Portrayal of the Hindu - Parsi Zoroastrian Community Conflicts in India through Rohinton Mistry’s Novels

Abstract

Literature has always represented society in one form or another because writers are the sensitive souls of the society who are affected by the slightest possible change in their surroundings. These changes get reflected through their works and many times these sound discordant and distressing notes on the behalf of a certain section of the society. This paper deals with Indian literature especially focuses on Indian Diasporic writer Rohinton Mistry who represents the realistic picture of the Parsi religious community as a minority in India. Most of his concerns are devoted towards the preservation of the Parsi Community which is fast moving towards its extinction. And the present paper provides authentic and scholarly insights into Zoroastrian’s faith, beliefs, values, customs, rituals and a brief history of Zoroastrianism in light of Rohinton Mistry’s fiction. His concerns for the socially downtrodden and socially marginalized have found genuine representation in his works like—Such a Long Journey, A Fine Balance and Family Matters. How these races and communities survive during the periods of intense anarchy will be the topic of discussion of this paper.