Demographic Status:
The Zorastrians are popularly known as Parsis. They named as such after the founder of their faith Zoraster. They came to India in the 8th century AD. They wanted to escape tire religious persecution at the hands of Muslims of Iran which was the country of their origin the Zorastrains soon made India as their home. According to 2001 census they comprise less than 0.05 % of the total population. They hardly number about 1 lakh 75 % of the Zorastrians of the world are settled in India. They are mainly concentrated in Maharashtra (about 80,000) and Gujarat (20,000). Further 90% of the Maharasthra Zorastrians live in Mumbai city.
Background Social Status:
On their arrival in India on western coast their leaders has a meeting with local ruler and prominent citizens in the course of their talk the leader of the Parsi group asked his host to bring a glass of milk and little sugar. When brought the added the sugar and said believed to have remarked “ as the sugar dissolved in milk and may impart sweetness to it so we mix in your society and results in sweetness.” This indeed has happened their contribution to India is quite disproportionate to size but for religious rights they have adopted life styles of western community in their region Haridbly present may among themselves. Their efforts to seek rumour with other non presently parses in 8th century caused resentment. Even though zorastrains composes small community their contribution to economic education and advance field. Dababai Navruoji, firdosh shah mehta, Ratan Tata etc. provided national leadership at the time of liberation struggle especially the most successful orivae enterprise in India makes the parsi presence felt in Indian economy. More important is parsi business houses not only financial several education & cultural establishment out also liberally contributed to such institutions regardless of their sponsorship.
Conclusion:
The zorastrains in India are an urban middle class they are highly literate and distinguished in profession economically well off & culturally adoptive community. However they are socially insulated and practice endearing rather rigroces further, they scarcely attempted proselytization. These conditions eminently rendered zorastrains and acceptable in Hindu in where in society is socially regementalesed and tolerance of religious doctrius in institutionalised.