As a community, we Parsis have always regarded our history in India as a glorious one, full of pride and achievement and very little else. But there are other aspects to our history as well, unsavoury aspects that we choose not to see because it doesn't fit into the self-preceptions of who we are.
Histories for the Subjugated gives us a subaltern view of history - history from the point of view of the opressed, not the oppressors. In our case, they are the adivasis of Gujarat who got subjugated to Parsi liquor dealers and landlords in South Gujarat.
The Parsi as the evil Thakur who usurps peasant lands and has his way with their women won't go down well with those of us who believe that we can do no wrong, but the fact is that despite good thoughts, good words and good deeds, we are no more human than anyone else. And alternate readings of history provide a much-needed balance to our perceptions of who we are.
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for far too long the indian imagination has not stretched itself enough to gauge the real picture of the parsis in india. you are absolutely right when you say that it is important to see the other (dark) side of the coin, the other image of the parsis. These episodes are a crucial link and an important chapter in the history of parsis success in india.
we never want to read history as narrated from the oppressed. our education system has never entertained or included that view at all. A pity! our system only teaches us to conform and never to question!
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