Hinglish

Syriac Christians and the Parsis

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 17: India, a Home to Many · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 17.2

Learn

From the 4th century CE, Syriac Christians, who worshipped in the ancient Syriac language, faced trouble in West Asia: the Roman Empire called some of them heretics (holders of views against the dominant one), and the Persian Empire suspected them of helping Rome. They travelled east along trade routes to the Malabar coast (Kerala), where they could worship freely. Their weddings today blend Christian rites with Kerala customs.

Zoroastrianism, founded by the prophet Zarathushtra, worships one God, Ahurā Mazdā, and stresses choosing good over evil. After Arab forces conquered the Sassanid Empire of Persia in the 7th century, Zoroastrians faced forced conversion, extra religious taxes and destroyed fire temples. Between the 8th and 10th centuries, groups sailed to Gujarat carrying their sacred fire. A legend says King Jadi Rāṇā of Sanjān showed them a full jug of milk to say his land was full; a Parsi wise man stirred in sugar without spilling a drop, showing they would blend in and sweeten life. The fire still burns at Udvada, and India has the world's largest Parsi population. The Avesta and the Vedas share many word roots: haoma = soma, yasna = yajña.

Explore: Syriac Christians or Parsis?

  1. Sort each clue.

Remember

  • Syriac Christians fled persecution in West Asia and settled on the Malabar coast.
  • Parsis fled Persia and found a home in Gujarat; their faith shares roots with the Vedas.

Quick check

What did dissolving sugar in milk without spilling it mean?

  1. the newcomers would blend in and enrich life without crowding anyone out
  2. the king's milk was too sweet
  3. the Parsis wanted to sell sugar
  4. the jug was empty
Answer

the newcomers would blend in and enrich life without crowding anyone out. The king was pleased and let them settle.

Think about it

How can a community keep its own faith and still become part of Indian society?

One answer

By keeping its prayers, festivals and places of worship while adopting local language, dress, food and customs, as Parsis and Syriac Christians did.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.