List of Parsis

Freddie Mercury
(Farrokh Bulsara) was
probably the best-known
Parsi throughout the
world.

This is a list of Parsis with a Wikipedia article. The Parsis constitute one of the two Zoroastrian
communities of the Indian subcontinent, the other being Irani.

In science and industry

Adi Bulsara (born 1952): physicist

Ardaseer Cursetjee of the Wadia shipbuilding family, first Indian elected Fellow of the Royal Society.

Ardeshir Darabshaw Shroff (1899–1965): economist; delegate at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference; co-
author of the Bombay Plan; founder-director of the Investment Corporation of India; first Indian chairman
of the Bank of India

Ardeshir Godrej (1868–1936): inventor; co-founder (with his brother Piroj) of the Godrej industrial empire

Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy Lady: continued her husband Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy philanthropic work,
builder of Mahim Causeway, connects two islands of Bombay and Salsette (north Bombay.)

Byram Dinshawji Avari (born 1942): Pakistani hotelier, founder and chairman of the Avari Group of
companies.

Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Sir: philanthropist and founder of B.J. Medical College, Pune.

Cowasjee Jehangir, Sir (1879–1962): civil engineer; master constructor of Bombay

Cowasji Shavaksha Dinshaw (Adenwalla) (1827–1900): entrepreneur; founder of the modern port of Aden

Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney Sir, (1812–1878): 1st Baronet, philanthropist, including various academic
buildings of the Bombay University.

Cyrus Chothia: molecular biologist

Cyrus Pallonji Mistry (born 1968): Chairman of Tata Group; Irish businessman

Cyrus Poonawalla (born 1945): Industrialist, pharmacologist; co-founder of the Serum Institute of India

Dhunjibhoy Bomanji, Sir (1862 – 1937): Shipping Magnate, philanthropist[1]

Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, Sir (1823–1901): founded the first textile factories in India

Dorabji Tata, Sir (1859–1932): industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Dorab Tata Trust.

Fardunjee Marzban (1787–1847): publisher, founded the first vernacular newspaper on the Indian
subcontinent Bombay Samachar

Homi Jehangir Bhabha (1909–1966): nuclear scientist; first chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy
Commission.

Homi Maneck Mehta, Sir (1871–1948): industrialist in textiles, insurance, banking, chemicals & sugar.
Represented India at League of Nations, Chairman of Bombay War Gift Fund and President of Victory
Thanksgiving Fund.

Homi Nusserwanji Sethna (1923–2010): Padma Vibhushan awardee, chemical engineer; guided the
development of India's first nuclear explosive device.

Hormusjee Naorojee Mody, Sir (1838–1911): financier and industrialist in Hong Kong. He contributed the
then great sum of $150,000 to help establish the University of Hong Kong.

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (J. R. D.) Tata (1904–1993): industrialist; founder of India's first commercial
airline: Air India

Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, Sir (1783–1859): opened sea trade with China; philanthropist, J J Hospital,

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (1839–1904): industrialist; founder of the Tata group of companies, titled a
"One-Man Planning Commission" by Jawaharlal Nehru

Jehangir Hormusjee Ruttonjee (1880–1960): industrialist; founded Hong Kong's first brewery; established
the first anti-tuberculosis sanatorium in the far-east

Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia (1702–1774): shipwright and naval architect; builder of the first dry-dock in Asia

Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw (18??–1924?): industrialist and philanthropist; NED Engineering College.

Nariman Mehta: organic chemist and inventor of bupropion, the most commonly used antidepressant drug

Nergis Mavalvala: astrophysicist and professor at MIT

Ness Wadia (born 1970): joint-managing director of Bombay Dyeing.

Noshir Gowadia: aircraft engineer and convicted spy

Nowroji Saklatwala Chairman of Tata group of companies from 1932 till his untimely death in 1938.

Pallonji Mistry (born 1929): construction tycoon

Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej (1882–1972): entrepreneur; co-founder (with his brother Ardeshir) of the Godrej
industrial empire

Ratan Naval Tata (born 1937): Chairman emeritus of Tata Sons; former Chairman of the Tata Group of
companies; member of the central board of the Reserve Bank of India

Russi Mody (born 1918): former Chairman and Managing Director of Tata Steel Limited. He is the son of
Sir Homy Modi and brother of Piloo Mody.

Rustom Jal Vakil: cardiologist

Shiraz Minwalla (born 1973): theoretical physicist, String theorist

Spenta R. Wadia theoretical physicist.

Ratan Jamshetji Tata, Sir: younger son of Jamshetji Tata, industrialist and philanthropist, Sir Ratan Tata
Trust

Dr Villoo Morawala-Patell, MD of Avesthagen, Officer of the National Order of Merit holder

In academia

Kaikhosrov D. Irani (1922-2017): former protégé of Albert Einstein; emeritus professor of Philosophy of
Science at the City College of New York.

Homi K. Bhabha (born 1949): cultural-studies theorist; Professor, Harvard University.

Jamshed Bharucha (born 1956): President, Cooper Union. Formerly, Dean of the Faculty of Arts &
Sciences at Dartmouth College (first Indian American to serve as the dean of a school at an Ivy League
institution).

Mahzarin Banaji: Professor of Psychology, Harvard University

Ness Shroff [2] Ohio Eminent Scholar and Chaired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and
Computer Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University

Rusi Taleyarkhan: Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University

Rohinton Kamakaka: Professor of Molecular Cell Developmental biology at University of California, Santa
Cruz

Dinshaw Patel:[3] Professor and Abby Rockefeller Mauze Chair of Experimental Therapeutics at Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, member of the prestigious United States National Academy of Sciences

Thrity Umrigar (born 1961): Armitage Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University
N. H. Wadia (1925-2016): Prominent neurologist; Director of Neurology at Grant Medical College and Sir
J. J. Group of Hospitals for 25 years

Vistasp Karbhari: President, University of Texas at Arlington

Military

Lieutenant General FN Billimoria: Former Indian Army officer and head of Wellington Cantonment, father
of Indo-British entrepreneur Karan Bilimoria, Lord Bilimoria

Admiral Jal Cursetji (born 1919): Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy

Air Marshal Aspy Engineer (1912–2002): Former Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force

Air Marshal Minoo Merwan Engineer (1921–1997): Former Indian Air Force AOC-in-Chief of Eastern and
Western Air Commands

Vice Admiral Rustom K. S. Ghandhi (1924–2014): Indian Navy Commander-in-Chief, Western Naval
Command and former Aide-de-camp to Governor-General of India Lord Louis Mountbatten

Kavasji Jamshedji Petigara: First Indian Deputy Commissioner of the Mumbai Police

Lieutenant General Adi M. Sethna: Former Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army

J. P. B. Jeejeebhoy (1891-1950), first Indian pilot in the Royal Flying Corps

Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Tarapore:, Indian Army officer and commanding officer of the Poona Horse,
winner of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for gallantry

Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major (born 1947): Former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (1914–2008): Former Indian Chief of Army Staff and the first Indian with
the rank of Field Marshal

In entertainment, religion, sports

Aban Marker Kabraji (born 1953): Pakistani ecologist, Asian regional director of IUCN

Amyra Dastur (born 1993): model, film actress, television presenter

Ardeshir Cowasjee (1926–2012): investigative journalist and newspaper columnist.

Ardeshir Irani: Filmmaker

Aruna Irani: Bollywood actress

Bapsi Sidhwa (born 1938): author and screenwriter; vocal proponent of women's rights

Behram "Busybee" Contractor (1930–2001): journalist and columnist.

Behramji Malabari (1853–1912): poet, publicist, author, and social reformer.

Bejan Daruwalla (born 1931): astrologer.

Boman Irani (born 1959): Indian film and theatre actor, voice artist and photographer.

Burjor Khurshedji Karanjia (1919–2012): Indian film journalist and editor, chairman NFDC

Cyrus Broacha (born 1971): MTV India VJ and stand-up comedian.

Cyrus Poncha (born 1976): Asian Squash Federation Junior Coach of the Year 2003–04.

Daisy Irani: Bollywood actress.

Deena M. Mistri (1924–2011): author and educationalist; recipient of Pakistan's "Pride of Performance"
medal.

Diana Eduljee (born 1956): first captain of the Indian women’s Cricket team – from 1978 till 1993

Dinyar Contractor: Parsi stage actor, Comedian and Bollywood actor

Erick Avari (born 1952): Hollywood actor.

Eruch Jessawala: Meher Baba's interpreter

Faredoon Irani: cinematographer

Farokh Engineer (born 1938): cricketer.

Farrukh Dhondy (born 1944): novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, journalist.

Firdaus Kanga (born 1960): author, actor and screenwriter.

Firdaus Kharas (1955–): animation, television and film producer and director.

Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946–1991): rock icon and lead singer for Queen.

Gary Lawyer: singer

Godrej Sidhwa (born 1925): theologian and historian.

Goshpi Avari (born 19??): first Pakistani woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.

Homai Vyarawalla (1913–2012): India's first woman photojournalist, Padma Vibhushan.

Homi Adajania (born 1972): Film Director, Writer and Scuba Diving Instructor

Jivanji Jamshedji Modi Sir: Zoroastrian scholar, Ph.D from Heidelberg, Germany, recognition and awards,
for scholarship, from Sweden, France, and Hungary.

John Abraham (born 1972): Bollywood actor, producer and former model

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (1892–1988): composer, music critic, pianist, and writer.

Kaizad Gustad (born 1968): film director.

Kashmira Irani (born 1989): television and stage actress

Keki Daruwalla (born 1937): poet and writer

Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla (1875–1956): high priest and religious scholar.

Meher Baba (Merwan Sheriar Irani; 1894–1969): Indian mystic

Mehli Mehta (1908–2002): musician; founder of the Bombay Philharmonic and Bombay String Orchestras.

Mehr Jesia Indian model

Nariman "Nari" Contractor (born 1934): cricketer; coach at the CCI Academy.

Nauheed Cyrusi (born 1982): model, film actress, television presenter

Nazneen Contractor (born 1982): film actress

Nina Wadia (born 1968): British-Indian comedian and television actress, currently and most notably from
EastEnders.

Perizaad Zorabian (born 1973): model, film actress

Persis Khambatta (1950–1998): actress and model. Miss India in 1965.

Phiroz Mehta (1902-1994): writer on religious topics and philosopher.

Pahlan Ratanji "Polly" Umrigar (1926–2006): cricketer.

Rachel Viccaji Pakistani Musician.

Rohinton Mistry (born 1952): novelist, short story author, screenplay writer.

Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia (1912–2008): journalist & editor, founder of India's first tabloid, Blitz.

Sam Dastor (born 1941): television actor and director.

Sanaya Irani (born 1983): television actress.

Shapur Kharegat (1932–2000): journalist, editor and director of The Economist (Asia).

Shiamak Davar: Bollywood choreographer

Sohrab Modi (1897–1984): stage and film actor, director and producer.

Sooni Taraporevala (born 1957): screenwriter, author and photographer.

Varun Toorkey (born 1990): television and film actor.

Viraf Phiroz Patel (born 1980): The Grasim Mr. India 2005, model turned actor

Zarin Mehta (born 1938): musician; executive director of the New York Philharmonic since 2000

Zarnak Sidhwa (born 1972): Pakistani Chef with a TV show on Masala TV.

Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): human rights campaigner

Zoe Viccaji Pakistani Singer and Musician

Zubin Mehta (born 1936): musician; Musical Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, former director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and
Bavarian State Opera.
Zubin Varla (born 1970): stage actor.

Politicians, activists and bureaucrats

B. P. Wadia (1881–1958), Indian theosophist and labour activist. Pioneered the creation of workers unions
in India.

Cowasji Jehangir (Readymoney) (1812–1878): J.P.; introduced income tax in India; first baronet of
Bombay.

Frene Ginwala (born 1932): member of the ANC and aided Nelson Mandela in abolishing apartheid in
South Africa. Later served for 7 years as Speaker Of the House of Parliament in South Africa

Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta (1886–1952): former Mayor of Karachi for 12 consecutive years.

Jamsheed Marker (born 1922): Pakistani diplomat, ambassador to more countries than any other person;
recipient of Hilal-i Imtiaz.

Justice Dorab Patel (1924–1997): former Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, former Justice of Supreme
Court of Pakistan and human rights campaigner.

Mancherjee Bhownagree (1851–1933): politician, second Asian to be elected to the House of Commons
(Conservative).

Minocher Bhandara (1937?–2008): Pakistani parliamentarian and owner of Muree Brewery.

Minoo Masani (1905–1998): author, parliamentarian and a member of the Constituent Assembly.

Piloo Mody (1926–1983): architect, parliamentarian, one of the founder-members of the Swatantra Party.

Rustam S. Sidhwa (1927–1997): judge on the Supreme Court of Pakistan as well as one of the original
eleven judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Shapurji Saklatvala (1874–1936): socialist, workers' welfare activist, third Asian to be elected to the House
of Commons (Communist, Labour).

Zerbanoo Gifford (born 1950): author and founder of the ASHA Centre made political history being elected
as the first non-white woman for the Liberal Party in 1982.

Indian Independence Movement

Bhikaiji Cama (1861–1936): political activist, co-creator of the Indian nationalist flag.

Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917): economist, political activist, first Asian to be elected to the House of
Commons of the United Kingdom (Liberal), first to publicly demand independence for India.

Feroze Gandhi (1912–1960): journalist and politician; Indian MP under his father-in-law Jawaharlal Nehru;
husband of Indira Gandhi, father of Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi, and grandfather of Rahul Gandhi,
Priyanka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi.
Khurshed Framji Nariman (18??–19??): social activist, Mayor of Bombay. Member of the Indian National
Congress.

Pherozeshah Mehta, Sir (1845–1915): political activist, co-founder and a President of the Indian National
Congress, founder of the Bombay Municipal Corporation

Law

Fali Sam Nariman (born 1929): jurist, recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Nanabhoy ("Nani") Palkhivala (1920–2002): prominent jurist and economist.

S. H. Kapadia: 38th Chief Justice of India.

Sam Piroj Bharucha (born 1937): Chief Justice of India.

Soli Jehangir Sorabjee (born 1930): former Attorney-General of India.

Hormasji Maneckji Seervai (born 1906): eminent Indian jurist.

T. R. Andhyarujina (born 1933): senior advocate.

Cornelia Sorabji: first female graduate of Bombay University, first female to read law at Oxford University
and first woman to practice law in India and Britain.
Rohinton Fali Nariman: Judge, Supreme Court of India; Delhi University; Harvard University

Others

Bukhtyar Rustomji (1899–1936): Mumbai-born Lancaster doctor executed for murdering his wife and a
maid.

Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja (1873–1947): first Indian to be appointed appraiser of precious stones to
British Indian customs. Awarded the title of Khan Sahib.

Keiki R. Mehta: ophthalmologist and Padma Shri awardee

Rattanbai Petit (1900–1929): second wife of Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Jehangir Hormasji Kothari (1857–1934): philanthropist and world traveller.

In arts

Hormazd Narielwalla (born 1979)

Jehangir Sabavala (1922–2011): painter

Karl Keki Singporewala (born 1983): architect & sculptor

Shirin Darasha (1938–2012): playwright

See also
 Irani
List of Zoroastrians

References

1. ^ "Sir Dhunjibhoy Bomanji" . Gazeteer for Scotland. Retrieved 11 January 2018.

2. ^ http://newslab.ece.ohio-state.edu/home/

3. ^ Biography

Last edited 6 days ago by Ohnoitsjamie

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