the Armenians have to be Persian in spirit as well as in purpose, I say so not with the intention of implying that the Armenians are inferior to the Persians or that the Persians are superior to them, but because of the very fact that they live in Persia. Living in the same locality and group necessarily entails the sharing of sentiments, attitudes and ideals, otherwise the person would not be a living being. He would be in a symbiotio relationship in whioh there would be no intimate contact but a sort of accommodation. Here lies then, in my judgment, the whole trouble with the nationality groups in Persia. They live in Persia but they are not a part of it. Legally they are all Persian subjeots, but aotually they are just as far removed from us in their sentiments and ideals as the English would be. All the " racial " animo sities which found such a ghastly expression during the World War in the north-western section of Persia could not come into existence if assimilation and not segregation had been our policy. Who is to be blamed for all this ? The policy of our government and our social attitude. THE REMEDY LIES IN SINKING EXISTING DISORIMINATIO NB BY THE AUTHORITIES In the way of remedy the Persian Government can accom plish a great deal. As soon as the people are ready, she can abolish the right of these nationality groups to elect their own representatives to the Persian Parliament. The people, irrespect ive of religious affiliation, must be taught to be Persian first and t.Q.en Mohammadan, Christian or Zoroastrian, The interests of

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1933] PERSIA AND HEB NATIONALITY GROUPS 2i5 these people should be not against one another but for the good of the whole country, and, there.fore, in electing representatives to the Parliament they should elect those"'who seem to be the best qualified for the task, disregarding the fact whether the prospective representatives are Jews, Mohammadans or agnos tics. In the same manner attempts should be made to mingle freely the children of these nationality groups in the same schools, instead of running them exclusively for the Mohamma dan or other children of the population. This means that we should have schools designated no more as Armenian schools, or Jewish schools, but schools which are open and free for all who arePersiancitizens. If the Government insists that religious education in some form should be the basic element in these schools, plans should be made that all of the children belonging to different religious faiths should receive the same at specified hours by competent teachers who are liberal enough not to disseminate religious perjudice, but to implant elements of efficient citizenship in them. I have been very much interested in the matter of the students whom the Government has been sending to Europe for the last four years. However, I have been very much disappointed by the fact that I have not been able to find even a small portion of these students who are from among what we may call Armenians, Zoroastrians or A ssyrians. * Why such discrimination? It may, perhaps, be said that the applicants of these nationality groups have not shown scholastic qualifications so as to be candidates for the Persian Government scholarships. But whose fault is it ?-one might retort. I think the whole fault lies with our system of national education. There must not be one system of education for the Armenians or Assyrians, for example, and another system for the Mohammadan Per sians. And furthermore, whatever educational facilities we may * It may be noted that in the group that waa selected last for the purpose, was inoluded a bright Zoroa,trian student from Yezd.-Editor.

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216 THE IBAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June have, they should be open for all the Persian citizens freely, so that in sharing the cultural heritage of Persia all the parti cipants shall become the active and efficient members of the Persian commonwealth. There are many other ways by which the Persian Govern ment can accomplish this end. It can, for example, make the appointment or election to high offices such as the head of a department or the governorship of a province free to all the Persian citizens. And I do not see any reason why a capable Armenian or Zoroastrian should not make as efficient a gover nor or administrator of some state department, as any capable Mohammadan Persian would or could. THE DUTY OF THE PUBLIC TO HELP IN NATIONAL UNIFICATION While the Persian Government in many respects can accomplish much good in this matter, in other respects she cannot go very far. The governmental policies or decrees can be come effective only to the extent that the public are prepared to understand and appreciate them. It is for this reason that I hold that the public should also do their share in remedying the situation which has arisen from our inability to assimilate SWADESHI & BEST

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1933] PERSIA AND HER NATIONALITY GROUPS 21'7 the various nationality groups which exist in Persia to-day. In the absence of assimilation we have segregation, and segre gation is due to the cultural isolation of these groups from the total and dominating life of the country. To remedy it we must permit more contact between these groups. The contact of these groups should be not on the basis of formality but on intimacy. With intimate contact it is impossible to be in to lerant, selfish and clannish. In the schools our policy should be the encouragement of close contact between these various cul tural groups In the schools the pupils should be taught above all to be Persians, and only secondarily Mohammadans or Christians. Whatever be the importance of religion in one's life, its importance should be regarded only a private affair. It should not be imposed upon somebody else or made the object of intolerance and bigotry. The main object of our educational ideal should be to enable the students to live well, that is, intelli gently and sympathetically. Thru various devices the public should be taught to see that there is intrinsically nothing wrong in theintermarriage of various distinct groups. They have to be made cognizant of the fact that there is involved no eternal condemnation or social contamination in the intermarriage of say, a Mohammadan Persian with a Persian of another faith. The right of the Persians to live as " human" and '' civilized " beings will be greatly impaired if we allowed the dead-hand of narrow-minded ness and national prejudices to rule us ruthlessly as has happen ed so far. We cannot attain our goal except through the intelligent construction of a society in which there will exist not so many distinct nationality groups each leading and safeguarding its own life, but a unified society in which the community of in terests, hopes and ideals, with due allowance to individual '' freedom " and critical evaluation of the existing social order, will be supreme. The freedom for cultural as well as physical assimilation is a way full of hopes and promises.

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TIMBER"QDOTATIONS C RAILWAYS STRUCTURE~., FOR ALL REQUIREMENTS HOUSES FURNITURE ETC WHETHER 610 OR SMALL 1iLECiRAA13 't\"'1BERs R..E.MoDY &, .. Q: ON GOVERNMENT RAILWAY &. MILITARY LIST o,.APPROVED (oMTRACTORS TANK :8UNDER REAY ROAD. BOMBAY. , .. -... ... --'" .. ,.,, •. ,.. __

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PURIFICATION OF PERSIAN A SUGGESTION SOHBAB H. BATLIWALA It is gratifying to know that modern Persians are trying to rid their language of its foreign elements, and to evolve one more akin to the Perso-Aryan languages of yore. In this connection, I think, it is necessary that their Prosody, which is based on that of the Arabs, should be discarded, and in its place, I suggest, the Avestan be adopted. The Gathas alone furnish us with five different metres, and there are many pas sages in various metres in the Yashts and the Yasna. These present beautiful models of poetry to the modern Persian and will considerably help them in evolving a new Iranian Prosody. The metres of the Vedas could also be profitably investigated, as they are akin to those of the Gathas and the later Avesta. If the Persians take to a deep and reverential study of the A vesta, it is easy to conjecture that within the next few decades the Persian language will change its complexion entirely, just as a similar study of Arabic changed Pazend in.to Persian of the present day. In this connection it. would be worth considering the question of the Script also. According to Aga Pour-e Davoud, the Avesta characters are the best that the Persians couldadopt for their language. Apart from certain technical reasons strongly in their favour, these were the characters used by the forefathers of the modern Persians for preserving the most cherished portions of their literature. Besides, they could be easily learnt within a few hours. Aga Pour-e Davoud's arguments against the adoption of the Latin Script for the Persian langu age ought to convince those who advocate its adoption, that the Avesta, characters are best suited to Persia.I!.,

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220 ~HE IBAN LEAGUE QUABTEBLY [June Thus it will be seen that there is a wide field for the deve lopment of Persian through A vesta, a field hitherto totally neglected. This development will also he] p the modern Persian authors in ousting the Arabic words, idioms, metres etc. from their language, and it will enable them to cultivate it on entirely new lines so that their future literature may faithfully reflect the true Aryan characteristics of the Persians. 1 THE IRAN LEAGUE, t tij Kamar Bldg., Cowasji Patel Street, t j FORT, BOMBAY. i Literature relating to Persia. t The following books etc. are available for sale at the f o~oe of the Iran League to its members at a reduced ; ! price:Rs. a. The Gathas, by Aga Pour-e Davoud with notes in ('). 'liJ English by Mr. D. J. Irani .. . cloth bound 3 8 el paper bound 2 8 e] The Yashts, Volume I, by Aga Pour-e Davoud ... 6 8 eJ ,, ,, II, ,, ,, .. . 4 0 .ru Khordeh Avesta ,, ,, ... 4 8 ('). !i Avestana Javahiro, by Mr. F. K. Dadachanji, Vol. I ... 3 0 '"1 ,, ,, ,, ,, Vol. II . 3 4 Parsis-A People of the Book, by Prof. Rezvi paper bound 2 8 card bound 3 0 f!l. ! Iran-Iraq Guide (in Gujarati) by Mr. K. A. Fitter ... 1 4 [ 'liJ Armaghan Nawruz ... ... ... 0 8 Circle of Perfection (a chart) . .. . .. 0 2 eJ Coloured picture of Prophet Zoroaster . . . . . . 0 4 eJ Biography of the first Parsi Missionary Mr. Maneckji L. Hataria, by Messrs. G. K. N. and K. A. F. . .. 0 6 f!l. Persia and Pa.rsis by Mr. G. K. N. ... 1 O eJ Persian Pictorial Post cards (24) . .. 1 8 ,, All;>um (by Mes~rs. Fitter & Chaina). ... 2 4 .ru Coloured prnture of Darms the Great, 4x3" size ... 0 6 ; 10-Coloured picture of H. I. M. Reza Shah . . . 0 8 (Postage extra.)

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THE ORIGIN OF THE Y AZIDI TRIBE AND THEIR PRESENT HOME IN IRAQ AN ACCOUNT GIVEN IN PERSIAN BY THE IRANI GLOBE-TROTfJ.1ER DR. A. MOHAQQAQI TRANSLATED AND SUMMARISED BY P. P. BHARUOHA AND R. K. JEHANBAXI [At a l'eception given by a well-known Iranophil of Bombay to the Persian globe-trotter Aqa Abu'lQasim Mohaqqaqi on the 15th of June last, the traveller was requested to narrate some of his experiences, during his peregrinations. He chose to t1;ive an account of the old Iranian tribe known as the Yazi dis (Yazidiyan) of whom various narratives are occasionally published by travellers and writere. The subject being interesting, we give below its summaris ed English version. Aq a Mobaqqaqi has written about 150 pages on the sub ject, and given in them accurate dates etc. But they are not with him in Bombay, and in c~nseq uence he had to jot down hurriedly for the occasion some salient points respecting the tribe. Under the circumstances the translators have taken the liberty of arranging the information in proper order and adding sub-headings for the facility of the readers. Some repetitions occurring in the Persian manuscript have been eliminated while the quotation from the history of Mosul is abridged. On not finding any information in the MS. about the means of livelihood of the tribe, we made personal enquiry of 'the traveller and were informed that most of the people were en gaged in fruit-growing and cultivation of the soil. rrhere is no mention of the women-folk and the treatment they receive from the male members of the small community; but the globe-

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22'2 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June trotter informed us that his orignal papers contained a full account which he offered to send to Bombay if so desired. Considering the personsal risk involved in the enterprise and the constant apprehension of discovery of his own faith, any deficiency in the investigation can be easily understood; still the subject is so treated that it has sufficient interest for all those who may be concerned in anthropology, and especi ally in the ancient faith of Iran.-Translators.J A TouR IN YAZIDI LAND After I finished a part of my travels in Europe and Africa, said Aqa Mohaqqaqi, I decided about a year back to go to the interior of some of the less known districts of Asia Minor and the Arab territories, with a view to acquire some knowledge of the manners, customs and ways 0 living of the people and to learn some of their ideas, both secular and religious. I first went to Syria and thence entered Mosul, a province of Mesopotamia, and on being struck with the manners and customs 0 the inhabitants, I made up my mind to carry on an anthropological investigation in the surrounding territory. My attention was most attracted by the ways of the tribe known as the Yazidis (Y azidiyan) and having previously read something about them in the history of Mosul I was led by curiosity to observe them in their home. This was however a task full of personal danger as the Yazidis were said to be very jealous of strangers, especially of the Moslems. But thanks to the kindly interest taken in my welfare by H. E. Aqa Abdul Samadkhan, the consul at Mosul of His Persian Majesty, the difficulties were practically overcome. Disguised in the costume of a Yazidi, I sallied forth one day and left Mosnl. K. WAD I A, taH, NO 42483 DIAMOND MERCHANT, GRANT ROAD. BOMBAY,

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1933] THE YAZIDI TRIBE IN IRAQ 223 As an inquirer after Zoroastrian lore I stttyed among the tribesmen for a period of 35 days. The Yazidis' present home is the mountainous territory to the north of Mosul. They are spread in five Headquarters and k B h'f h (790 f ) B h Population towns nown as aas 1 e am1 IeS I e zani (385 families), Aine Safni (650 families), Baazra ( 560 families), Shaikh Aadi (279 families), and the Sanjar distriot (1036 families). In all there are at present 3700 families in these places. This people enjoy a free and independent mountainous life whioh seems to agree well with them. For, Physical Appear1 t 11 f t 11 b '1 ance[and Traits of genera ly they are a O sta ure, We Ul t, Character healthy, strong and ruddy-faoed. Their personal oourage and intrepidity are manife~t on their faces. Unity among themselves and resoluteness are the oommon features of their oharaoter. They are not known to have yielded to the oppression of any nation or tribe. The Yazidi language is similar to Persian. Most of its Language words and phrases resemble those of the dialect of Mazenderan or Gilan though generally the Yazidi language is taken to be a Kurdish dialeot. The Kurds however cannot understand it. On personal enquiry from one of the chiefs of the tribe I oame to know that the present Yazidis are Origin & History really of Persian Zoroastrian extraction and that th~ir ancestors were once the residents of Persia proper. After the Arab conquest when a number of Persians emigrated to other olimes in order to . escape fanatical persecution, some took their way. south wards and came to India while others taklng the nodhern route settled in the vioinity of what are now the Russian frontiers. Here they were known as ''Yazdan parast" and they gradually spread towards Turkey and various cities like Tifl.is, Erzerum and. Antioch. They adopted a kind of segregated life and held to their faith by preaching amon~

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224 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY themselves. After the lapse of some years when quarrels broke out among the Arabs on the question of Khilafat and when some fighting took place in the neighbourhQod , of Niniveh, which was about 2000 metres from Mosul, the Yazidis thought it a proper opportunity to make a move towards the interior of Iraq. Their longstanding desire for occupying some towns appears to have been fulfilled. For they were able at the time to spread in the above mentioned five towns. [A.t this stage Aqa Mohaqqaqi ga.ve an account, taken down from a history of Mosul in Arabic, of the service of the Yazidi chief Gordi under two Christian missionaries; his struggle against them, fight and death; the final success of Gordi's son Shaikh Aa,di and the ruins of the place named after him.] THE YAZIDI RELIGION The present religion of the Yazidi tribe, continued Aqa Mohagqaqi, h:1,3 soma resemblance to the MazReligiou a Distorted Form of Mazdayasnian faith. Although they observe some dayasnianism Zoroastrian customs and possess a book called Zand-A vesta, their circum3tances, the flight of tiina and the absence of proper and well-informed preachers have all con tributed in changing to a great extent the original faith. They possess only one book of Zand-Avesta and it is not shown to any one nor is it intelligible to the masses of the Yazidis themselves. Only the chief in whom the secular power appears to have combined with ecclegiastica.l authority, recites from the book and explains the contents to his fold. At the time Shaikh Aadi obtained success in uniting the Yazidi tribe he wrote two new books. One was entitled " Jelweh" and the other "Asvad". The former enjoins good con dnot in life and the latter prohibits actions to the contrary. Though the ultimate object of both these books is the same, viz., the duty of man, they give some faint notion, says the Tra.v el ler, of the primeval polar prinoiples of good and evil.

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1933] THE YAZIDI TRIBE IN IRAQ 225 For the time the tribe was known as'' Yazdanparast," their The approximate date of Corruption and Foreign Influence religious customs were we) 1 preserved. But since the fighting near Niniveh not only did they lose some of their rit,es and ceremonies, but a number of foreign elements appear to have crept into their belief. For the salvation of the soul this people believe in their '' Malek Taoo3", which probably shows a very J J:r7-i!:i~~ures distant relation with the idea of '' Faroher" and with the cock which bas been considered a sacred bird by the old Persians. rrhey have an idol of ''Malek rraoos" which they conduct in procession to their houses twice every year. Such processions are generally led by ''Mir-Miran", i.e., the supreme head of the community and voluntary alms or propitiatory offerings are collected from every house ; the belief being that such payments will ward off future calamities and evils. Also in the time of difficulties they promise men tally to give the alms or offerings on a future occasion and believe in the efficacy of the same. 'rhe fond thus collected is spent after the comforts of the pilgrims who attend the tomb of their famous leader Shaikh Aadi. They have a priestly chief in every one of the five towns Their priests and he is called Baba Shaikh. At the head of the five Baba-Shaikhs is the "Mir-Miran" on whose death his son succeeds him. If he happens to leave no male-issue, one of his near rela tives who may be well-versed in the communal lore is selected for the high priesthood. His present headguader is Aine Safni which is called the province of the Shaik hs. But the Mir-Miran tours iu a.11 the phwes inhabited by the Yazidis. The Yazidis rise eady and offer their prayers at the dawn Prayer Time and also at Sunset.

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226 'l'HE InAN LEAGUE QUAR'fERLY {June To extinguish fire with water or by any disrespectful means m1d to blow out ligbt with the breath of the mouth are considered heinous sins. For The importance of Fire and l\fazda yaanian Influence the purpo::;e of blowin~ oub the lamp or fi.ie they have a special implement. Nai]s of fingers and toes are not to be thrown carelessly in the way of passers-by. But they are to be wrapped in a piece of paper or cloth and interred in a hole away from ordinary resorts. rrhe Yazidis observe fast on three days since the first of l!'astDays October\ i.e., they do not take anything between sumise and sunset. rrhis people have a great aversion to lettuce and pumpkint:1; so much so that they would not eye;1 name S o m e Ourious Dislikes them Also they avoid such words as cont.ain the Perso-Arabic letter,.;" Shin" and the Ara bic .l,, '' Toi'' in their spellings. Also they consider the mule as a freak of nature and hold tliJ,t this animal i.s an outcast of God's creation. They do not allow it to approach their houses. If however one of the Yazidis has t'.ie temerity to employ a mule as a beast of burden, he is looked upon with great abhorr ence. They have an equally strong antipathy for blue colour which they avoid wearing. Nay there should not be even a blue thread in their dress. YAZIDI FESTIVALS The Yazidis observe several festivals, the chief of which is Festivals the new year day on the first of the month of Farva!'din. On its eve they decorate their housea with tulips and other flowers and collect faggot in an 1 About five or si11: r:lecadea ago the Zoroa~trians of Persia used to observe similar fast but the time was different. They connected it with the beginning of the Ra.pith, vin Gah from the third day after the naw year. On the other hand the Yazidis appear to obsetve fast at the approach of autumn when the period of the seven months of the" Rapithvin Ga.h '• nears its end. Considering the derivation of the word Rapi thvin which has connection with the mid-day meal which wa11 to be taken during the aeven eummer-month11, the observance by the Yazidis of the fa,t appears to ba more in keeping with the original spirit than the usage of tho Persian Zoroaiitriane, most of whom have by now discarded it.-TranBlators.

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1933] THE YAZIDI TRIBE IN IRAQ 227 appointed place. As the day of the new year dn.wns they engage themselves in prayers after which all the family mem bers join together at the place where the faggot has been kept since the previous night, Kindling a large :fire they burn in it dates and nuts as an auspicious omen for the new year. They hold a sacrificial function iu the middle of the year Mid-year Holiday a n d Curiously Moral Significance of the Sa orifice when they sacrifice some male animals and birds. A man dips his finger in the blood and stains with it the foreheads of all the members of the family ; their belief being that the mark has t,be potency of granting them exemption from wretchedness and poverty. Then they roast the animal and taking out its tongue, cut it into small pieces which they distribute among the family. They believe that by eating the tongue their own tongue will remain steadfast in praise of their faith and will not calumniate their own co-religionists. The same procedure is adopted with respect to the heart of the animal, it being held that it will be a potent factor in keeping them united with their brethren. The head is eaten with a view to have their own beads immune from evil tboughts.1 On t.he last Wednesday of the year, continued Aqa Mohag Leaping across Fire for being ab solved from Sine. qagi the Yazidis collect straw and faggot and kindle a fire. They leap across it with the object of becoming absolved from the past sins and to have done with all that was evil in the ending year. 1 The mid-year sacrificial festivity is evidently the relic of the well-known Mebergan. About half a centu1y ago the Irani Zoroastrians of Yezd and Kirman med to celebrate the occasion in almost similar fashion. But instead of marking t,he forehead with the blood of the animal, this was mixed with some other articles, cooked and eaten, The tongue was given to the priest who recited the Yasna. Cooking blood and eating it may at first sight appear distasteful and a savage practice; but we cannot ignore the fact that we assiduously take as restorative9, imported preparations containing haematin, a constituent of haemoglobin, the colouring matter of the red corpuscles of the blood. Moreover, raw meat juice or hemal food is commonly prescribed for patients suffering from wasting diseases like phthisis or pulmono.ry consumption. Howe,,er, the practice vr as disliked by the first Parsi missionary to Persia, the late Mr. IVL L. Hato.ria of revered memory, and he dissuaded the Persian Zoroa.atrian1 from continuing it, and it is almQst dead now.-Tran_slators:

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228 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June. Then they pray and ask to be forgiven and await the new yeal' with a desire for prosperity and plenty.1 SOME 8ocaL CusTOMs When two parties agree upon a marriage, they assemble in a public hall and their religious leader, who :Marriage Cere-mony is styled "Baba Mir" or " Baba Shaikh", asks the contracting parties whet.her they approve of the union. On receiving the affirmative answer he rises up from his seat and recites some prayers. The hands of the couple are joined together, blessings are pronounced and the party goes about the streets in procession with music, dancing and merry-making. 'l'here appea.rs to be n. kind of basilica for dispensing Legal Procedure justice to disputants . It is attended by a sod Oath for tell" Qazi" and some members of the legal profession ing the Truth in whose presence the cases are conducted. The Qazi keeps before him two pieces of paper, one crimson and the other black, t.hey being symbolical of the following oath to be taken by the defendant : " May ' Malek-Taoos ' send me from the crimson world to the black and dark region if I lie." Aqa Mohaqqaqi surmises that this custom of oath has begun among the Yazidis after the Arab conquest. For, the Yazidis consider the crimson world as their own domain and the black one as that of Islam.2 THE y AZIDI DRESS The Yazidi dress consists of a tunic aboat two yards in Co1tume length with long sleeves and a pair of loose trousers. Over the tunic they put on a kind of jacket which is usually embroidered with gold thread. On the l This j3 probe.bly a tra.~e of the .Je.shn-e-S adeh of old Persia., which waR C)elebrated 50 clays before tho now year, and whon a kindling fire eod ga.mboling around it were customary.-1'ran8 ltztors. 2 The crimaon world and the dark region may as well be an alluaioo to heaven and tho infernal region.-Translators,

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1933] THE YAZIDI TRIBE IN IRAQ 229 head they wear a kerchief after the fashion of the Persian Kurds. The priests however put on occasionally a short cloak which reaches to the knees. Blue colour is studiously avoided ae mentioned above. And to put on garment of this colour is considered as a grave transgression. Most of the Yazidis put on a uniform dress except those inhabiting the neighbourhood of Sanjar which is situated about 300 metres to the west of Mosul. These grow their hair in locks and dress themselves in long white robes. Their headgear is domelike and pointed. This clan of the Yazidis is said to be especially inimical t,o Mos]ems, killing of whom is assumed to be an act of dut,y. [The traveller informed us orally that the sign by which a Yazidi recognises his co-religionist is the round shape of the neck of his tunic. rrhe 'V' shape is always avoided. About women's dress he subsequently gave us to understand that they wear a kind of long robe reaching to the ankles ; they cover them heads but their faces are not veiled.] Up to the time of Shaikh Gordi, Dr. Mohaqqaqi added, the Yazidis consigned the dead to towers of silence, t.;:1~e~ispoial of but in the time of Shaikh Aadi the custom disappeared. In fact the first body interred by them was that of their leader Shaikh Aad.i himself. His tomb is their place of pilgrimage. They appear however to have preserved a tinge of their old usage in this matter also. They do not bury a corpse at night but wash it and keep it ready by dawn at the grave-yard. With the rising of the sun they kneel down, join their two hands in praying attitude and supplicate the Deity to pardon the dead person for the sins committed. Then they put the body in its grave, taking good care to keep the face to the east. The pit is always dug north to south for the purpose.

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1 • I ORIENTAL GOVERNMENT SECURITY LIFE ASSURANCE CO., LTD. Incorporated in India 1874, Head Office :-BOMBAY, 1932 RESULTS New Business : 29,982 Policies assuring Rs. 594 Lakhs, Claims Paid during the Year: 3,816 for Rs. 85 Lakhs. Funds Increased to Nearly Rs. 12! Crores. Policies in Force: 2,07,531 Assuring with Bonuses Nearly Rs. 44 Crores. I LOW EXPENSE RATIO OF 21 % OF THE PREMIUM INCOME, NEX f DIVISION OF PROFITS falls to be made as at 81st December 1933. Participating Policlea effected in the Current Year will be entitled to participate in the Division of Profits if in force as at 31st December 1933. Applications for further information should be addressed to: The MANAGER, ORIENTAL BUILDINGS, BOMBAY or to any of the Company's other offices as undernoted: I Agra 'fAi' Ahmedabad 1~. Ajmer Bhopal Calcutta Karachi Mombasa Kuala Lumpur Nagpur Rangoon Rawalpindi ! ;~~~;:ad JI; . Bangalore !~ Bareilly I Bezwada Colombo Dacca Delhi Gauhati Jalgaon Lahore Lucknow Madras Mandalay Mercara Patna Poona Raipur Rajshahi Ranchi Singapore Sukkur Trichinopoly Trivandrum Vizagapatam I~

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PERSIA'S SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE KAIKHOSRU A. FITTER AN AnVENruRous PERSIAN ScouT Dr. Abul Fazl Mohaquki is a Persian Scout and 'Globe trotter.' He was recently in Bombay for a short period of two weeks. He has been travelling on foot since he left Persia in 1927. He has traversed 52,000 kilometres in going round all countries of Europe and then biked across Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Iraq. From Hedjaz in Arabia, he crossed over to Karachi. He has passed through many thrilling experiences and some of the stories of his adventure would be interesting to the local Scouting organizations in Bombay. The 32nd Karachi Troop has done its bit towards helping this Persian Scout in every way. Dr. Mohaquki is a Ph.D. of the Berlin University, and has a literary turn of mind. He intends to write a book of his adven tures in Persian. His idea is to fire the souls of the rising generation of Iran, by the story of his thrilling adventures and by presenting an intimate knowledge of the Scout organizations all over the world. The adventures of Sinbad the Sailor are too old-fashioned for the modern Persian youths. The ambition of young Doctor Mohaquki is to appear in the role of a modern Sinbad before his countrymen. It is a very encouraging and healthy sign for regenerated Iran that her sons rush boldly into unknown perils with true sririt of adventure and sportsmanship. Here is a Persian youth who left his comfortable home in Iran, six years ago with a few silver Krans, and a small load of belongings in his knapsack. This youth maintains himself in an honourable manner by delivering lectures on interesting literary subjects as well as on his travel

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23'2 THE IRAN LEAGUffi QUARTERLY tJunB experiences. He can speak French, German, Italian, Arabic, Turkish and Egyptian besides his sweet mother tongue Persian. The future programme of the youth is to visit an the important towns of India and from thence to go across Afghanistan, China, J a,pan, America and Austrnlia. TaE MYsTERIOus Smar oF TaE YAzrnrn His presence in Bombay will be particularly interesting to the Parsis as he has lived for about 35 days among that peculiar a,nd mysterious sect called the 'Yazidis'. They live near Mosul (Iraq) and are, through ignorance, called by some European writers, "Devil worshippers." Doctor Mohaguki says this people are following some form of Zoroastrianism, and even their sacred book is called '' Zend AveRta" which is written in Kurdish language. They give great respect to the rising and setting Sun, and they never blow out fire or light by their breath. P.aBSI HosPITALl'rY Dr. Mohaquki was entertained to Tea on 15th June 1933 at Mr. Dinshah Irani 's bungalow, where before a select gathering Dr. Mohaquki read his essay on the Yazidis of Mosul. H. E. Mirza Hasan Khan Fir Nazar, Persian Consul of Bombay, after praising the laudable enterprize of the young Persian, presented him a modest purse collected from his admiring Parsi friends. He was also entertained by the Parsi Scout Federation at their annual Jashan and Dinner function. Dr. Mohaquki's inte resting article on the Yazidis appears elsewhere in this number. -------------------------K. WAD I A, PH,N042483 DIAMOND MERCHANT, GRANT flOAD, BOMBAY.

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OUR TEHERAN LETTER (From Oiir Correspondent at Ahwaz) MATTERS RmLATING To PARSEES IN PERSIAN RAILWAY SERVIOE WELL SETTLED I am pleased to have to say that the question of discharge and the reduction of pays of some of the Parsee employees of the S. P. S. Ry., ha'l now been quite satisfactorily settled. It was due to a little misunderstanding on the part of an officer, but after the matters were brought to the knowledge of the Government through the very kind endeavours of Arbab Kaikhashru Sharukh and Mr. Jehangir Badhni, they were promptly put right and now the Parsees are working quite contentedly. Arbab Kaikhashru took a very kind interest in our affairs and the successful result is mainly due to his endeavours. I have had the honour of a few inter views with the Arbab and other Government Officers and Ministers, all of whom were very kind and paid immediate attention to the complaints. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN PERSIA I h.:Lve been in Persia for about a year, and during that time I have had various opportunities not only of studying this country, and its people and Government, but also the probable fields of enterprize; and though I am a pessimist, I could not help coming to the conclusion that there are certain fields in this country, such as Hydro-electricity, sanitary engineering and plumbing, glass manufacture, textile industry, etc., which if taken a prompt ad vantage of by any capitalist will not fail to yield a rich harvest in very near future. It is not I alone who have got this conviction, but many others have had the same. Especially the foreigners with their keen foresight have been leaving no stone unturned to capture these fields. Persia is at present passing through a period of transition, making a rapid progress in every direction and, believe me, it is a most ripe time and grand opportunity

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234 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June for our capitalists to remodel and swell their fortunes by employing a part of their capital in the rich but so far untilled fields here. By virtue of the Foreign Policy of the Persian Government these opportunities are not within an easy reach of the foreigners, but these have been still persevering in their efforts towards that goal. IRAN's PREFERENTIAL REGARD FOR THE PARSIS The Parsis have the good fortune of enjoying a preferential regard of H.I.M. the Shah and the Government of Persia, and it is a most opportune moment for Parsi capitalists to invest their capital or a portion of it, in some of the very promising fields here. It will be a good and wise policy on their part not only to advance thus their own interests, but also to earn thereby name for themselves as leading Industrial Pioneers in Iran. Now it is not a matter for vascillation on their part, but for firm decision and prompt action. Once the opportunity is lost, it is lost for ever. 'l1eheran 7th June 1933. F. S. M. SAVINGS BANK. Money saved Wisely in these days brings Happiness and when spent Unwisely it brings overwhelming Debts, Worry, Unhappiness and Distress. Make therefore a regL1lar saving by opening a Home Savings Safe Account with the CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA, LIMITED, BOMBAY and earn interest on Daily Balances. Our Home Savings Safe will teach you and your family Thrift and Economy. S. N. POCHKHANAW ALA, Managing Di1ector.

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AFFAIRS IN KERMAN JEH.A.NGIB RUST.AM FRAVAH!R, KERMAN SouooLs IN KERMAN The following facts regarding the Zoroastrian educational institutions in Kerman deserve perusal and kind consideration by your readers. The Zoroastrian Anjuman of Kerman is at present conducting tw9 boys' schools and one girls' school :-(1) The National Middle School: This has four upper classes of the elementary grade, and one middle class of the secondary grade. The number of students is 138 Zoroastrians and 22 Mohammedans. It has a staff of 10 teachers ' including the Superintendent, the Principal and the Gym-nastic Instructor. The monthly salaries for these amount to Rials 2,500. (2) ThC" Kavani Boys' Elementary School: This has three lower classes each class having a sub-division, owing to the great number of students. 'These comprise 170 Zoroastrians and 43 Mobammedans. It has a staff of the Principal and six teachers. The total monthly salaries for these amount to Rials 1,000. ( 3) Shahriari Girls' School: This bas seven elementary nlasses. The number of students is 210 Zoroastrians and 36 Mohammedans. It has a staff of nine teachers, including the Principal and instructor for needle work etc., etc. You are no doubt aware that in spite of the world-wide financial crisis, Persia has advanced by leaps and bounds in the ~irection of progress and reforms during the last few yares und_er the benevolent regime of H. I. M. Reza Shah. Now in this

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236 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June forward movement, if the Zoroastrians would not be ahead, you will agree with us thatthey should not at least be behind others. Previously our Arbabs, i.e., landlords, were helping our schools, but unfortunately, it has so happened during two years, that owing to the depression of trade, as well as ruinous floods those Arbabs suffered great loses and they are naturalJy unable to help our schools. We are also obliged to close one of our middle classes, viz. the 8th class. For this reason we made an appeal to our Parsi brothers in India through the columns of the I(aise1 .. 1:-Hi nd newspaper, but tna.t was not responded to. Srn DINSHAW PETIT's UNTIMELY DEATH Mr. F. M. Master telephoned to us from Yezd and informed us of the sad and untimely death of Sir Dinshaw Petit. So the l!ll!ll!Jl!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!llill!l~l!ll!ll!ll!ll!llillillill!ll!llillillill!ll!ll!l I!) Iii l!l I l!l Safest: Investment which I!) @ Never Depreciates @ I!) I!) I!) I!) 1!1 IS l!l I!) I!) A LIFE POLICY I!) I!) Iii OF 1!1 I!) I!) THE GREAT EASTERN LIFE' I!) I!) m ASSURANCE CO., LTD. @ I!) I!) (INCORPORATED IN S.S. ) I!) Iii l!I For Particulars and Agency Terms l!l I!) I!) I!) I!) l!I APPLY TO: l!l I!) I!) I!) I!) m M, V. MERCHANT, m I!) I!) BRANCH MANAGED, l!l 50-52, CHURCH GATE STREET, BOMB A Y. l!l I!) I!) I!) I!) l!]l!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!l~~l!ll!llillill!llill!)l!ll!ll!ll!llillill!llill!llill!ll!llill!ll!ll!llill!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!ll!lli)I!)

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1938] AFFAIRS IN KERMAN 237 Kerman Anjuman at once made an announcement in the Bazar ' and all shops were closed in honour of the deceased gentleman on the 4th April, and so were the schools. Religious ceremony was performed in the Zoroastrian Middle School on the same day. The A njuman met in the school, and well-known gentlemen gathered to pay honour to his memory. His :Excellency the Governor General of Kerman kindly attended our sad Posseh Majlis. At this gathering, the Governor General Aga Kazemi and Mr. Pheroze H. Karkaria, the manager of S. Dorabjee & Co. in Kerman, suggested to collect a fund in memory of Sir Dinshaw, in order to work the 8th class of the school for one year. We are glad to inform you that the sum of Rials 15,000 was gathered for this fund. These events were reported by Mr. Phiroze H. Karkaria, to the deceased 1s eldest son, Sir Dinshaw Petit the third Baronet, and the Kerman Anjuman sent a condolence letter to his family with a request for a portrait of the deceased for our school, But we are sorry to say we have received no reply up to now. There are two Parsi gentlemen in Kerman, Mr. Phiroze H. Karkaria, the Manager of S. Dorabjee & Co. in Kerman, and Dr. Kaykobad Dumree, who is practising as doctor here. This Anjuman has no helper excepting our Parsi brothers in Bombay, and we look up to them for their kind assistance in ways they deem best. It is a matter of great regret, that the Kerman Zoroastrians are quite forgotten in the eyes of our Parsi brothers. Our Zoroastrian Anjuman will be highly obliged, if yon will allow us to make an appeal to our Parsi brothers in India to aid our schools. It is unfortunate thnt many Parsi gentlemen are coming to Persia, but they r;ever visit the Kerman district and quite forget the Kermani Zoroastrians. For some reason their help preponderates in Teheran and in Yezd. Nobody is knowing our poor condition, and how we are living in Kerman. Many Zoroastrian families here are unable to maintain themselves and the youth of the community are helpless without education. The new census of Zoroastrians is going on at the expense of this Anjuman, and a report on it will be published as soon as it is completed.

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OUR BAGHDAD LETIER (From Our Correspondent in Baghdad) BAGHDAD SuMMER The heat 0 Baghdad is intolerable, and a man from the north is not accustomed to it. It is impossible for him to do any work oomfortably here at present. LATIN ScRIPT FOR KuRDlsB Colonel Tawfik Wahbi Bey, I understand, is just now very busy in writing a booklet on t,he use 0 Latin characters in the Kurdish language. It differs greatly from those of the Bedirkhanis and is based on quite a scientific basis and is specially :fitting the peculiarities of our language. He wil1 certainly send you some copies when published. THE " ZANIST DANISH" I understand that the Kornal-iZanist of Sulaimani will shortly start publishing a fortnightly review under the title "Zanist Danish " or " Zanist Knowledge." A TRIP THROUGH SouTBERN KuRDISTAN I have applied for two months leave with effect from 7th July 1933. During the first half of my leave I propose to make a trip through the Southern Kurdistan, while 1 hope to pass the second half in Sulaimani. During my leave I shall try my best to gather some materials to interest your readers and shall forward them to you as soon as possible. M. R. N.

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THE PESTONJI DOSSABHOY MARKER BOYS' ORPHANAGE AND DAY SCHOOL, YEZD P. P. BRAR UOHA CEREMONY OF LAYING TaE ]10UNDATION-8TONE OF THE NEW PREMISES Mr. Pestonji Marker, the well-known Iranophil citizen 0 ~pmbay, conferred an additional boon on the Zoroastrians of Yezd by purchasing a large plot of land near the BunderAbbas-Teheran Main Road, in the vicinity of Elyas in Yezd, for erecting new premises of the Orphanage and School. It was a sore need; and the economical, and none the less progressive and efficient, administration of the Orphanage by the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman of Bombay, combined with the munificence of Mr. Marker, has enabled the Anjuman to embark on a scheme of having their own building for their institutions. A pleasant function took place when the Foundation Stone was laid at Yezd in the c1,fternoon of the 12th of April last. It was the anniversary of the founder's mother's demise . and the foundation day of the Orphanage exactly ten years back. Dr. Minocher Rustomji Vesuna, the Medical Officer of Sir Ratan 'fata Medical Hall and Bai Dinamae Desai Dispensary, opened the proceedings by delivering in fluent Persian a speech welcoming His Excellency the Governor of Yezd who was kind enough to postpone for the purpose his departure to Isfahan, and all the other guests. About a . hundred well-known citizens including Persian Government officials and the medical officer of the English Missionary Hospit.al had gathered. In requesting His Excellency Mirza . Ovessi to lay the stone Dr. Vesuna gave a brief history of thQ

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240 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [Jun~ institution. It was followed by a suitable speech by one of the orphans. Then the Governor laid the foundation stone and amidst cheering applause he paid a very eloquent tribute to the high aims and ideals of Mr Peshotanji Marker. He said that Mr. Marker's name would be perpetually remembered by the Iranians as one of their foremost benefactors. His services to the regeneration of the ancient community was as unique as they were spontaneous and timely. His Excellency expressed his personal interest and sympathy for the poor Zoroastrians of Ye zd and invoked heavenly blessings for Mr. Marker and his family who, he said, were contributing such a large share in t,heir educational, ethical and economic uplift,, rl1he pleasant function ended with light refreshments. r-~ 7 , AVESTANAJAVAHIRO ,,, ' I ( GEMS OF THE A VESTA.) VOL. I & II (IN GUJARATI). Compiler-MR. FREDOON K. DADACHANJl, SoL1C1ToR. Price :-Rs. 3-8 for Vol. I and Rs. 3-12 for Vol. II. As. 8/reduction to Members of the Iran League and the Jashan Committee. V. P. P. As. 12/-extra. 'rhe books have been published by the Seth PestonJI narker Religious Literature Fund and are being sold at a nominal price. They cover 550 nnd 580 pages with illustrations and the Zoroastrian spiritual and religiou3 philosophy culled from the entire Avesta. Further, the Gems gathered together in them are explained and compared with other religions and religious and moral literature, and the greatness of Zoroastrianism and similarities of other religions therewith are exhansti vely set out. The books (pronounced by a noted Parsi Scholar : "the most excellent reference books") throw a new light on the Zoroastrian and other religions and furnishes a precious treaRure to the writer, speaker, teacher, thinker and the religiously inclined. Apply :-THE SECRETARY, THE IRAN LEAGUE, Kamar Bldg., Cowasji Patel Street, FoRT, BOMBAY.

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[ Jrnn Leag i , e Qunrf<'rl y The fonndation stone of the new premises of Seth Marker's O~phanage in Yezd was la id by H. K the Pers i an Governor. The above group shows the gathering that h acl assembled then. J .f iJ(c J • ~.! ., : ; :..i { \ ii -:...,1 _,.S::: 1,:S ... ~,1 l:fo\;T ..::.. ... ., ,;~ ; ) .;\,. .:-i t ~~)I I;,., -:..., b:..l ... ; _.,ll.!. '--C .. -1..t .\.,a _.:_ \,!. .>.." .:...:.. l; t t.. '. 0:. ' ) .) t" i; /:~ )ll:

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P, D Marker Orphauge and Boys' Day School, Yez d, s t a rt.ed work in .April , 1923, and have spread the blessings of education arncng the Zoroas tlians o f tha t place , besides s aving a nnmber of p o o r orp~ans fr o m a : hard fate . • t. )J ..:-I 0T ..,.. ... j .. J;l .. I..>.) -15, JJ:: J J -...:..>I_,-~ 4:ljJJ "':'":_( .. J i 1:.:_)ll)I.> .1t;. J 0~~~.)Jj -0\: .. JJ I; .::..t;J. , rl" .::.. • ._;-:; •;),, 1lS:". ! v_,:. _ , \tY' J~J,T JIJ .:.ilf "5~ ..1.: ;I I;...,:;; ~\.11 r::~ jl :..1.1, 01.1, •J~ .:,.;.\... _;.:;... •

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KURDISH WOMEN Da. QAMIBAN ALI BEnIR KHAN, DAMASCUS [T1anslated by J amshed R1tstam Irani, B.A., from the original Prench of" Dr. Q. A. Bedir Khan. This had appeared in the Kmdish Magazine '' Hawar" of Damascus, in its issue of the .1.7th April 19.:13.] rf HEIR HEALTHY AND FREE LIFE It appears to me that the review of the position of the Kurdish women will form a very interesting subject for European readers. The Kurds, though less used to modes of civilized life, have from times immemorial, been holding fast to the rights and dignities of their womankind whom they consi der as devoted partners of their married lives and as valuable factors to look after their private, social and public activities. By way of contrast I shall point out a truly typical trait of their character, viz., the absence of a separate sphere for the women, as would always hold them aloof from men. This system which was first adopted by the ancient Greeks has ruled, and still rules in a greater degree, the lives of the oriental peoples, especially of the Mahomedans. It is but natural to recall to memory the life of the ancient Greeks which was greatly infiuenoed by the tastes and habits of the Asiatic peoples. The Kurdish women enjoy the same degree of liberty and freedom as was being given to their women by the Romans in those ancient times. Still heavy conventionalities and vexatious restrictions are not imposed upon their freedom as w1:1.s being done by the Romc1,ns on the liberty of their women. In fact, their ultimate object of granting them freedom was to make them lead healthy and independent lives. It is but in vain to find any traces of progress by degrees in the evolution of the life of the Kurdish women.

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242 TBE 11\!N LEAGUE <~UARTERL Y [June The Kurds possess a very fine idea of the different clas ses of human beings and impose rightly or wrongly very subtle restrictions on the different social elements but have hardly any idea. of different human sexes, never thinking of the form1I or ma.terial restrictions on women. In fact, from the ethnical points of view, they rightly deserve the confidence, rights and responsibilities granted to them, but psychological ly they are ruled by the same factors of temptation and virtues and vices as is often found with other nations. This spirit is worth being noted, and it really shows the absence of the terrible effects of the sense of sex superiority generally found everywhere else. 'fhe information about Kurdistan and its women is full of interesting details. It is universally admitted that the Kurdish women enjoy greater independence and freedom than any other women of the East. European travellers have particularly noted that the Kurdish women employ male serv,rnts in their homes without subjecting them to any restrictions and amputations, as have been imposed upon the harem eunuchs of the eastern countries. I shall try to describle the life of the Kurdish women very objectively, viz. as a young girl, as a wife, as a worn-an, as a mother, as a head of a family and lastly as a polit.ical chief of a tribe or a territory. THE LIFE OP A YouNG GIRL Hygienic trnd educative principles are seldom observed in the localities where these young girls spend their time, but it is essential to note that since their birbh they are much loved and looked after with a view to increase their intellectual power. They enjoy the same happiness which falls to the lot of boys; and national songs, dances and horseriding are the chief subjects that are taught them. Manual work, embroidery, sewing, weaving of fine carpets and much other work of tha.t sort develops in them a :fine sense

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1938] KUBDISH WOMEN 24:S of rhythm, colour, harmony and ornamentation. It is essential to note that it is the mother who is responsible for their educa tion, but the father too often being free from the daily worries sometimes superintends their studies, but after the girls reach the age of 10 they no more remain under the care of the father who does not even inflict the mildest punishment. It is the mother who is responsible for this kind of work. Till a certain age they help their mothers but are free to enjoy the pleasures of young age, viz. dancing once a week with t.heir companions. It is through dancing that they get an opportunity of selecting their future husbands. These dances,-specially marriage dances,-are held for three to seven days beginning from the dawn of the day and ending late at night. It is really a wonderful sight to see these beautiful Kurdish girls mixing with young brave boys in this fine and joyful gathering, where the radiance of youth shines like the dawn of the day. As A WIFE There are many other sources besides dances which permit and facilitate their seeking company of men. The Kurdish women are allowed to enjoy horse-riding, to have walks in gardens, to receive guests and to be hosts for any number of days. These facilities are peculiar to their young age. These meetings and granting and paying interviews are particularly meant to fill their hearts with joy and pleasures of youth In a corner of a garden or under the shade of a tree, or on a moonlight night when the silvery rays of the moon play on the ground, these women are seen enjoying t,he pleasures of tbe company of men. They generally come folly scented and by opening their heart and exchanging stories of joy and sadness they introduce themselves promising love and fidelity till death. Solitary night walks do not carry any importance at all, as these walks do not mean any idea of love and marriage and no driimatic or lyric expressions can be lent to such scenes.

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244 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June TeE MARRIAGE Generally it is marriage that results hom these liberties and walks in the garden. It is evident that there is war and danger in the Kurdish countries, and it is only the love of liberty and country which keep them united. The love of independence and liberty is strongly cherished in their hearts being surrounded by moun tains on all sides. The Kurds look in marriage a divine as well as human agency. DIVOROE FORBIDDEN The Kurds are not allowed to divorce their wives as they look upon marriage as a holy bond, whereas those who have embraced the Islamic religion can do so. The Kurds think divorce a very dishonourable act. The woman really being the mistress of the house conducts the management of the house. Men have to earn to provide for the family, which women too are able to do in case men are incapacitated. Marriage limits and prevents certain enjoym~nts and pleasures to women but permits them indulgence in dances, music and societies of men. During conversation they gene rally use sweet voice and keep the hearer spell-bound without showing in the least any signs of coquetry. WARRIORS They talk, laugh and prattle as if it is natural with them. During revolution they accompany their husbands fully armed and fight as men taking greatest pleasure in those deeds. They fully realize that it is highly honourable to die to save their nation which is perpetually oppressed. The wives, mothers and daughters of the warrior encourage and cheer the fighters by helping and nursing the wounded. The heroic women of this beautiful country cheer their husbands and encourage them by singing national songs to fight for their country. If the father has shown no bravery in war, it is a national custom with the Kurds to name their children after their mother when she has earned remown for her bravery,

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1933] KURDISH WOMEN EDUCATION 245 Women p]ay an important part in the literature of the country. Being Aryan in blood they take to chibalrous edu cation and create in themselves that spirit of profound literary inclination which is often found in the bards of the Middle Age. Most of the songs and sonnets produced by them are full of melody, sweetness and rhythm. In the absence of her husband, the wife represents his interests to strangers. The two statues of the female chieftains erected before the Great War in Pichedar Zone are still held in highest esteem, the one being of Pura Halim, the head of the Kafourouchi tribe, and the other of (~uah Narki,,,, the head of the Chovan tribe. After the murder of their husbands by the Turks, they placed themselves at the head of an army and fought very bravely against them for several years. Sitting in the evening in spring-time on the banks of the river Zab, they still sing the epic songs of bravery and sacrifice of these brave people oJ Piohedar, PoLITIOAL LIFE Coming to recent years, we shall describe the life of the female chief of the Adile Hanoum tribe who died in 1924. For 15 years she managed the social and political affairs of the Djaff territory as her husband Osman Pasha Djaff was quite incada.ble. It was a very magni:ficient and a grand sight to see Lady A dile Hanoum of slender physique, blue eyes, shining intelligence, sitting in her hall administering justice and guiding the affairs of the little state, called Djaff, with justice, foresight and kindness. The beautiful sister of Shaikh Mahomand well deserved the applause of the people for her supreme efforts to defend the rights of her citizens. As a signal for renaissance, this little information about Kurdish ladies should be very encouraging to the Oriental people.

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PERSIA AND INDIA A LECTURE BY AoA PouR-E DAvoun* To-day I am very glad and feel myself honoured that under the presidentship of Dewan Bahadur Krislmalal lVI. Zaveri, a Persian scholar of repute in your City of Bombay, I am addressing you, or rather, am giving you a heart to heart talk, on the close and sincere relations that had for so long existed between India and Iran, and the Indians and the Iranians. I do not presume to give you an erudite lecture in a flowery language, burdened with the heavy terms of science and learning. For, to my mind, a friendly talk in a simple language, will be a better proof of our sincerity of purpose to-day than otherwise, REVIVING ANCIENT !RAN's SouL The object of my first visit to India, which lasted from November 1925 to April 1928, was to acquaint myself more intimately with, and to perfect my knowledge of, the ancient religion of my ancestors with the help of my brothers, the Parsi scholars of India. During that first visit of mine, as much as it was possible for me, I gathered all materials and information, added the same to the treasury of my knowledge and have since then published several volumes on the Mazdayasnian Literature and am glad to learn that I have supplied in them, the means of fostering and increasing the affection existing between the Parsis and the Persians. Clouds of wrong impressions and false ideas which ignoranceand unthink ing fanaticism had raised up before the eyes of my own countrymen, pave been to a great extent removed, and a sense of brotherhood, not only due to our same descent but also due to the holding of similar high ideals and principles, have been fostered by the proper representation of the noble principles and ideals of the ancient Iranians. This, the wish nearest to the hearts of my friend Mr. Dinshaw Irani and myself, I have been able to fulfil; and as our object was pure and disinterested, God Almighty helped us and my works have met with the approval of my beloved countrymen. Now that n complete translation, with cletailed commentaries, of the ancient literature of Persia rendered in modern Persian is before my brothers, I hope they will receive an impetus to publish themselves more and more volumes containing the result of their researches, on the same sacred subject. * This lecture was delivered on Thursday, the 29th June la.et,, at K. R. Ge.ma Oriental Institute, under the auspices of the Iran League, when Dewan B@f/!dur Zaveri M.A., LL.B., was in the chair.

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i933] PERSIA AND INDIA 247 THE FASCINATING CONTACT OF IRAN AND HIND This second visit of mine to India which began in December 1932, seems also to have been designed by Divine Providence, to have an equally holy object, viz., of being an intermediary between Hind and Iran, through the understanding of each other's cultures. Thus my duty during this sojourn of mine in your land is equally sacred to my mind, viz., to foster and to increase the love and affection existing between my countrymen, the Iranians, and the people of this vast and great country of India. I have no doubt in my mind that the fire of love between the Indians and the Iranians has been burning more or less brightly or dimly, but is yet burning, for thousands of years till to-day. If it is burning slack now, I have just to fan this divine fire that it may burst into a flame and lit up the path where we two nations, inclined towards each other, may meet and grasp closely our hands of friendship for ever and ever. And wonderfully enough, this duty imposed on me now has been my ardent wish all along, and the feelings therefore which I express are not manufactured by myself only for to-day and for the sake of my friends before whom I stand. Our Government which is indeed the true representative of tne feelings of our nation and the country of Iran, has selected me to carry out this object. Lest their pure intentions may ever be sought to be tainted with any doubt of some political object, perhaps their selection has falllen on a simple and retired student like my humble self to give my lectures and views in Dr. Tagore's University in Santiniketan on the culture of Iran. Consequently all along, my lectures have hitherto been and will be on the ethics, the literature and the history of ancient Persia, and at times with its literature after the Arab conquest too. And all throughout my only object bas been to place before my hearers the beautiful culture of Iran, right down from ancient times, and to show how the Persians have taken their due share in offering to mankind its civilization. Our present day civilization follows the civilization of ancient times and in the civilization of ancient times, tbe influence of Iran's ethical output is engraved on the tablets of Time. And indeed in my humble opinjon, this sort of sincere interpretation of each other's cultures before the two great nations of Iran and India, rather than political and economic discussions which have fed many a fiery feud between the closest of friends and brothers, is the best way to bring about harmonious relations between the two nations, Apart from the fact that I am not born for politics, I know positively that every single individual of my countrymen, will wisb.

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248 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June to establish closer relationship with the brothers in India of all races and creeds and not through the artificial and changing modes of politics and economy. He will prefer the sounder grounds on which we stand. A few months back, I read in some Journals that a former Minister of Turkey had come to India and had told his studience addressing one section of Indians only that contrary to what is being said in the papers, the Turks have never relaxed their religious fervour and and they are near to their brothers in India, because of this religious fervour they yet possess. TEIE HOLY BOND OF THE ARYAN BLOOD In my opinion the very fact that we belong to Asia is enough to prompt us to unite and join with each other in sincere friendship to resist the overpowering flood, political and economic of the West. 'l'his is the best argument that can be addressed to any Asian of whatever creed or religion. Consequently my words are addressed not to a part of the Indian nation but to one and all of the sons of this sacred soil. For indeed whether Musalmans or Hindoos, we count Indians as " Aryans '' of the same descent, and therefore our brothers. And if our Moslem brethren also held us dear from the point of view of religion too, so muc'1 the better. This is only natural, just as to some of our Persians themselves, Parsis and the followers of H. H. Aga Khan and the Bora eommunity seem to be nearer than the rest of the Indians. But if there is only one word which should endear all the various communities of India to the Iranians and vice versa, it is the word "Aryan", as much respected and loved in Iran as it is in India today. Leaving aside all question as to how much admixture of blood there is on the one side or the other, one thing is certain that we Iranians look upon Indians in the majority as of Aryan descent, and therefore our brothers. I will repeat and assert that the love of the Iranians and the Indians for each other and specially their common and ancient high culture, are heirlooms left to us by our forefathers which we have at present kept under lock and key in a safe, the precious value of which we have not been able to see and appreciate during the last one century in particular for various reasons. I repeat and assert that in the mutual appreciation of the portion of the old teasure each of us possesses, lies the stock of our friendship and, may I prophesy 1 our salvation. IRAN AND INDIA DRlFTlNG AWAY FROM EACH OTHER Our own individual difficulties, our pre•occupations and accidents of life during the last one century in tliese two sacred realms of ours, have

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1933] PERSIA AND INDIA 249 not permitted us even to exchange greetings between ourselves, two sister nations. Iran for over a century and a half was cruslied under the rule of the Kajjar dynasty. During their regime gradually the rank and position of Iran which the Safavis had last built up, were all lost; and ,the doors of misfortune were opened on the country from every side. During these times India made its connection with England and the contact of European civilization severed the connecting link between our two sister countries of Iran and India. The Persian language, which formed one of the strongest link of cultural and friendly contact be tween India and Iran, no more enjoyed the position it did during the time of the Moghul Emperors. Slowly but surely the two countries drift ed from each other, till today both of them know hardly anything well about each other. Most surprisingly I find that in India today, few people know about the right state of affairs in Persia. In the same way till recently, we Persians too, were not aware of the pulsating life of India. If accidentally we read some information about Iran in the papers, more often than not, it is far from the truth. My appeal therefore to all the Indians is to get at facts, to try to learn and study the soul and the culture of Persia as manifested in its advancement today, in order better to enable the two sister nations to be intimate friends. I read in the papers the message of Aga Abdulhussein Khan Forugi sent to all the Indians-Parsis, Moslems and Hindus-at the meeting of the Literary Society of Teheran an evening before the departure of Dr. Tagore and Mr. Dinshaw from Teheran, but as yet from no side what ever, except in Santiniketan, I have heard a corresponding response. Now let my brethren in India turn their eyes towards Iran and see what they have done during the last few years. I will tell you. IRAN1 s RECENT REVl VAL After a long long sleep the Iranians woke up and found that they had been left behind in the race. They bucked themselves up to recover the lost ground, and fortunately enough, God Almighty granted them a great man to be the leader of the caravan,-an embodiment of zeal, energy and self-respect, patriotic to the very core, the very incarnation of the Iranian spirit of heroism has been gifted to us. We thank God for the same. He has chosen for his Ministers the very best from his subjects and he ha-; placed in the hands of t!1ese educ:1.ted and enlightened sons of the soil the variom1 departments of Goy ernment. 'fhe wheels of the chariot of the state have been set well on the road and it is only a question of time when, God granting, the world will witness Iran reaching the goal of its desire. All the materiab,1

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250 . . THE IR!-N LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June necessary for the economic advancement of a country are ready at hanil in Persia. All the energy ann enthusiasm necessary for a nation are at pl'esent there. National feelings and patriotism which alone can prove to be the salvation of a country are present, and far from what some foofo;h writers think, by employing the means and materials at her own hand, by the exertions of its own labour ers au
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1933] PERSIA AND INDIA 251 degenerated until it was on the point of being wiped off a few decades ago. But this degrading and terrible age too came to an end after the great war, and for the fifth time in its long history of thoui,ands of years, by the help and guidance of its powerful leader and patriot H. I. M. Rezashah Pahlavi, Persia has definitely revived and is opening the shining doors of its ancient grandeur. Let the results show that Iran is an old old tree which the terrific storms of life are unable to uproot. Autumns may shed its leaves, winter deprive it of fruit, but spring time comes again and again with green foliage and luscious fruit. The progress Persia has made during the last seven years gives us every hope that what position we had lost we are regaining and will regain completely. ANCIENT AND MODERN FELLOWSHIP I often wonder why India knows so little about Iran. Pe1haps India's preoccupations about her own affairs and the fact that we are very much backw;1rd in the Western methods of propaganda may be the case of this ignorance. For this reason how well it was that last year one of India's greatest sons Dr. Rabindranath Tagore visited Iran and with his own eyes saw things, about which you have recently heard and read something. This must have proved to you that the old old blood of the Iranians still flows in their veins and I hope messages of the recent visitors have delighted the hearts of our brother Aryans on this side of the Indus. For you can be sure that over the other side we Iranians look with great satisfaction over the awakening that has come over this land. We love your great men Gandhi and Tagore and we wish from all our hearts that India may take steady and rational steps towards being a great and self-governing nation. You will please remember that this fellow-feeling amongst us is very natural when we remember that a big part of our own Aryan race are the residents of our neighbouring land India. I, who have passed half of my life in Europe at the centres of European civilization and culture, can assure you that the four years of my stay in India I consider one of the most valuable portions of my life, for the spiritual and moral instruction I have received here, about the ancient wisdom of the East, both Iranian and Indian. At Dr. Tagore's University where I have come in contact with cultural Indians I have been impressed both by their ideals as by their simplicity and tolerance. Following the foot-steps of a great predecessor of mine centuries ago, I hope I may be able in the future to place the materials I have gathered about India and the Indians in the form of a volume before my own country-

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252 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June men in Persia and thereby forge a sma1l link in the chain of friendship and brotherhooa we are seeking to forge, for the time is ripe for our close friendship. It is time that we two great neighbours should understand each other well. It is time that we should hold each other's hand of friendship and co-operate with each other, both for the welfare of our spiritual and material existence. For that reason quite in a friendly spirit, let us learn each other's languages, each other's history and each other's religions and cultures, as we have done from times of old. History tells us that in the times of Darius the Great in the 6th century B.C. a part of India was the part of the Iranian Empire. Hero dotus tells us how " The Indians wore cotton dresses and carried bows of cane and arrows also of cane with iron heads. Such was the equipment of the Indians and they marched under the command of Phernazethres, the son of Artabates". (7, 65.) Again Herodotus in Book III speaks about the tributes from every country or satrapy that were paid annually into the Iranian treasury by them. In para 94 he speaks about the Indian tribute this way:-" The Indians who are more numerous than any other nation with which we are acquainted, paid a tribute exceeding that of every other people, to wit, three hundred and sixty talents of gold-dust. '!'his was the twentieth satra PY." If I were to give quotations and proofs about the inter-relations of India and Iran, it would make an essay in itself. I therefore quote only a few passages showing how the Iranians and the Indians were the branches of the same family. This will show that the Indians and the Iranians formed one group centuries before, and only history gave them separate names from the two different places they began to inhabit. From the Indo-European race these two branches claiming the same one origin and stock, have their sacred literatures which are the most convincing proofs of their unity; and I shall just refer to them. AmYANA VAE,TA OR IRAN Vr:.1 To the Indo-Europeans the Vedas of the Hindus and the Avesta of the Iranians are like the Torah to the Semitic races; these are all the oldest scriptural documents in the whole world. The Hindus and the Iranians both called themselves Aryans. The word Aryan means noble. We read in the Rig-Veda that the Hindus who came from Indus and Punjab and fought with the old inhabitants of this land called this aboriginal people Dasa, and meaning savage or enemy, and in order to distinguish themselves from them theyc alled themselves Aryans. Accord-

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1988] PERSIA AND INDIA 253 illg to the in1 ormation we gather from Herodotus (7, 62), in the eighth century befcre Christ the people of Media in Western Iran, where they, formed their :fir,St kingdom, were generally called Aryans. The great Achaemenian emperor Darius who flourished in the sixth century before Christ, in his inscriptions of Nakshe-Rustom in South Persia said with great pride: "I am Darius, the Great King, the King of Kings, the King of many Kingdoms ano Races, the King of this great and vast land, the Son of Visbtasp (Hystaspes), the Hakhamanian, a Persian, the son of a Persian, an Aryan, o:f Aryan descent." The Iranians after separating from the Hindus gave their name to the land which they conquered and that land was calle
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254 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June and translated it word for word into Sanskrit as follows :.\ur&,..uc ... .... u,i...,ll' ,;(h~,...,~ U~6
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1933] PERSIA AND INDIA 255 beautiful horses; and that is purely an Iranian trait. 'l'he A vesta and the Vedas are tlie monuments to the two Aryan brothers. Even to-day, after many thousands of years, we are able to understand the feelings and thoughts of our renowned ancestors. These two books are quite :free from the pollution of Politics and Economics of the last centuries, and are only the unique and holy heritage of the sayings of heart relations of the ancient Iranians and the Indians which have come down to us. THE DIVERGENCE rn D1sPosrrroNs CAUSED BY DIFFERENT HoMEB To-day we cannot say witl1 certainty at what place we Indians and Iranians stayed together in olden times and when we separated from each other. I will not enter into this subject and waste my time by hypothetical speculations. Some of the historians conjecture that the appearance of holy Zarathushtra and the promulgation of his new religion were the causes of the separation of the Indians and the Iranians. We cannot pay any attention to this baseless hypothesis. This is certainly without doubt that it was only after the separation and after the Iranians had settled in Iran, that the holy Prophet Zarathushtra appeared. (In a separate paper I hope to speak about the age of Zarathushtra.) Looking into the books of the A vesta and the Vedas we find that there is a close resemblance between the Hindus and the Iranians in every thing. But when we look into the histories of the later times, we see a diffe rence between the character of these two peoples. These differences are shown to be the influences of the climate of their respective countries. 'l'he Hindus after their emigration to the shores of the Indus and into the plains of the Punjab, had gradually occupied the whole of India. The place of their sojourn was very hot and full of w a,ter, and the land was very fertile, so that for existence they had not to toil very hard and they could get all the necessaries of life in abundance and easily. In this land of abundance and rest they became thinkers and meditators. On the other hand the Iranians who migrated to the plains o:f Oxus (-Amu-darya) and J axartes (-Sir Darya), and who gradually spread over the whole of Iranian tableland, were in a waterless and dry country. They had to suffer a very hot summer and a freezing winter. 'fhey were forced to fight:hard and labour for their livelihood. This hard land and nature's obstructions made them valiant warriors. This hardness of life made them heroic and firm. The valour and .steadfastness of the Iranians and their glorious suzerainty over a large portion of the world, were results of the haru conditions of their land~

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256 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY 'rHE NAME " Hrnn '' GIVEN BY IaAN The Indians too gave the nameof Arya Vartta to whichever of lands they emigrated to, also calling it Bharatavarsha or Bharatbhumi. The name Hind or Hindustan by which India is more commonly known to-day, has been adopted from the name given to their country by the Iranians. At four places in the Avesta, we find reference to the weird "Hind", In Vendidad Fgd. 1, 18, in Yasna 57, 29, in the Tir Yas11t, 32, and the Meher Y asht, 104, the name "Hindu " is used, and that practiee was .followecl in the Achaemenian Persian times too. Darius the Great, in his inscriptions at Naksh-e Rustom, whilst recounting the countries he had conquered, mentions the same name Hindu which is the Indus of the Greeks. It is the Iranian form of Sindhu or Indus which is known till to-day. The Indians first having settled round about the river Indus in the Punjab and thence migrated to the Gangetic Plains, the whole dominion occupied by them came to be known by the Iranians as" Hind ". Till this day the same name is retained by our Hindu broLhers. In short, the Aves ta and the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of the Iranians and the Indians, are the best and the most sacred evidence of the unity of the two races in the ancient times. H will be profitable to mention here all the passages that wefind regarding India in Avesta. In the first chapter of Vendidad where 16 countries are mentioned, at one place India is mentioned too. The paragraph 18 of the same chapter run:s thus:.;_" The :fifteenth best i P ARSIS: _ A PEOPLE OF THE BOOK. t[;:.r.~ ::] By Prof. REzw1, M;A, .. ,..@ [!j~j ~n.interesting stud! of th. e. Zoroast~ian religion in the light f. j or Biblical and Quramc teachings. Highly spoken of by eminent ~ scholars of India and Europe. To be had of the Manager, 1 The Moslem Chronicle, 6, Hastings street, Caleutta, and the j Iran League, at Kamar Bldg., Cawasji Patel Str., Fort, Bombay. 1 Price Rs~ 3 (Board), Rs. 2-8 (Paper), -••. -~~.~--. .~+r• . . ~+r .. ._ .~tr• .. • .. ~t~-. .T~tr Tlf+r .•-'Itr•. ;~+r. ••

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1933] PER:3IA AND INDIA 257 place and country tliat I Ahura Mazda created was "Seven Hindu'' but Angra-Mainyu full of harm created there, in opposition, unnatural menstruation and unnatural heat." Implicitly, the Avesta word Hapt Hindu is equivalent to tlrn Sanskrit Sapta-Sindhva that is the Indus land. Yasna 57 is the chapter of the Srosh Yasht, dedicated to Srosha, the angel of obedience. In its paragraph 2 is said " If the fiend be in the East in India or in the West, the holy Sraosha will find it out and seize it.'' The Tir Yasht is the 8th Yasht and is dedicated to the star Tishtriya or the star of rain which is identified with Sirius. In this gorgeous piece of literature the Angel of Rain fights with Apaosha, the demon of draught, and after a dramatic and glorious battle the demon of draught is vanquished and then the rain clouds rise from the mountains in India and there is abundance of rain and plenty (Tir Yasht, paragraph 32). In paragraph 104 of the Meher Y asht, which is devoted to l\fithra, the Angel of Truth, Light and Promise, it is said: '' Mithra with his long arm overtakes and seizes the promise breakers, even if they are as far away as in India in the East or in the West. '' I have many things to say, but for to-day this will suffice. And in conclusion I will pray to Spenta .Aramaitit-he Spirit of Love of the ancient Iranians, and to Radha-the Godd esss of Love of the Indians, who are no personal spirits, but merely represent the abstract concept of love in the One Supreme Being, that the old and precious fire of Love and Friendship between the Indians arid the Iranians may again flare up into a flame in the hearts of the members of our two sister nations. For, I assure you this fire will never scorch you. This fire will only cleanse our hearts and let the puregold tliat lies therein, be seeri by each other.

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CONVERSION FROM THE VIEWPOIN1' OF ZOROASTRIANISM• On Monday, the 7th July, Mr. Sohrab J. Bulsara, our Editor, gave the following Discourse before members of the Bombay International Ii,ellowship, at the Church of Scotland Mission, Gowalia Tank Road, Bombay:-ALL RELlGlONS WHICH "PREACH RlGHTEOUSNESS ARE ZARATRUSRTRIAN With the Religion of Zarathushtra, the subject of Conversion 1educes itself to a simple problem. It does not become a matter between Religion and Religion, because before Zarathushtra came there was no proper religion in the world in that most ancient past. What we know of the religions of such ancient peoples as the Chaldaeans or the Egyptians proves this; and it is also plain from the account of the early events of Zaratliushtra 's holy life, that as regards the Iranian society itself too, though it was ordered, virtuous and good innately, it was subject to the domination o.f a corrupt priesthood which played upon the pious mentality of the people to gain their own ends and to maintain their influence in life. It is all a noble affair therefore, to find little Zarathushtra resisting this order with courage and determination, and overcoming its prolonged and stubborn opposition by an attitude of supreme holiness, rectitude and divine love, for he preached the Religion of Wisdom, Divine Love and Righteousness. And thus he and his apostles spread his noble faith in all Iran and Turan, and elsewhere in the wor}d. Hence the struggle between the holy faith of Zarathnshtra and the beliefs exsting in the world when he came, was not between one religion and another, but was between Religion and Superstition. The holy effort starter! by him has never ceased; and though set-backH have not been rare in the course of the great millenniums that have succeeded him, the holy faith of Righteousness which he initiated and so well expounded, has steadily been advancing in the Universe. Other religions have arisen since, and in ignorance of the holy tenets and teachings of the noble faith of Zarathushtra, some had pitched .x, At its close, an English lady from the audience rai1ed the significant questions, "What have your people been doing for your boys aud girle, when you have got thoea beautiful t.bings in your religion ?" " Wha.t ~re the people in your teioples doing ?"

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1938] OONVERBION IN ZOROASTRIANISM 259 themselves in opposition to it. The error of such attitude has not only been seen by later researches in that holy faith, but will also be realized from a few passages of the Holy Gathas we shall be examining this evening. Indeed all faiths that preach and maintain righteousness, preach and maintain the holy faith of Zarathushtra and their mission is Zarathushtrian. NOBLE ZARA1'HUSHTRIAN INFLUENCES It is significant that while Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam used political help in propating themselves, the great Zarathushtrian empires encouraged nothing of that sort. Even the Sasanians confined them selves to protecting the Church against alien aggression. Rather, these great empires consistently maintained a benevolent attitude towards the subject nations, and a noble Cyrus or a great Darius building the temples of the Babylonians, the Israelites or the Egyptians, or a wise Chosroe defending Greek philos0phy, are not rare instances in the history of Iran. But it seems that under the great Achaemenian Empire, an independent Zarathushtrian Church had carried on a peace ful and benevolent propaganda for the spread of the religion of Light and Truth, and Justice, Duty and Love; and in the shape of Mithraism it spread far and wide in the world. Foreign accreHons however spoiled it to a certain extent. Still it took so firm a hold of the Roman world that it was after a hard struggle that Christianity with its simpler creed supervened it. But Christianity had to make compromises and ac'!opt some of its delightful festivals and creed from that earlier faith to get the people rec•mciled to it. The noblest festivals of Christendom, Christmas and Easter, are Mithraic and therefore Zarathushtrian, for, originally and truly these represent the Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox celebra tions of the Mazdeans, for Mithra's periodic birth and for his assump tion, a season later, of the full splendour of the Vernal Glory of the Uni verse over which he ruled and which was symbolized in his Divine Waggon of later Mystfoism. The mystic phase of Mithraism is still perhaps preserved in such semi-mystic creeds, as of Freemasonry, as a cemparison of these would show to the most cursory inquirer. So we repeat that all faiths that have succeeded Zarathushtra's, and arc maintaining the Faith of Righteousness, arc carrying on Ms divine mission, and to see that clearly we s'iall pass on now to some of his glorious teachinjits,

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260 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUAI\~ERLY ZA BATRUBHTRA 's HOLY GosPEL LJune The holy faith of Zarathushtra Is caned the Right and True Philosophy.I And Zarathushtra preaches the Rellglon of Righteousness by means of Love, Reason and Persuasion. And so he saY.s:"Being enlightened through Good Mind's help and guidance, And realizing in the Soul's illumined vision the Exalted State of the Supreme Lord, the Beneficent Father, And listening to the Holy Inner Voice which speaks of the Highest Wisdom of the Lord,-0 Righteousness ! How great do I find Thee! And so are we most impelled to bring to the Holy Faith even the worst of sinners, By means of the Great Word of Illumined Reason, and the per,;uasion of gentle and convincing tongue. "2 Zarathushtra's mission Is for spreading Gladness In th• Unlvers~, and so he prays:" oiering Thee my most humble Homage, And praying to Thee in highest Aspiration of the Soal, I . beseech Thee Lord! to grant me The Supreme portion of the Heavenly Joy which belongs to Thy Most Holy and Be~eficent Spirit, 0 Wisest one ! And the power to fulfil all actions which Righteousness f:'pproves, And the Wisdom of the truthful and affectionate GQod Mind; That herewith may I spread Gladness in the Universe, And Joy in all its Souls !"3 And he is convinced of the Tr-uth and Greatness of his Mission, beoausa the Holy Gospel has been Imparted to Zarathushtra by th" Just, Good "ni;I Wise Lord:-" The most exalted Blessing should be His Who as the Ever Knowing One, would expound to me The Holy Gospel of Righteousness, That would lead to the blessings of Univers a l Consciousness and Eternal knowledge. 1 R11zishtiim Chistlm. 2 Yama XXVHI, 6. 3 Y~IDB XXVIII, 1. I j , t i ; ) . , ; 1 ;

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1938] CONVEBBION IN ZOBOABTBIANIBM 261 To the Wisest Lord belongs that Divine Power in the Holy Kingdom, that has been advanced by Hiin by niean.s of the Virtuot1s Reason and the power of Divine Love and Goodness. "1 And this Is how the Kingdom of Heaven Is fulfllled by this Holy Gospel:-" Most knowing Lord ! Declare unto me the Most Excellent Teachings and Doings Which would be the debt of the Glorifier to be discharged by the Pure Reason and Good Mind's Loving Effort, and by means of Righteousness. Of this I am convinced That through the power of Your Holy Kingdom And according to Your Heavenly Wish Would you be rendering Fresh and True all Existence.''2 So again, the promulgatlon of the Holy Faith of Zarathushtra spreads blesslngs In the Universe: for, It Is said:-" When are.appearing O Wisest! the Enligliteners of the Days for upholding the Life of Righteousness, by help of the efficient teachings of the Wisdom o:f the Benefactors of the Universe? For rendering help unto what people would one such as these arrive with the Love and Blessings of the Pure Reason and the Virtuous Good Mind 1 I would rather choose Thee my Lord! As Instructor for my People.' '3 Now that Zarathushtra had realised the blesslngs of Righteousness, the heavenly oharlty whloh abode In his bosom led him to resolve to preaoh them to mankind:-" I who would devote my soul to the Divine Symphony of the Heavenly Blessing By means of the Pure Reason and the Affection and Power of tlie Good Mind, And have been knowing well the Blessings of the Deeds of the Lord Who is the Wisest One, As long as I have the will and power, So long will I teach the World to aspire after Righteousness! "4 1 Y esne. XXXI, 6. ' Ya1na XXVI11, 4. 2 Ya1na XXXIV, 15, 3 Yesna XLVI, 3,

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262 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [JunB And Zarathushtra's holy resolve had the Divine Sanotlon, for, he had been appointed tc the Holy Mission by the Wise Lord God Himself:-" As with such beliefs you have not held :firm in the Soul the doubtless and superior Virtues, So do I come unto ye all as the spiritual lord Whom God, the Wisest One, hath chosen over both the good and wicked people to lead, That according to Righteousness may we all Jive !"1 In order that there may be no erring In the dlsoharge of his Holy Mission, Zarathushtra seeks 1nstruotlon from the Lord Himself:-" What is Thy Holy Decree? What desirest Thou ? What about the Glorifier, or what about devoted Worship? Tell me that Lord, Thou Wisest One! That the blessings of Thy Holy Ordinances be gained (by all). Instruct us by means 01 Righteousness in the very paths of Purest Reason and of Good Mind's serenest Thought.' '2 And Zarathushtra seeks manifest sign of Heavenly Joy of the believer, and the Holy Canon for him, that his ~reaohlng of the Holy Faith may win all souls to It:" Grant Thou, 0 Holy Spirit! by means of the soul's holy :fervour, And by Righteousness point out to both the good and the erring people, The joy of heavenly and happy acumen! And what would be as holy Canon for the discreet .That with the tongue of Thy own mouth tell us for Enlightenment, That therewith may we bring all the living to Faith. "3 The Holy Faith which Zarathushtra preaohes Is for all, and without distinction, to bring them eternal Salvatlon and Happiness:" What is your Holy Command 1 What is Your Wish in regard to doings by which I may prove my devoted friendship of You, and afford asylum and help to Your Poor by the means of Righteousness and Virtue, and Love and Goo,lness? We on our part announce Your Greatness and Glory before all mankind, whether they be misguided deceivers, l Ye.ena XXXI, 2. 2 Yaena XXXIV, 12. 3 "Yaane. XXXI, 3; see also Yasna XXVIII, 5.

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1933] CONVERSION IN ZOROAS'rBIANISM 263 despised sinners or men of innocence!' '1 And this Holy Faith announces to the world, the Love of God, and ths ways of finding Divine Truth:-" I ardently declare my sublime love of You, 0 Wisest! And Holiness announces ways for culling divine Truth with the Mind of Your Perfect Wisdom, So that we may sing glories of that l!,aith which is Yours, O Lord!' ;z This Holy Faith Zarathushtra offers to mankind to bs aooepted, not on mare authority, but by Individual, free and intelligent oholoe:-" Listen and pay heed unto the Most ExceJlent Things I announce, And with radiant mind visualize those canons of the Holy Faith, which men have to adopt by free and indivi
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ANCIENT iRAN ITS CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN PROGRESS IRAN AND INDIA: EARLY ASSOCIATIONS . OF A COMMON HOME (Continued from p. 179, Vol. Ill, No. 3, AP1•il 1933.) Both the religions held Fire to be very sacred. The Hindus kept their Fire in what they called Agnyagar or Fire-houses; and this name has been corrupted by the Parsis into the modern Gujarati Agiari which is the name they use for their smaller Fire Temples.1 In mythology too there was a great deal of similarity, for we find that the heroes of both these nations are identical.2 Yama of the Hindus is Yima (Jamshed) of the Iranians. Kavi Ushana of the Hindus corresponds to Kavi Ushan (Kai Kaus of the Kayanian dynasty) of the Iranians. And the A vesta Thrita is the same as the Vedic 'frita. Thus, in brief, we have seen that the ancient Iranians and Indians at one time lived together in one place as brothers and had identical religious beliefs and customs. But a time came when they disagreed over some points and this led to the brothers of one time being separat ed now. The schism. we are told, was due to an eccmomic as well as religious cause. For want of food supply for their increasing population, the Iranians and the Indians left their home in Central Asia in search of it. They went from one place to another till at last the Iranians decided to settle in Iran and go no further. But the Brahmanical tribes disagreed and they separated from the Iranians, continued their nomadic life and at last settled in the Punjab. From this onwards, the Iranians lived and flourished in Iran and the Indians made India their permanent home. The other cause of the schism is suggested by Dr. J. J. l\fodi. According to him at first both the Iranians and the Indians believed that there was Law as well as War in nature La.w because everything moves on this earth according to the Divine La.w, and War because in nature we find a constant struggle between the good and the evil. But after some time the Hindus did not 1 Hodivala, ludo-Iranian Religion, p. 61, Z Ibid. pp. 125 lf; also Modi, Dante Papers, p, 96,

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1933] ANOIENT IRAN : ITS CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN PROGRESS 260 continue to believe in this notion and thus the two separated.1 That the Iranians believed in this notion even after the separation can be seen from the fact that Zoroastrianism itself is based on the belief that the world moves on in accordance with God's will, and that still there is a constant fight between the good and the evil, and that to come out victorious from this fight man must practise good thoughts, good words and good deeds, the chief principles on which Zoroastrianism is b&sed. 'fhe split which thus arose among the Iranians and the Indians did not fail to have its influence on their beliefs. Both the people, being in something like a state of hostility, either side despised the good things of the other. The name' Deva '2 was used to indicate God by both the nations, but after the schism the Hindus alone retained this meaning of Deva, whereas the Iranians attached an adverse meaning to it and hence we see that in the whole Avesta the word Deva stands for an evil power or being, and not God. As an answer to this party word of Deva meaning God among the Hindus, the Iranians chose the name Ahura their God. But this party word of the Iranians, as it were, was translated by the Hindus to mean an evil power or being and not God, for we see that Asura in the Vedas stands for the Devii. Hence both sides had their party words, the Hindus having their Deva and the Iranians their Ahura, which among the opposite side had a bad distorted. meaning.3 Besides these, we find from the Avesta4 that Indra too had gained a bad meaning among the Iranians, whereas among the Hindu deities it holds a high place. IBANlAN NAME OF THE NEW HINDU HOME Leaving behind the discussion of the traditional period, we now come to surer grounds. The very first fact which will strike a student of hiHtory is that the name itself of this vast country of India is not an indigenous name, but a name given to her by an outside people. It may seen strange, but nevertheless it is true, that it was the Iranian nation who gave to India its present name: India is referred to in the A vesta of the Parsis as Hapta Hindu while in the Vedas it is called Sapta Sindhu ; hence according to the Vedas it should hMe been called Sindhusthana and not Hindustan as it is done. l Modi, Dante Papers, pp. 93, 97. 2 The A vest a Daeva, and the Sanskrit Deva are the l wo Aryan words and they are the roots of Latin Deus, French Dieu, Lithuanian Devas and English Deity, all meaning God. 3 Hodivala, Indo-Iranian Religion, p. 38, 4 Vendidad, XIX-48.

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266 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY tJunc India is referred to in the Avesta in the following places :-(1) Sarosh Yasht, (2) Meher Yasht, (3) Tir Yasht, and (4) The Vendidad. In the Sarosh Yasht1 we read that Sarosh-the Yazata or Angel of Obedience-is represented as going in his chariot from the East to the West, and there India is taken as the Eastern boundary of Iran and Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, is taken to be the Western boundary of Iran. The pas3age contains these words, " ...... who goes from Hindustan in the East to Nineveh in the West." 'l'he second reference to India in the Avesta is in the Meher Yasht. There Mithra, the Yazata or Angel of Light or Truthfulness, is said to help those who adhere truthfully to their promise, whether these persons who ask his help are in India or in Nineveh. 'rhe passage runs thus:" We invoke Mithra of wide pastures ...... , whose extended arms help that person who adheres to his promise, whether such person be in Hindustan in the East or in Nineveh in the West."2 The other reference we find in the Tir Yasht. 'rhe Tistrya Yazata is the angel presiding over rain and so regarding the vapour which forms rain we are told : " Then vapour arises from the Mount Hindu."3 But of all these references the one in the Vendidad is of the greatest importance. In the first chapter of the Vendidad we have a list of 16 countries which belonged to Iran and where one by one Zoroas trianism is said to have spread. The fifteenth of these sixteen coun tries is India and we read:" I, Who am Ahura Mazda, created as the fifteenth best place and country, Hapta Hindu, which extends from the East of the Hindu (the Indus) up to the West of the Hindu. 'l'hen, the evil spirit created therein, as a counter-act (against Ahura Mazda), excessive menstruation and excessive heat."4 We learn from this passage that the country of India was called Hapta Hindu, that there was excessive heat in India and consequently there was early menstruation among the women of India. We know from personal experience that India even to-day is a hot country and students of physiology will tell you that in a hot climate women menstruate earlier than in a cold climate like England, and that even to-day Indian women have to experience menstruation earlier than the women of England or other cold countries. But the point of the utmost importance its that India was known to the Iraniaus as Hapta Hindu. 'rhis Hapta. Hindu of 1 Sarosh Yaeht, Yasna LVIl-::!9. 2 Meher Yasht, 104. 3 Tir Yasht, 32. 4 Vendidad, 1-HI.

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1933] ANCIENT IllAN: ITS CONTRJEUTION TO BUMAN PROGRESS 267 the Vendidad is the Sapta Sindhu of the Vedas,1 because the Punjab had in old days seven principal rivers including the Indus, running through it, as they are even today, and not five as was erroneously thought by the Mahomedans who gave it the name of the Punfab (i.e. the land of five rivers).2 The Punjab had seven rivers in old age running through it and so the land watered by those rivers came to be known as Hapta (seven) Hindu or Sapta (seven) Sindhu. Gradually the word for seven was dropped and the Punfab came to be known only as Hindu stan, the land of the Hindu River. As time went on, this name of Hindustan began to be applied to a vaster territory than merely the Punjab and so the whole of India came to be known as Hindustan. Hence, it sounds ridiculous, but still it is a fact, that India got her name not from the Indians but from the Iranians, for according to the Vedas of the Hindus and the word Sapta Sindhu therein, India should have been called Sindhusthana, which is not the case, whereas its name of Hindustan is derived from the Avesta word Hapta Hindu. We know that the river Indus has preserved its old Vedic name of Sindhu and has not taken the Iranian name of Hindu. But with regard to the name of the country, since its indigenous Vedic name should have been Sindhusthana, we see that it has taken the Iranian name Hindustan. The matter does not end here. Not only did the Iranians give to Indians, the name cf Hindustan for their country but following the Iranians, the other nations also called it Hindustan and not Sindhusthana. As Rawlinson says, it was the Iranian nation that gave the name 'Indus' (Indian Sindhu river) and 'Indians' to the Greeks. He says, " It is interesting to notice that the Greeks talked of the 'lndus' and' Indians' whereas the inhabitants of the country itself spoke of 'Sindhu' and ' Sindhava.' Later travellers noticed this with surprise. ' Indus incolis Sindus appelatus est' (Indus is called Sindhu 1 The Rig Veda, Bk. IV-28. 2 Vide The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I, p. 345 n 1. The seven rivers are:-Sindhu. Vitaeta. Vedic Name. Aeikani (later Chandrabaga). Parusbni (later Iravati). Vipae (later Vipasa). Sutudbri, Kubb.11. 0-reek Name. Indus. Hydaspes. Akesines. Hydraote!. Hyphe.sis. Heaydrus. Oop~•D. Modern Name. Iodus. Jhelum. Ohinab. Ravi. Bias. Sutlej. Kabu\.

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268 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [June by the Indians) says Pliny, and the author of the Periplus says that the river is locally called Sint.hus. The Persians softened the initial 's' to ' h ' (A vest.a word is Hindu) ; the Ionians having no aspirate, made the word into lndus. The word reached Greece through Persia.' '1 We may add that the word not only reached Greece, but it has reached the whole world today, through ancient Iran. INFLUENCE OF INDIA OVER THE PARSIS Having seen that it was Iran that gave the very name of their country to the Indians, we shall presently review the di:fferent depart ments in which Iran had her influence over India. In doing so we cannot deny the influence of India over Iran. But since that is not our task we shall not touch it at length, but merely mention that, as seen before, India gave to Iran, for instance, the game of chess. Just as there was a powerful influence over India there was a counter influence over Iran too though that was not so powerful as the first. And indeed it was an irony of fate that the followers of the powerful Achremenian and Saseanian Emperors, who exercised such vast influence over India in the periods preceding and following the birth of Christ, were themselves to be influenced by India when at the time of the Arab conquest in the seventh century A.D. they were driven from Iran and obliged to find a shelter in India, The Parsis, who left their home and country then, to save their religion from destruction, came to Sanjan amid hardships in 716 .A.D. ,Jadi Rana (Vijya-Ditya), King of Sanfan, gave shelter to the Parsis and among the conditions imposed upon them were these, that they were to give up their language and adopt that of the Rana, that they should perform their marriage ceremonies, as the Hindus did, in the evening instead of in the morning and that their womenfolk should put on the Indian Saree and not the old Iranian dress.2 All these conditions were faithfully kept and we see that today the Parsis speak Gujarati, the language of the province of their first settlement, that their ladies have since then put on Saree and that their marriage ceremonies are being performed in the evening, ']'his influence over the Parsis was a forced one. But we see that in some of their customs there has been a natural and voluntary influence of India. As an example of this may be mentioned the red pigment mark made on important occasions among the Parsis on the forehead of both men and women in whose connection the occasion is cele-1 Rawlinson, lntercourse between India and Western World, p. 29, 2 Bodivala, Parsis of Ancient India, p. 69,

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1933] ANOIENT IRAN : ITS CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN PROGRESS 269 bra.ted. In this survivies the old Hindu custom when on an important celebration or occasion a sacrifice was made to avert all evil and the blood of the sacrificed animal was then applied to the forehead of the person concerned in the celebration. Gradually the sacrifice stopped and the blood of the animal gave way to red pigment. It was only in the application of the pigment that the Parsis borrowed the Hindu custom. In the case of a male the mark made on the forehead is a long one while in the case of the female it is a small round one-the first to show that the man is compared to the long rays of the sun as is done by the Hindus, for he is regarded to be active as the sun, while the woman is compared to the moon which owes its light to the sun, in which role shines the man in Hindu conception. We can also trace several other influences which India has exercised over the Iranians. But we will only mention one or two more and then resume our examination of Iranian influence over India. As we have seen, the Parsi ladies of India have come to regard the Saree as their national dre>os, although it formerly belonged to the Hindus. But with regard to men, even though not obliged by the conditions of .J adi Rana, we are told that nearly a quarter of a century ago there were many Parsis in Gujarat who put on 'Dhoti' imtead of the' Pyjama', being influenced by the Hindus in that habit. Nay, if one goes to some old village on the Tapti-Valley Railway line he will see even today that many Parsis do not put on their national black head-dress of ' Paghdi ' or 'Fenta', but put on the red Hindu turban. All this is_ owing to the influence which India has exercised over the Parsis. Being surrounded on all sides by none but the Hindus, there was no alternative for them but to gradually adopt the customs and manners of the Hindus. It was just in the same way that the Indians too were influenced by Iran in old days, because the powerful Achre menian and Sassanian Empires of Iran could not fail to exercisa their influence on the country which was not far from theirs. SOME EVENTS OF PREHISTORIC PERIOD Before dealing with the contact of India and Iran in the Achremenian days it will be profitable to see what connection there was between them before that date, beside that in the matters of religion which we have already seen. In this examination the works of two Mahomedan writers will be of help to us; they are Firdawsithe Homer of Persia-and Ab11l Fazal, the learned minis;ter of Akbar the Great.

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270 THE IRAN LEAGUE QUARTERLY [Jun6 Mentioning the Iranians who came to India from the beginning of creation, Abul Fazal begins with King Hoshang of the Peshdadian Dynasty, son of Siyamak and grandson of Kayomars, who was the first to whom the name of sovereign was applied. According to Abul Fazal be was the author of the" Eternal Wisdom," the fruit of his mature experience.1 Next to Hoshang was Jamshed, son of Tahmuras. When this king was pufted up with pride and proclaimed himself God, his subjects got disgusted with him and invited Zohak, the Syrian prince, the descendant of Shedad, to rule over them. J amshed was pursued by the followers of Zohak and he there fore escaped from Iran to Seistan and India. While in India be was on the point of being discovered and therefore he set out for China by way of Bengal, but was murdered by the followers of Zohak on the way.2 The third king of Iran to visit India was Zohak, son of Mardas. He visited India several times, the last being when he was defeated by Faredun and escaped to India.3 Then, according to Firdawsi, Faredun was the next Iranian to come to India. One night Zohak saw a dream which was interpreted as follows: A child named Faridun would be born to the pious Abtin and his wife Faranak, and he would be brought up on the milk of a cow named Purmaeh. It would be this child who would kill Zohak. Thereupon Zohak sent for Abtin and he was killed, and coming to know of the cow Purmaeh he had it also killed. But then Faridun's mother Faranak did not lose courage, but said, "Now from this land of magic I must flee, And bear him oft to Hindustan with me. "4 Thus, Faridun came to India in his youth with his mother. Then came Garshasp (Kershasp) the last king of the Peshdadian Dynasty.5 Isf andyar followed him to propagate the religion of Zoroaster in 1 Abul Faze.I, Ain-i•Akbari, tr. by Jarret, Vol. III, p. 325. 2 Ibid. pp. 327-328, 3 Ibid. p. 328. 4 Firdawsi, The Shah-Namah, by Rogers, p. 38. 5 Abul Fazal, Aini-Akbari, tr, b;y Janet, Vol. III, p. 328. J(. WAD I A, PH, NO, 42483-DIAMOND MERCHANT, GRANT ROAD, BOMBAY.

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19331 ANOIENT IRAN: ITS CONTRIBUTION TO BUMAN PROGRESS 271 India in obedience to the command of his father, King Gushtasp.1 Nariman, son of Kershasp, Sam, son of Nariman, Zal, son of Sam, Faramroz, son of Rustam, and Bahman, son of Isfandyar, also came to India.2 But all these personages of Iran came to India in the prehistoric times of which we have little or no authentic information, save that derived from tradition. We now come to the historic period whence Iran and India both commence their true history, the period beginning from the sixth century before Christ. INDIA AS A PROVINCE OF IRAN It was Darius who first conquered the North-West of India, his predecessor Cyrus having come as far as Gandhara only. The Behistun inscription, cut on a rock 1,700 feet high and which contains nearly a thousand lines, does not mention India but only speaks of Gandhara as one of the provinces under the rule of Darius.3 But the inscription of Darius on the wall of his palace at Persepolis says that India formed a part of his dominion. The inscription on his tomb at Nakshi Rustam too mentions the name of India as the province which Darius conquered.5 His Persepolis inscription reads thus: "I am Darius the great king, king of kings, king of many countries, the son of Hystaspes, the Achrnmenide. Says Darius the king by the grace of Ahura Mazda these are the provinces which I subdued with the help of the Persian army and which feared me and brought me tribute. Uvaja, Media, Babylon, Arabia, Assyria, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Sparda, Ionia, which are of the dry land and which are of the sea, the provinces which are in the East, Sagartia, Parthia, Zaranka, Haraiva, Bactria, Sugda, Uvarazamiya, Thatagus, Harauvatis, India, Gandhara, Saka, Maka."3 Thus it follows that India was conquered by Darius immediately after 517 B.C. when the Behistun inscription was cut, because it is mentioned both in the Nakshi Rustam and Persepolis inscriptions as a province of Iran. (To be continued). 1 Abul Fazal, Ain-i-Akba.ri, tr. by Jarret, Vol. III, pp, 328-329. 2 Ibid, p. 329. 3 Tolman, Guide to Old Persian Inscriptions, p. 118. 4 Ibid. p. 147. 5 Ibtd. p. 144.

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DOKHT ARELORE THE FIRST ALL-TALKING-SINGING PERSIAN FILM RELEASED IN BOMBAY UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF H. E. THE CONSUL FOR PERSIA IN BOMBAY At a time when the talkies in general have only recently begun to hold the field all over the civilised world as a highly scientific and edu cative form of public entertainment, the appearance of an all-talking Persian film in Bombay is a distinct matter for thanksgiving and/ congratulations with all lovers of Persia and Persian enterprises. The complete Persian talkie DOKHTAR-E-LORE is the result of the pioneering enterprise of Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Merwan Irani, Managing Partner of the well known Imperial Film Co., of Bombay, brought about with the co-operation of Aga Spenta, the bright young scholar and poet from Persia, and a band of enthusiastic Persians culled from the staff of the Company. The premiere release of the picture was inaugurated at the Majestic Cinema by His Excellency the Consul for Persia in Bombay amidst scenes of enthusiasm before an overflowing audience of Persians and Parsees on Sunday the 6th August, 1933. H. E. the Consul's speech inaugurating the release was not only an authentic appreciation of the enterprise it involved, but also a fitting tribute to Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Irani, the Producer, whose love for his fatherland, according to the Consul, was the main inspiration for the first Persian talkie. H. E. the Consul was followed on the platform by Mr. Dinshah Irani, Solicitor, who, in a neat little speech, emphasised that the magic inspiration of H. I. M. Reza Shah Pahlavi had not only begun and ended in Persia alone but that it had permeated the Persian fold even in Bombay of which Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Irani and the first Persian talkie were just proofs. The story of DOKHTAR-E-LORE, as its title indicates, deals ostensibly with the erstwhile bandits of Luristan and Khuzistan in thee bad old days of Persia with a love interest between Gulnar and Jafar :furnishing the background. But this evidently is not all. As the

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Khan Bahadur Ardeshir M, Irani is quite well-known to the Bombay public as proprietor of the Jmperial Film Compary, which recently produced the first Persian Musical Talkie, the " Dokhtar-j. Lore." .::...-1 J:! J 1111 I \ ).,f 0J,.>AA ~ii./. I .,I ..)!,.,.).) I .) ) 11: ......:..,\;. j \... I: jk \; '5 ~::.... 1111 j J J .....:.>~ I ; J t' .: ... J r..5:? rl~ J~ -1:t.-o I ":"> I~ ,) .J•: r111 I .) I J ") _,~;. ., " .:, I JI J

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l'tlr, A, Spenta, the bright young Persian poet, ha11 been instruinen tat in bringing out the :first Persian Talkie 0Dokhtar-i-Lore.'' [Iran LMgue QU,arforly ~.J. ( ~c '=? lff _,(~ IJ.i~ ~!,?-1::~ ... '":"~ ... ~: IJ.. I ..;~ l!. <.S ~::... ~JI i..r:. ~; " ) ;.;.. ., " Jkt Miss R~hangiz is the lovely Persian actress who plays a rrmarkal:;ly good princi1al part in the "Dokhtar-i-Lore.•' <) _;;..:, !~.r .:...-; '~I 1.$:1.., •. I (/)IJ u"';:S1 " ~~ J:(;I [JJ {\;. .:i I .) ._;J: I.I._,;. • .:.)ti p I;

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1933] DOKBTABELOBE 273 cimax of robber-raids and highway caravan attacks passes bringing the hero and the heroine closer together in bonds of true love, the story developes into the fateful and God-given dawn of Iran's New Era of Happiness-5th A rdibehesht 1305-with the Coronation of H. I. M. Reza Shah Pahlavi. 'I hrough rapid and clever cinematic dissolves the audience is taken past the astounding changes achieved in the course of a few years under the fostering care of H. I. M. Reza Shah Pahlavi, as lea di dg to the benefit of the Persians in Persfa and redounding to their credit and honour in foreign countries. J uoging by the ovation accorded to the screening of the first Persian talkie, DOKBT:AR-E-LO:RE tcok in all sides of the house. The producers have done well by linldng up a good story with the intrinsic substance of the modern progress in Persia. Credit is due to Aga Spenta for having written the dialogue of the picture in such simple and yet expressive Persian as to be intelligible to all. There is now and again to be seen a successful attempt at poetic fancy as, for instance, when Jafar sings, imprisoned in the well, addressing the bones of the dead around him, and secondly when he bids farewell in pathetic words to his own fatherland. Khan Bahadur A rdeshir who personaJly handled the direction of the picture appears to have reaJised the inevitable difficulties of making a Persian talkie in Bombay. He has, nevertheless, succeeded in bringing into the picture typical Persian atmosphere by sheer creative art. The scenes of revelry in the Persian coffee shop on the road to Khuzistan, the cave scenes of the robber chieftain Kulikhan, and the love meetings of Gulnar and Jafar are all handled with realistic sense and moderation. DOKHTAR-E-LORE has proved a good picture well taken up by the Persians and Parsees of Bombay. No critic entering the plan of its making can fail to classify it as a Persian enterprise that makes a bit of history for Persia where its exhibition in the near future, we have 110 doubt, will be keenly looked forward to.

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~@c~c~c@c1c~~cccgc1c~c@ccc~ TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ADVERTISING. ' I o 1~ ~Qi) Advertisers entering into contracts with the "Iran League I Quarterly" Committee do so only on the following)erms and @~ conditions which they have read and agreed to:'l.VV ~rJb 1. The contracting party undertake& to use up tile space @~ . contracted for witld1in the stipulated perfiod, oh.r in the ~ event of failure to o so, agrees to pay or t e space @~ not so used up. d.~~ ~Qi) 2. fayments to be made in advance. @~ 3. The Iran League Quarterly Committee reserve to them@~ ~Qi) selves the right to refuse or suspend the publication ~Qi) ~ of any advertisement without assigning reasons for l.t doing so, ,~ ~@I The following are the rates of advertisement in English and :0~ Persian languages :-(size of page: 7f"x4!"). ~Qi) 1. THE COVER PAGES~O}J @~ Contract rates: l page per insertion Rs. 10/~\ ~w 1 .. .. ,, 15/~ob $ full ,, ,, ,, 30/Ai~ Casual ,, l ,, ,, ,, 11/. ~Qi) v.u. 1 16/ $i ~Qi) I " " " • ~@ @~ full ,, ,, ,,, 32/~OJJ 2. READING MATTERS@~ English Section. Persian Section. Ai\ ~d.fl~ Per insertion Per insertion ~Qb l\l Contract rates: 1 page Rs 41 Rs 5 llh~ ; .. .. 6i .. 7i ~w JI\~ full ,, ,, 13 ,, 14 I Casual ,, l ,, ,, 5 ,, 5! ~OP ~rJb ! ,, ,, 7i ,, 81 Ai\ fu 11 ,, ,, 15 ,, 16 v.vv V.\J. Ai~ Apply :-THE SECRETARY, ~ob =01 ~ The Iran League, @~ ~v r{O} Kama?' Bldg., Oowasji Patel Street, @~ FORT-BOMBAY. ~Qi) ~~~~~~~~@.~@.@.@.@.@.@.~~~

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'-5:) fa_,:) _,) POEMS OF VAHI~E DASTGARDI A.ga Vahid-e Dastgardi was bornin Isfahan, and was one of the famous poets of Teheran. For fourteen years he edited the literary .journal "Armaghan", which was a work deserving of high credit . . DADVANn's ADDRESS To THE GLORY OF ZARATHUSHTRA1S lioLY EFFULGENCE THE WonLn's GREATEST SouLs PAY HoMAGE .;..!..i J j 4J~ tl FT v..:, ,) j J) 'I')).!..> J .:,,..!.j ;j .:,,.:.. .:,,.:..(\..1.! )"' ,./1..>..;. ;I J;\ .).:.:., J J.;. i.,~ J .L!.:.. 0 J1 t JT t ("l;T 4-~ tS :,\l )L.. J~:~ u.f J )l;l'. ~-u;l .. :,l.:.. _J, J.;> .i.; 1 .. j -.:...>l(;). ; .).j I ...i."\;\:, J uJ..>.!)l r=:""., ~./ .,? .. ) )::..,. u \i .,_l} J"" ;:;_) ti:.,\iL:,_, i:.,l.it.;. ;) ,.,~ u~ J,.,..,) Jk.:.. j \ • ) J'" .,b.-. ;I" i:.,\~);) d~.:, .i! J:! ;) t .:...:..~ '7"'.:.. :,'~ u~ l;,.,v--[..1": ; .,; J ,.,!.... j I I_,... .;,...u; 4)'_\ ; :, r..,~l._.;:,~ J~ \, J~ ..>.!.:.o '-:' i.,'. ..? ..I.I_) jl ,.;I j ("\c. ) ) J ""I..;. ) ) ,..;:-;-!' '7"':.;. Jl.;. j\ j Jl~ ;l..1.!) j ,u 1G J~J -.:...> ) .. \~~! '5l~ j t.l~ .).~_y J ))-.,. ) Jc.--1; \C!.\ '7"'-:f' • > ..I! j I • ; ? ) J ,.,...:;.. rS:.: j . ".,I.it.;._, JI ... ~>" J " '4-; ... )l:.... V v .. Y J • J, JI:'.~,., ... r> J::"'~ '\)J1','.)lj11 i:.,I.>..:~ '\..r J~ l~" 1..:~S ~l J) ,;,!~, ,. J .1.:.... JJJ w~-..J:. .1.:. wj, .1. • .1.:,JI, , ;l{:,. .A> J i~-c,\.:., t .. ,..;.f",..

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.. .\• • \t • c--,.).) 4JU:2> . ZARATHUSHTRA1S SERMON BEHOLD THE GLORY OF CREATION, AND oF lRAN's Hrna DESTINY ..:....:.G\ j )\) ~;\..!.I I; ~Ji\) l....:J u:, J..A L:;. ) .J~ ;) ~I ) .I. u..J •.; J"' ul~ •;\tu ;IJ!.) If.Qi ul::-~ S ) J> l.)l:o:-! ""'i J l.1.;. ..:...1 j I IJ"! t=L( , .:tl rl~ .) I() JJ.J! j1 _:_r .;. ... \ LJ~ j 't)l.;!I" .:tlt.:;. .,\.!.:al:. S .:.I l~! I ,; j:..,, ) lff; J: ... .) ult~ t .. .;-! .I.~!.):':.:! i..?,. i..?)~ .;..!.i;j •;L:t~ i.,-'~ j\) I; L:J .1! iii $ ul..) DI~ ..:..~ .1. .I; 5,fi ~1 u.f);_p r-J. la~ j\ .jA ; I ""'' l~ i l-=-?'" I ..Li ..L!, jl ... ul.:~ ..\!A).? J.,.:.>J ) .:tl t.;. _:..,.-I) ul(")JJ.J. IS\ t .:-1 LJ'.I ) .,:-) ., r~ f:: .. .:I ~! I ; _.,:..:;. J J .;-:"' J 1.) .;.!.! ulA., .i ... ul• .1. .)( ;t:i.f _:.r-1 .1. EE How GREAT IS lRAN's SuPER-EXCELLENCE) J=-?'" .,_.. '1iJ)1) .,..:,:_\ if:; j ..\i) J~ -=..,! jl ..li., )\.) ;I ) J~i ,;l~ LJ! 1 j\ ) r:JA .J.!, r=-?' U ly=-?' ).,) uk-'T., ;t-f-))}> _:_,~j J-'•_)\ I .1::~ .:-1 J j (.J.!, _:.,\1"' ...\.:;\) .i:-:i .:r.,:-:,;,,; ,:.,L .. • ., J! J j,!, L! J .:...-" 4'r .;" ti:'. ..\i., r:J ul(,IS' 't::.!.> 1 ;tt~ ; l! .J..!, t::.!.>1 ;l~! u~ J.,t...r )JJ.l! .J.i1J> J.,l.i l.>).') .)'(_, J;~, j \ ..\iJ>I) .;(\ -l.:i I J> • ..::..•:-~ Ji \ .... :-:(.,. --------------------_, .. :-, ~:~;.1 '

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•• .:-::;i s-.. 11\ j~ .;('\ ~--.:, Jlii t~;) ~. r.,. ) .r:-J .:-t~ .I. J.1" j\ uJc;,.. l! 4J:::-9 j • ..I' ~.:, ul ... } :'"'.:! JJT .:,I .,b u~ !:> ;) ...r..! 4i f 6j 4j _,.i ~.? j'\ ~~'-Q~) [\ \.ff. .:-:::1 u'. ?." ir-J .:-1 I'""'\ .1. ..::,._1 I~ I .;r. j u~ _,. ult~ I .I. J'"'" j \ ~.,:... '-3 • .;~ .:-I 4J-:9.:, "u l..1., \,, ..LJ .J ) I) J.f ) I ) u l:::il .;~ I .1. .i:::~ ]• I ..b4i J::: u) r1 .lJ_ l! s J IN HER GLoRIOus WooDs, SPLENDID STREAMS AND NoBLE MouNTAINs, •,:ii 4.i f 4i .,)..!, J) ul:::"' .:-1 4)::;-9; .I! u \.c-'T ..r. f S IF',) ..J'.j Ji J ~! j\ 6 .j ~-\ j\ j' ul:::.:! J::: ... ) :t.) !l l:::-f J '"=" I .:,I ;1; o;,:, 4i '-:"~"' l.>J~ j\ );J> iiJ_l! .f d.:... l... J-:::! o~\ o} 41 .:-\ :>JJ J IS~ JJ 4i l:,o'-:"4.~ ... \ l~iT yl t (S)~\ I.)"! 4:.!.:J U:._. j\ UG:=,_~ .:-\ .sl, • ...\.!.l. .l'\o~:> fi . .. .; ~_,.\) ;l> .u.J.;! .;(' 1.5,,.~( ;1_,_!,,) ..\,_, L.,._; y ~,. .1;.r."' l~;., ".r. .. ul;S ..:-1 ;l_j ~.) J, )) J.:..,!,) JO J t ,.f Jo;) l~J).) .:,.!,) "ulJ.\ .. ;) .:-\ "~.) ~" oj ~l...o) IJ 1,) jl '-:" f J'--r,) ,i •,:,i I .l.!.~ 4-.~ i:,,_1 jl !ll;.. LJ~I .,;1., 4,;) ;,:, 0 4i '-:"~.( y\ ~-11.:::, If..\ ;) 41 ~G t... .)~ ..r. • .,f'4.)) 4i ... I yf _,.. 4i 4,;., i:.-1 La ~.:.., 4; ~j\ .:-1 l~J.,uJ=: S ;_,.6 .,.:.:,:;._'( ;) f j\ yi 1; i.jt• .:-1 & yf jl (S~t Jt;.. 01;., ~-Al,5''' _, u! s )J:.S ul;) i.f 1 ;t... J J:.:.,.; 0l..'T .;.~j r.,1 ~-1 .,;b ul.1.I ).;• Ja~ ... 1 ;t+ .J. 0t ... ~-'jl !I,;.. 4)::: ... 1->-)

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• .,3] IN HER MAGNIFICENT CLIMATE, .;-I JL..;. .:,I '"'-~ ~-\ r:-i ""~... J) .) ;'fr ~j .,S::;\ (f 4.i .l;I.; ... ..::,-... ~I ;..1.;\ .,;\..1; .:.. ... I J.., ;~ ..l'l! .,1., J J"'I .:-I JI~\ 4.J~.J la <.S\J" ~~; ~~1.:, 01}"' 0t-;I ., f' 4.i .,\(.;L~ ., ..;--" .,4 ., i J i F' .:,.._. I ;6;-I; I_,. ..; J:..f 4.l'.I; ., IN THE PLEASANTNESS OF HER NIGHTS AND Dus, 0,jl !4_ .:,I r-r: r~;IJ...( <->.JJJY. )., Jl... S ).) Jt..:. J..;> 4 4i ;IJL;f cl.:... L;f & LJ~I ;., .:,. ... I la J...b-,}J; ".r.; ..,:i.-1 ;5 iJ..la.e .,)., "1!. •? ul.a;., 01 .:,I ":"".!, ) _)j) s cS.J)) .J "':"'.:, (-;b ,lal..!..:. J jJ; l.-4i r~ 4_., ;., c./.~ _;I 41 ;I)., C:.;~ l.-..r ..r. :, ., .;( .:,.._. I l.J _;.:... f I_,:... I Li> 41 r Y~' ;., ":"".:., .:,.,; .;..:..f'}; uL~ .. hT HER NOBLE, STATELY AND HANDSOME RACE-cl.:.-.,. .... ..1;,.,\., l. ..)G, _iii 01.:, 4-'::...S J; 01~ ..w.L.:..r ;L. .,J,, ;1.., ~_; ~i .:,..:. j u(,_ l~~j .:,.:..{ d j u(,_ ""'' j <.>.) .)_., ;}lS' oT jl cl; J .:,...li J JC:..: Le .,\;; .l;i .J. 4.i .J c!l;) ) .) '~'1 4.i .i1.; f J rl ..\ii .1~~... "'J(,j 4.i ,.t.:al:"".U .,y;.. C:J Jl> uJ~ 4.i .:..-.G I J.; j) ...; J! J~ .J) .) J! ..1._~ l:; V JJ., it.~_;\ ...; .;. ;

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..w. L... 4i ..\........, J .b.... .i.; $ --v •• jJJ ~) )j,:> tJ"' 1.>J" j J..,!1 r_J"' -'~ j\ o~ ~-) ,,-..:..-~ ~l: .... r.' J; ..\.:...l. J Jf#> • Jf!, (.)-> ) ) o'i j\ J J" t J"" -". U ..\~ .... r ~,;~:" <.SJ.J"l• J) )J! OF MANLY FORM AND SPLENDID TALENT, ..:...l:i ) r.> .J! ..:-l:i-u.f:" j\ ..:I j I..... J -.:...,;::i: u l:. li .i..; j:._ .;.;J~ ..\:> .J-! ./" j ..:-1 .,_;lj r•ul.r.4 i.:,t:.,.;;I) .i.; pl. .....,.Ai . . . ~1~.:d j .~t. ;J) J) ./" ..:I Jj4., )J) ol.:.;l:JI J,. I uJ:i; 4.i -~1 • AND ABOVE ALL, IN HER HOLY ENNOBLING FAITH I :>b J~ J !I~ ,~=..:..:. ) ) j -.:...,;!i u .,:i; ..:..-~i ,:I, ..:I I ; ;:..... ) ,.;S; .,:-) u lr-':' ..:.. .... 1 ,.:..:..,.)Jj J~) .IJt:. i::t.1 ;) ...r'.J=--., 4.i~ J) ~-.) ot-~ S t=....;) J.!.I J J,:.-' t..,:i:., ~j ..:.. ... 1 !I~~-01);. cl~;; 0'.1 ;.> ift; o~ __:_.,i. I ;S r-~ JI~! J"" jl J jl ,.:...... .> J) .> ;\11; ..,.~ ;LS""&_ l;~.J" .>j ... V-~ J,f uJ~u~ )4 J~ r.b S )J!.) ..:...:... ;) ..:-I J ~f..:-) '-'ff i.r. ,.:.. ... 1 l::,:~I ;J!>J _,..,-:"";I; J.:.! ..:., ... \ ,.:..!.f'. ~-"' .. \J,,.t:, c.)!.) '-"-' jl J-f '?'r. ~4 u't" ,.;f _:ji jl t.:.....,1 r=:-;) JJ );l..>.i ,.:.....I !I~ r~ cl~ I./ .J )I) (ft"! ,.;[ u•.J ._:_.,\_,; JS::~ tl.S ) ) u r:i: ,.;~ ~ v., ... ./ u~ '-"-' J .>.ii J:_J) .;, • ., ii)";) i.:,4j

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;l;i;., ..:-I .r. ... ;~ uJ=:-u~ ..\!, I.,; ul..) u~ r.S Ld-1 .t. 0~1 ~j r:l\il J-J' l," r.S~ jl .J"' .:I 1,il.!i)4 .I..J"' J"' I; ) ? ..:-1 ot~jv"' "ul.r.l" ;I.,) ....;_;.,) f .,I .,;I J"' '"":i 4,-I) r.)I CJ; .._:_; l_,( ~;b .i""' ) ? ..u_j\~ ;'I;..:-.) u l;. ., C:'., c.fl o).!, cl i!.l;,.) t J; 01 _; I ..J"' ..J"' j"u'.1.. l"..:.. ... 1~..:,J=:-..:,~ J, _.,,. r.S .) J.\ ..u., .) b .I"' IJ'. I ; ) ..:.....1 JI.,; 0t..) ),;:i-;l.,l_j ... ... 1 ulc-'T r~ t at,, .t. ~-I~ ;bi) j\ J"' t ./' ..\!~ ..\1 .._:_; l(, r~-.>.i_; I.) )ii yl~ ; I o!.f-' s~t..J IJ'J~I SALUTATION UNTO ZARATBUBHTRA, THE RIGHTEOUS ONE ! AND UNTO IRAN1s GLORIOUS REAud JJ!.>., )L':oS u ..).i..\-:;!.~ .l(,.) J! ..\l)J ... .,) U I; L. L:.a--; l;I ..\> ; t.~ La r~ ..:..-1 ~\ cii 6.A~ ..:-I JJC. ~.?4ib. I; u~ .....:.,.r • .,...1 ul..) ;:.. ;l}I J.,J. u)J(' ~_; I; u~ ..u.,~ ..:..... I "u'!.r.. ,,, u J"v"' u~ '"~ J"' ) } '6' .I. c!l.:.. 4A I> j •) ;) r.SJJ &\ J~.) ., .l!.., rf'> ..;1 ul(,Y. r-:;L, ,s t,, J._. 4 4..u .,-1:i l(, Y. I;_,!,>., S ; t.l.' ,./'.J ..:-I ~lfDt,, .I. ulul. t.S}'-~ ..:..... I J, J.J"' ;\;;3; ,st,, ~ (I .J"' c,b /. ;l:a..rjl ;\.,~ I; "u!.,,.111 ..:-I "~I.!..:;:. ~-' I,; l:i.) ;) .)lo) o1_,._I j\ .l.i) ~) .I. ~.Jj ;L.Jl, i.r."' o)J! ,s. I; ~f ~i

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IRAN NAMA: VoL. II PROF. M. A. SausaTERY UNITED IRAN UNIFYING lNFLUENOE OF LANGUAGE-continued DUTY OF IRANIANS l! i.J;t..\;j .i.::;..l... GU.,.:_ ... ;.!';;,. o} I) cl~ J) I; J,~J> J J.~J> j\ \; ;._())'. o}\) .i.~\ f.. o.J'f'J J.J~i!Sila J J,,_),\ ~ila o:>..} JJ'di u;l..-1 ..:...0,k&C. I.>~ cl.! ljl J) .!l )\: ... \ J ..\.:!~~ \~ l:a:i> ~Y. li_ IJ"}S::::11 J IAiY..J~I ..:..~-OJ::: ..\,0 .J! (S;J) J ,}l•; .>..\ ... ;.> (Sl""9\ ; ) l! j..J"' ol J..J.:. .;..._ ~; .> c1.::: ol;. I 0~ l~ -'(\ i:.,U I J i.}~ .:.....l:,,, S .:..-ii) ..\.:..IJ:::i-..\i) .~ J.> I; ~~v"'"I J ._rJJ Jl. i.:>,):) J> i);3'. j 15l• ..:..~Y J l,_ t~ ot.i\ _:. ... I ot;_;, .>Ji ... .>\ii J -=-:•~ u ;.S'Laii J .;..)_,!, J .::..JJ9 ..\j,)J I.SJ' ._;\..\ii..,> ..\ii o..\!, I..\~ jJ:S ol;.1 jl .f J(,_,) 1.5;4 1.5~~1 ..:..l.e cl~ Jl..\:i\ ;) 4. ..:..,li_ ..\.:•IJ~ I;..\~:.. d.J~\ .;. .. la" J .bY.v"'" f 4 u,-:-JJ )I.> ~~•1,> J:G..~ I; i.J~~-4 _:..l. cl: L~) J! ~l_,:::i<--\,} 15l• ..:...:IJ. ... u.J::: ~.. ~_v"'"I t,_ j ,~!" u JJ 15lf'~)Jr"! ..\:; l .. J .v _,:..! 't_.J~ 1.5(1't:... J c1.::.b J)l,i:,..\ .>_,>I.S~J) ..r'..,>S.SJJb I.J:•I i:,~1\ cl;-f J L~ . ..\.Jo..\! J:S::!.i I , 1.1;1..J!I ~s; j! ..;..L, cl~ .1.=.;.~~ )~\ c1.l.:::.,..., 1; o.4i ,

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"n~];p ;.;~J r~'"., i.J'.) ;J'J-~ ... .r.."' J::;.-4 4-! ~J.:.~ ;) ., (;;ly-J u~., uY-: ... 4,;) J:. ... ., L._;) ;r ~(;_;! )J; J)ul~ .S ~, ol.1..I J.:--1 jl Lfl u"~ 4 ., w 1.:.~ • .u... ~l;... J4" ; ) I; Lfl • ..\..:. c_il., (,,\.,;_I (.>~.,T t )J! t:.:-;T j\ .l.:.=i.r."' )~ JI.)~\~-\~ 4.)~Ji '-:"~ J ..;~} ..>..:.:i; yy.~ ., ~fa'-:";~ J .,)J ... i ISJ:.~\~ J Jl:S ;~ j~ ...,. u1 j\ ., .;>li '! r' ft ~.:..:.:.1.:t' ~;\.)~\ u..\.o.i o)_,]l.:.., ul,;_1 ./. 1~1 .. '(~ J .:..iJ"\j I; ~It~ .. jl.,T ;)., .:..:.f ;I_,: ... \ .. )'~.:.il.1..I v~~'., .:.,ff' ul.1..I ~t..;~ .)~~).JI~ '13) Y. \f"_v. ..\i I).:,-'./. I; .:.."l~ J ~1, ., 4! J::_! I., ., )_Y. ~'}-' ;) t(Creechta) wJ u~~\! wi.J.>;f,j tS)\.:,11.Sl.,1. ul; 1., J"" S) Y. &J-1 ;) ., ._\j ..\!. ,J.~ .,1 ol;b J ... ., ) ~(.. I J. 4-:iv> i) •) I ) fi \ ),/ ) I) (Oxyartee) \;.!.:> Y"-' " i.r"' I " U J~ u'i...,. t..J' 4 .?-4 J ..\-... ul(..~.:...:.li ~~., ,}\~\.,;,,;~ eJ"' .JJ~~ ~I., u4} J r!I J rl J; I 4 ~i) ... ., uC. l.. ...... ~i \~ ..u... .&.._ I Jr... " ) J! J; ~I> .:.:ii.;~ I ; ) \f"I 4! ~; ~J.> 4 J ~) .f I~ 1.1' .i:--'i lt; I u ., ;.,:! (.)'.J ,:~,;.) ..\-... J .ll.!.I) ;~ I; u.:..:.) ;.i J-:.' '-:"".-; ., i.J.i olilA )Y. 4'_L.> )_Y. ;J )Jil:> ..1. ... J:! t Jr-., !I; GUt ...... l!., uYl.1..I .:.,li.,I ,;SI ).r.;-.:"' ;~"' ;b.r-c!l~ ol_,._l .:..JJ) ./, ... ,,. I; l.;,.il Jlr(::,,, "!;, ~Y' ..\-...' oL:...li J .. " ;) t d ol~ u~jv> o~I~ vii> j.> ':J J;; jl ) Y. .if./ .,;I ;J) J=:., ob I; ~;~li u~ )li ; ':JT ....:..~ 44'. .. L!.:~ c!l,_ .'{'J. J; i.,'.\ j\., ~\) iS)ljT J.j\wl '!~Po/ Ai~.\ J )~-;,"'? J"" )J! l:::i:i\ u\!),/ 4.~: o)\~ ~,:;; J. I; ~;I ~-fu J) ;~LI ~.;(I., )J .i_.,I)\ j:i ;~.:.C.I !J"l.:. ;) .:.,;l-~ "~l:::-);b.1, ~~"' ;I .::.-;ly 4i I; J!.);j ~., u;I.;~' '-:"'-~; J., ..\11;_,...

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tJ' JI..] ,,. J~ J ~;)Y. Jl.,: ... I i:,~~ J.:!' 4! .;_,;.. ~I c.:,<..>..:..!il! '-:'I/ '>l4l> .J" ;) ~ii c.:, ~1-1 J. 1 J • ) J! r-'v6:JI ; ) ~) ;; J.:f .,1 ul .. .; ) .) ~,i .,.J::~ i 4.-"fe .:.,1..,.....:.-)J> jl .w; ~::-,.:Jl-.i.l::i-b ., )J 4! r~ ... I "'~" .,;I J::! w.A~ '-:'J-:>-1;,/6) •/) ;) .~ ;) lti\ r--"J -'1.>) J sli)Y. o)b J~(!.; I) .) J> 1.Sl:,i}I (Iughure) ; J~ \ 11 $ .l-.... '"=''; li I ; u! I; li ) l:... I J., .J""' sl.:.!.l b .C.!. l~ (' .?,..1.il Jl. .)~ I;\;.,: ,~ .:,~~J ..J':> LS: J J.) -..!~ Jv"" Jjl-':il.) .I"! I.J JJv""I ;IS' ,r.:-ii .1.:....).,;. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$~$$$$$$~$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ : ~ Jp :rr~ 4'.t....J ... ~\.).;\;~ .. I; i:;~} -'la:>($. : !fi !fi : '~ : !fi / "• !fi !fi y; ..:.. ... 1 __i; _,;. I c.:,;-! I ..:..!J':) .,,.),~ 5 .r-!fi !fi i..r!fi : (.:.;l~ J:C:.i .:.~J;... ~.;.., .).) ~) : = i)~~; ~I.,!. J .:,~..,_,....;. jl c_)\kl 1.SIJ: JI : !fi !fi !fi "! !fi !fi t !fi = ~.I. / .c..S..) \' : !fi !fi !fi , !fi !fi c.:,l;..._,~-J,:..C. ~_;..I.:.-: [ft' oy-o. !fi !fi !fi . !fi .1.:• -': ..:.-1,;..) .) !:fi !fi !:fi ~!fi$!fi~$!fj~!fi~~$!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi~!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi~~!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi!fi

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POEMS OF HABIB-ULLAH KHAN NAHID [Habib--ullah Khan Nahid, the young poet who died at the tender age of 20 in 1340 A.H., was the brother of Aqa Abdul Husein Khan Maikadeh. The following verses show how a promising career was cut short by his untimely death.] TBE CHILD AND lTs DEBT TO THE MOTHER THE BAD TALE OF THE UNGRATEFUL SoN ) -'! • ) .;~-! • ..l~.) _:,., lt~ i le! u l• r:"' J )j ).,T J .J:> ..J! $ ..J-! <.S \ .J':"" .:.-~ l~ c$ j J) J .) .:...!.• .:,.; J" JI <.S J) J .J"' f. ~....:..... .) J .) J"" f. ) J! ~:i;.T .; ! .:,.;.... Ji 4 J.)~-! S >)"' 'j .J .,;; "-! .:,..a.) )Jfi, .....:.. ) J) J L.:-> .:...a ..,\~ ..l..:• J':' ,:,.,..a)) J ~i!.T i~~ .,~ '-'.. u \c.!.~ 4--! I j I •> )JJ~ i:J '(' u J~ r> .:..:..r-'" .J1 I~ .:..-!.i -.:..., l~ ..J! • J ..,\I I .,r.i I~ ti r,!. I> .1. J <.S.,:. ~ 4 S' cS;)\.. l>)Y. ;~\ J.> ..,~ i\... .:.,,-.j (S)l..11 J J,~ IJ JJ! .1.!. S 4 ""'! ) .ri ( JJ-! :c.,> i tif I.SJ"' ../' • ..i IJ T .>.:~ '.J .) J! • .) )J T) J ) j J r:"' '-'~ u I-'~ t$ j J J .;.;._(' 0::.~ J > \~ ) j .:..-Si ..J! )) u _,;,_) ..\.!. \~ .:.,.!.)) 1..._(;\ i\• ..J! )J! .) Y. .:-,!.I c.,":".:.5:! J > l,. .:..,.!.t ... '' • J'} c.S \ s l:i.) J ..\:ll.:i ;I)) )' ))) jl S J T '-' ,.U jl j) i ..\.!.:.a .:..u j .:...,.i, .; ' > ..J:i r' .,> s lt~!. ......:..:~ ol-:,,_j J r di .,; _.:_.il:.... u Li i I .> f IJ.U .:.-.:.! '-'; I; .f • ..v I J:; Jfl r.S J;.. ..\.:.; r.S \ f:. b I~ .;. ... I I '-i ,.s) j .:.,.!..,,;r. ..i I S .>..~ L .!J ..r l:.:. ~ J> •=:-j I o I .:..!..~ ~.:':' ; .) L.. .) J! .)~"" J, j .,;.,. ) \ .> it:.!. .) r l..... .I. J .:..A!. T J. <.>J'f• i.,. J .J &:,!..tl J '--'4 uT jl

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~J.)] "'::-:, oWI J)li_) J c....(4 J J~ i., J! " •• ?:= I; i L.. .,-~ l..u_;) r-.:.;.. jl .)l:i\ JJ,/.1 ./. '--C; CJ"' o_,;. j .) J' ~l J"' :!l \.,.. .!l l> • .;..:. . • J • )\.:u • • i.)' •• ~j, .J ;I.,; .) l.:i I ;..u I :!l t.:.! o?. ... ~Tu J J , J"' .) J! 0:C:..;_ v I J~ u .:-.) ....:-. .,l..!, ,.; l ) ) l..;j J( > ..,~ ... JI.,! I; JI J• ._:_;, .1_..!, ;l.).J-Ji.I.ii JY. J~-) ;is--~~ I u~ ;) .f t,. J"" L; ,) .. ..lo~; .,... d~ ....:.,..:, ...._: ... I..J ... >Jj )~ u~ ~.:...(\..) ... ;> ulJ; i j) J ..L;J' .lJ_) ......:...,1 J~ j "' ci Jr' OJ> f. C{ ..j,_ :!J~ ;)la •..\~.>.I~ J"' )) ~I UJ~ ~.:.5'1~ '1 j\ J"" oF ;}~ u.JA uAi u.,; '1J_) ".i J" ._:_; I .1! \; J"' ...;..!, J': .:.... ..J! ) j J,) ) ) t.. ~Jj "':"' ., J! 41 },Jl.1! I; ol.,~ .l.!. ; b.,.;. J,; ' _; JI J .,,: ~J ) \) J! JY. J)) J"' ALAs, GREED! How GREAT ARE THY CRIME AND FALL! I ' '\.;,.:. -.._:_..i I .i..:;. Ji f. .:..~ : .Jt~ u I ....:...,\-4_! J__; ... jl .;....!..o .._:_..il..x...:_. .) ; -'! li J • I ; ..i l .._:_..i I ~~-1: .rLS L~ J \,. .._:_,.i \ .;._,,;_.. .) ; .) .) ; ) c$ J ; b IS I !~~.)..:~ JJ ~J) 4 r:'.r( .::.i L~ __; I ra_!." j "SIS"',.. j I ..,;.. 1 u; I :;._( L-ii "~-!" ~;; .,.:..?:= .._:_..i!~ L:; t c:: J T -~b /~ u!.,)>t 0 FRIENDSHIP TnuE ! OuR SoLAcE IN TBis Vi oRLD OF SoRnows l rl • .>..-i • Y J ot~..,~ Jb-4 i I • ..,\,aT • L.... u ~ J ~:;-J .. rl .~T .ly• )b ~.J) .:.i.,;:.-;) ... I o.,(15" .., ... OJ;.._;~;$ i)l.!

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THE ORIGIN OF THE YAZIDI TRIBE AND THEIR PRESENT HOME IN IRAQ DR. A. MoaAQQAQI, PB.D. A TouR IN YAZIDI LAND ti._)I J ~J;I JI,>;) I; f>l:-J>\v"" j\ .:--i cl~ ,S:.:.~I jl ..i..! I; Yi?)~ , .J";:-""' <.Sl: ... I <1.a~ ~l..w r-( rr.1;:il..; u~-~ JtJlk... J )) J'' J-l> ,}l.. )a.a 01..1 ... 01 ~,ii JI ,=--1 , ;1J11 :,I , r'-~; :,~) j I • (-\cl if':L. J k~ ... ; \ <.Sy-... J <$ ) l... ~> ~-l~?. u(; _,(.,. ; :> r..f'~ii :>~ ;:> J i.>.!, ..:..-1 Jl.r )~ jl u~ S J .... .,.. ;:> J;..b ~JJ ... ....;1),,1 uJAj, J ... .,.. ~;S'L.. '-:"bT, J~I J 1.5'-1~1 ;) i.r-f, j_,!, ol..L.. ol u1'..lij J ~~~WI.,,($;~ J i.J.al J! ol ..... !( ....;t;S"I ,. ~! cS./ I ~:,:-;d.;:> _.r5 <1.i~l-'.i! c. ~t... ..\a=-• 4.Jtk .. ;) 1./ JJ.l J ;) J .)f J;..b I; )J> i=>-1:-J~ <.SIJ! _)a;.. .J! l,tii j\ ._;.~ ;:> ._(~ -PJ.J rl::9 .:,\;\ J rv4 I: .k:=u.;\ ,)l ... l:..:. J~J~ 0y,AA J u-L.. '-:"l~ :> _,;.; \,/ ~l,_):.i .. ~j:"; .1~ .S .) Y...;..... I ._;J.J"A ul~.1~.;,. rt;! t c.s(;;! ~l1 &_ u;\(..lij r:.J.:. r.>.!, r-J .... .,.. t'.J ;) u~, ~t:---J jl u•~f J..L. 4 .. :.:\) J ~...:-1 j\ y I )T J d) le:. J uc:.l~I ~l:> il...i j\ J • .l:il ... ; •JJ ul: I;) j> r.1.:. .)~ )J.l... J_, r~~j J ... b-uc:.)U.I ul~.J~_;~ ~l:> J; J t~J J i!.\5 J ~.1c:.L .... ! <1.1~_,;..r:,.J.-:1" • .at.:.. :,J;.. J!'j, ;) 01,10t.11>;) u~ i.r~ ul.r_l u., l!.j. \.!. ..:.J .P i.S .J(J ,-i.,; u \;.. .i-11 cS t;T cS .1(; ~! u... ".l!i ;t;. J .... .,.. j \ J.!.i ;j • .1;.;.5 ...... l\k .. ).; I!!~ rl;! 6-::.S cS -..1!_;~

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PARSIS-A PEOPLE OF THE BOOK [Translated into Persian from English by Prof, M. A. Mazendy] ~J ..:.!.lil:-"" )~ u~!..);j .l~ !14;.) .;.~'y eilal..,::.-1 0.,..t "'-~ &_ ;.) Jf.> c.SIJ! jl r~ ,.:..;.! ub.;~ 0t,::=!..)1_; ,J'l>.,1c.Sl...j; .;I J)J;J _;I IT! ~:l;.. o~).J' ei_,".) .\.!.:• .. .i..a:1> ;l!).) 1.) tu-=,.,) jl lJ> ..,..;c.S,lr, Jl ,.rJ~ J_;.:... J 4-.:.!.I.) u"~ _,\ !J41.) c.Pl~j rl.i>I .) ,_.; .,1 c.SI.;! • ,......-•• -1 I _ • ',A_. • "\r • ,l, 11 •\ l" • .... x..:.., v "'!' u! ..:.~ 1-"J P J.) " .\-•. Y:"' i .J'-1e " J o~ .. o .. t..)..1.., J.1_ .. ., .i.:.!.\))_,~., ol..,~\ cS1~~1.) ~A>cSJl:-! 4) ~;\_, j\ l,;1\ ..:.a::A> [ o.\.!. ol\ l ul.!.i .:.,.!,.);; ulJ~ "'! ul.oju\J.) . ..I.:.!.) I UY'~ .i...i}:.i-(.j.:; J" .:: .. H~;.) ul .,:: ... ..:. ... 1 ul J .!..-.., JI~-cJ..rt! J.:_G.; ;) $' 4-.::.i-l ... ~.,. c.s .. .,~ Li~ .) _,:,;.. .:.. • .,(:. : j_,:;.J,;., cS.) J:-r: i ..:.~.,:..c. u 1 _,.:..! ) J> i.:, ~...1..:.~ ~; i.:,) t: ... ) 1.) u L~) ...1..:; t.. ru ~:;. ) 1 .i J • "w)J! j~., uJ~\... t u I.:..._, .\.:.f: :, _,;.. J.,., j\ I..,; l:: ... )~ ei .1=:-~• "';"'":""' '5 ...1.1~; .. i.1::!of; .. ; \;. I :, J> 1 Jta"' ., '-:-1 _,k. c.Slt:l''! 0::.J_. cS !hi J J l~ I ;) ..:,._;\:, 4j )i\-.l~ .:..;... ., ':"":a.; J.;.!.9 t:;.!.i) .. e; L)!. ili .. _:,l...1.;\ c!l,_ ~...I.J_ 4 o..l.J_) .)( ;I 1 t> r .,...c. If. I ;I ., ' t .. .) J! c.~\!, ul J. I ., ul:-!.;" c.Sua:-J) S !jl...1.11 ~_, • ..lo.:. o..\;\_,;.. 11)t>,,., "yl:_< _, L)!.) ~.!.I.) 4,, i~ ... I :J~b (,.:.,\;. ..1..a-1 ..1.-?' r.S l,~ o4J\..-) , , n u .1.. f.);o,~1...1..;,..r-t..J':'; "\ r JJ;I ..,;'=61.. ..i.~~ , v, ,4 ...... ..J~;I , • ..i ~I:' r .. 1 .1a .. , .i..;...r c,~ 1 it

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PAGE 109

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AQA: POUR-E DAVOUD'S LJiJCTURE ON " PERSIA AND INDIA 'l Divan Bahadur K. M. Zaveri was in the chair at the above function, and introduced the learned lecturer to the audience with the following choice words :~I &J' • .r"l> J ul.J~I ~1c. ~J.) c.S}.L.i; r~ rt.u i~ J is9L.. (""\ jl t ..:. ... I~ f ~\ ~J.) ,S tt.J_\ o)) J,,J iL..; c,J_ .. )'I> I; ul.': ... .,.c. ~_1 • ..i.:>).)..,..~ (-,1; ulJ_I ul ... ; ~\J i.,k ~.1..1; c.SI.J!ulJ_I J>l!J>l!, Jl-... \ L.,..,::. .. t ,,)J ,J,)':> 4 .)_J> ;'6 ;.>.i c:,~I 1l.. UJ.:.~I;\);.)) t ... ~ Gl~,r.i Gl~ (Dr. Tagore) )J(\,";S.) yl.:.~ jl jJ;Ji~~ .:.,;J! w_)) J ... l:> ~;.1ll ;~ JL..; t l....:... I c.S \ Ji i ;I .) JS-J .,;. f • ..i..:.i .) \G; _,.:.;. J. t... J;.... u .,~ _;\ J ..i.;. r•I ~i J: l:> c:,::--...:-.. ., Jki ut=,. ;) J.1 j\ If"!; l,T Y4 .>..:..;.l o)li\ t.Sl:.: S i ;\.) l.(t.,.j I li\

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THE IRAN LEAGUE EST, 1922• Aims and Objects. To renew and continue the connection between the old land of Iran and Hind ; to continue and encourage fraternal sentiment towards and intere~t a~d enthusiasm in the cause of Persia ; to confederate the Zoroastrian population rn Persia with a view to increase, to ameliorate their condition and to strive for J:,heir uplift ; to make researches with refereuce to thefr religion and ancient _Parsi history ; to stimulate commercia! relations with Persia; to encourage Parsis to visit the old land, as _ businessmen or as travellers, for change of climate und health ; to obtain and Rpread among Parnis and others, by means o f literature, authentic information regarding the state of affairs in. Persia ; to secure the sympathy of the Imperial Persian Government aud the Persia11 subjects towards the cause of Parsis in relation to Persia. Pres id ent : Sir Hormusji C. Adenvala , Kt., M.v.o., o.B.E. Vice-Presidents : D. J. Irani, Esq.1 B.A., LL.B. F. K. Dadachanji, Esq., B.A., LL.B. The Hon: Mr. H. M. Mehta. Patrons: l > J Solicitors. Sir Hormusji C. Adenva la, Pirojshaw R. Vak:llaria, Esq Kt., M.v.o., o.B.E. Ruttonji :B\ Ginvala, Esq. Mrs. Dhun mai F. Arjani. The Hon. Mr. H. M. Mehta . Pe~hotanjiD. Marker, Esq. Khan Bahadur R. Pestonji. S. R. Bomonji, _ Esq. Hon. Patron: H. H. Sir S. M. S. Aga Khan, G .C.I.E., G.c.s.1., G.c. v.o., K.c.1.E.; &c. Secretary: Hon. Auditor: Kaikhosro A. Fitter, Esq. Capt. Sohrab R. Bamj i . Hon. Treasurer: Editor of the Quarterly: Phiroze S. Gu.zder, I~sq. Sohrab J. Bulsa1a, Esq., M.A. Office : Kamar Bldg., Cowasji Patel Street, Fort, Bombay.

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I WE HAVE PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HA VE BEEN APPOINTED SOLE AGENTS FOR T IUMP T R A s TH FIN T IGHT CAR IN THE W RLD ; . . H A ve1'y com(odabl6J cm1 with a goocl an.~ : *Tli6 Autoca11 says:-1.ound performance combined u.,tth economyt • " A ttractice linest room.11 coachwork and an f The. M ot01'' says :-excellent pe1'fwmance m'e the main features.' Everything you require is included in the specifications ; of 'Triumph cars. ' } The51e outstanding models-pioneers o,f centralised jacking; the neatest sliding roof, operated by the winding mechanism; the pillarless four door saloon, and many other distinct advances offer you the greatest possible return, in value and in service, on your outlay. Write for full details, or better still, arrange to have a demonstration at your convenience and without incurring tb& : ~lighte _ $ _ t ob_ligation. , _ . ~,.. . '"~-.. t~'~ . FIVE MODELS , OFEN t. ANl) CLOSED CARS ,.;. .:;. ~ yl.".'~,;' . : , .. . i THE SUPER E~q~T,< .TH,E .SUP'ER NINE, ".rHE TE .. THE TWELVE SIX. -AND O THE SbUTHERN CROSS SPORTS SOLE AGENTS: BO B Y CYCLE & MOTO . A ENCY, LTD., ' Telegrams~ 534, SANDHUR '1' BRIDGE, BoM BAY, 7. Telephone: "CYCLOSTER, '' Branches: Lahore, Karachi & Ahmedabad. 40585 Edited by S~hrab Jamshedji Bulsara, M.A., published by Kaikhosbro Ardeshir Fitter Secretary, the Iran League, at Kamar Bldg., Cowasji Patel St., Fort, Bombay, and printed by Hosang r.J;, Anklesaria, at the Fort Printing Press, 1, Parsi Bazar St., Fort, Bombay.