This is the story of the Parsis, a small community following one of the oldest religion on Earth – Zoroastrianism. A community that is also trying to survive against its diminishing numbers.

It is said that Zarthushtra, the prophet of Zoroastrianism, lived around 800 BCE and taught the core concept of Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds. This early religion found its influence in all monotheistic religions that followed.

The Parsis arrived on the west coast of India 1200 years ago, when their homeland, Persia, was invaded by the Arabs.
After settling in India, they moved to Mumbai where the majority now resides.
The risk that the community will disappear is real: in 1961 there were 110,000 Parsis, in 2011 the number dropped down to half  57,000. The government of India too has taken unique measures to revitalize the community. Its Jiyo Parsi scheme provides free fertility help to Parsi couples trying to conceive babies.

When they arrived in India as refugees asking for asylum they made a promise, to melt in the Indian society like sugar in milk. And so they did, from altering the landscape of Mumbai with numerous statues of great Parsi minds, to giving India some of the greatest industrial groups like Tata, Godrej, Wadia, Shapoorji Pallonji. The Parsis made India theirs as much as Indian embraced them.

An example that Europe can learn from, particularly in the time we are living.