Tanya Ranjan
The Parsi community’s connection with the steel city dates back to its earliest days. Following the establishment of the Tata Steel plant in 1907, the first group of Parsis arrived in Jamshedpur around 1908. As the steel plant took shape, more Parsis migrated to the city, and to this day, they remain an integral part of its social and cultural fabric.
At the heart of Jamshedpur’s origin story is Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, a Parsi industrialist with an almost prophetic vision of modern India. In 1907, he established the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO), envisioning not just a steel plant but a model city that prioritised workers’ welfare, green spaces, sanitation, and planned development. Then known as Kalimati, Jamshedpur was a dream found in a stretch of tribal land between the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers. When you walk through the orderly lanes of Bistupur in Jamshedpur, past manicured roundabouts and quiet gardens, you’re walking through the dreams of a community far from home.
The first Parsis to arrive in the city were Ratansha Rustom Modi, Ratan Barucha, and Jamshed Dastur. At the time, they were employed at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai but were personally appointed by Sir Dorabji Tata, the first chairman of Tata Steel (then TISCO), to join the company. “When they arrived in Jamshedpur, they were received at the station, which was then known as Kalimati, and the township was known as Sakchi,” recalls Sir Dinshaw Mody, fondly known as “Dicky” Mody. “They resided in tent accommodations set up in Sakchi. The site where the Jamshedpur Eye Hospital stands today was once the location of these tents, which housed early workers of the steel plant,” he continues.
In 1925, the Parsi community approached the Tatas with a request for a plot of land to establish an Aramgah (cemetery), which was granted to them in 1927. “It was around 1937 that the Jamshedpur Parsi Association (JPA) was formed,” says Sir Dicky Mody. The Association was formed to support the welfare and cultural needs of the community. Under its leadership, several key institutions were built for the Parsis, including a school, a residential colony and a community hall. “The Agiary was built in 1960 and officially consecrated on 3 March 1960, on Jamsetji Tata’s birthday. Its holy fire was brought from Bombay’s old Cursetjee Manockjee Shroff Agiary by plane. This was the first time where an open fire was brought in a cargo plane, with a Parsi crew,” recalls Sir Dicky Mody. “When we were all kids, we were living in the Parsi Colony. A Parsi pilot flew the plane, and since we were young, we were made to see the process of how the fire was brought,” recalls Sir Sarosh Vafizdar, a long-time resident of Jamshedpur.
“I remember there being a lot of Parsis in Jamshedpur. At least a few 1000 in Jamshedpur, including Telco,” he recalls. “We used to have get-togethers in the Parsi Hostel, which is in Baug-e-Jamshed. The hostel used to have a lot of young Parsis who had come here to work. A dormitory was made for these young men for accommodation. The community would come to meet during our New Year’s and we would celebrate together. Even the Parsis from Telco would come in a bus. Today, we do meet, but most of the community members have moved out. We are in total of 120–125 people left in Jamshedpur,” he continues. “I remember when I was young; the community was much stronger. The young people today move out, so they are not as engaged with the culture these days,” he further explains.
Like elsewhere in India, Jamshedpur’s Parsi population has declined rapidly in recent decades due to migration, intermarriage, and falling birth rates. Younger generations moved to Mumbai, Pune, or abroad in search of educational and professional opportunities. With fewer than 100 Parsis now reportedly living in the city, many worry about the community’s continued visibility.
Although Parsis in Jamshedpur were never a large demographic (numbering only a few hundred at their peak), their presence was deeply felt in corporate leadership, philanthropy, and institutional design. Many early managers and engineers at Tata Steel were Parsis. They may be a small community, but their contribution to the Indian corporate sector, especially at Tata, has been nothing short of foundational. The essence of the Parsi legacy in Jamshedpur doesn’t need large numbers to survive. It survives in ideas—in the ethical conduct expected of Tata Steel employees, in the gardens planted around factories, and in the schools founded on values of rationality and care.
Among the towering Parsi figures who shaped Jamshedpur’s institutional and cultural landscape was Jehangir Ghandy, who served as the first Indian Director of Tata Steel and later became its Managing Director. Known for his refined leadership and deep concern for human development, Ghandy played a key role in establishing many of Jamshedpur’s premier educational and civic institutions, including XLRI, Loyola School, and the Jamshedpur School of Art. Under his watch, Jamshedpur evolved into not just an industrial town but an intellectual and cultural hub. Ghandy’s belief in compassionate capitalism and ethical leadership set a tone that resonated across generations of Tata Steel employees and administrators. He was instrumental in shaping the city’s emphasis on quality of life, one that integrated parks, schools, and clubs.
This legacy of visionary leadership was further advanced by Russi Mody, one of Tata Steel’s most iconic and beloved chairman. Known for his wit, charisma, and deep commitment to people, Mody was a larger-than-life figure whose tenure was marked by industrial growth and unmatched employee relations. He was instrumental in expanding Tata Steel’s production capabilities and global reputation, but more importantly, he was a tireless advocate for workers’ rights, often bypassing bureaucracy to speak directly with employees. Mody made it a point to walk through factory floors, remember workers by name, and prioritise their dignity and welfare. His leadership style, rooted in the Parsi ethic of fairness, transparency, and trust, won him deep admiration in Jamshedpur, where he is remembered not just as a captain of industry but as a true people’s leader.
This legacy was carried forward into the modern era by leaders like Dr J. J. Irani, a distinguished Parsi metallurgist and former Managing Director of Tata Steel. Under his stewardship, Tata Steel underwent significant modernisation, embracing global standards and people-centric policies. Dr Irani’s leadership reflected the same visionary spirit as Jamsetji Tata’s, combining industrial excellence with social responsibility. He championed inclusive growth, improved worker welfare, and helped reinforce Jamshedpur’s image as a city built not just of steel but of values. His contributions mark a vital chapter in the ongoing story of how the Parsi ethos continues to shape Jamshedpur’s identity.
In a country where community identities often shout for recognition, the Parsis of Jamshedpur preferred to leave their mark quietly, through action, not assertion. Their story is a reminder that impact isn’t always about numbers but about the depth of one’s contribution.
As the city continues to grow and modernise, remembering its Parsi legacy isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about honouring a blueprint for civic life rooted in ethics, aesthetics, and empathy.
Because long before CSR was a corporate buzzword, it was simply the way the Parsis did things.
(Author is a writing consultant. Views are personal.)
