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{{Short description|Iranian ethnoreligious community in the Indian subcontinent}}
{{Short description|Zoroastrian community in India}}
{{distinguish|Parsi}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{one source|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Zoroastrianism sidebar}}
{{Zoroastrianism sidebar}}


The '''Irani''' ({{lang-fa|ایرانی}}; meaning ''Iranian'') are an [[ethnoreligious group|ethno-religious]] community in the [[Indian subcontinent]]; they belong to the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrians]] who emigrated from [[Iran]] to [[British India]] in the 19th and 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite web| title = Emigration of Iranian Elites to India during the 16-18th centuries | url = http://asiecentrale.revues.org/480 | access-date = 2013-12-17| first = Haneda | last = Masashi }}</ref> They are culturally, linguistically, ethnically and socially distinct from the [[Parsis]], who&nbsp;– although also Zoroastrians&nbsp;– emigrated to the Indian subcontinent from [[Greater Iran]] many centuries before the Iranis did, starting with the [[Islamic Conquest of Persia]] by the [[Sunni Caliphate]].<!-- no need to be more precise than this. Neither the precise date nor the precise location are known -->
The '''Irani''' ({{lang-fa|ایرانی}}; meaning ''Iranian'') are an [[ethnoreligious group|ethno-religious]] community in the [[Indian subcontinent]]; they descend from the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrians]] that emigrated from [[Iran]] to [[British India]] in the 19th and 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite web| title = Emigration of Iranian Elites to India during the 16-18th centuries | url = http://asiecentrale.revues.org/480 | access-date = 2013-12-17| first = Haneda | last = Masashi }}</ref> They are culturally, linguistically, ethnically and socially distinct from the [[Parsis]], who&nbsp;– although also Zoroastrians&nbsp;– emigrated to the Indian subcontinent from [[Greater Iran]] many centuries prior, starting with the [[Islamic conquest of Persia]].<!-- no need to be more precise than this. Neither the precise date nor the precise location are known -->


==Distinction from Parsis==
==Distinction from Parsis==
 
The Parsis and Iranis are considered legally distinct. A 1909 ''[[obiter dictum]]'' relating to the Indian Zoroastrians observed that Iranis (of the now defunct [[Bombay Presidency]]) were not obliged to uphold the decisions of the then regulatory Parsi [[Panchayati raj|Panchayat]]. Some of the Irani community speaks an [[ethnolect]] called [[Zoroastrian Dari language|Zoroastrian Dari]]. However, the two communities increasingly [[intermarry]] and are said to have been "integrated well" with each other.<ref>{{cite web | title = What sets Zoroastrian-Iranis apart | access-date = 2018-06-24 | first = Padmaja | last = Shastri | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/What-sets-Zoroastrian-Iranis-apart/articleshow/572604.cms }}</ref>
The Parsis and Iranis are considered legally distinct. A 1909 ''[[obiter dictum]]'' relating to the Indian Zoroastrians observed that Iranis (of the now defunct [[Bombay Presidency]]) were not obliged to uphold the decisions of the then regulatory Parsi [[Panchayati raj|Panchayat]]. Some of the Irani community speaks an [[ethnolect]] called [[Zoroastrian Dari language|Zoroastrian Dari]]. However, the two communities increasingly intermarry and are said to have been "integrated well" with each other.<ref>{{cite web | title = What sets Zoroastrian-Iranis apart | access-date = 2018-06-24 | first = Padmaja | last = Shastri | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/What-sets-Zoroastrian-Iranis-apart/articleshow/572604.cms }}</ref> Also, Parsis avoided eating cow meat due to the [[beef ban in India]], while Iranis and Zoroastrians outside [[South Asia]] have always eaten beef.


==History==
==History==


Although the term 'Irani' is first attested during the [[Mughal era]], most Iranis are descended from immigrants who left Iran and migrated to the Indian subcontinent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, Iran was ruled by the [[Qajar dynasty|Qajars]] and religious [[persecution of Zoroastrians]] was widespread. Some Iranis still speak [[Persian language|Persian]] and the [[Dari (Zoroastrian)|Dari]] dialects of the Zoroastrians of those provinces. Iranis are generally seen as a subset of the wider Parsi community.
Although the term 'Irani' is first attested during the [[Mughal era]], most Iranis are descended from immigrants who left Iran and migrated to the Indian subcontinent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, Iran was ruled by the [[Qajar dynasty|Qajars]] and religious [[persecution of Zoroastrians]] was widespread. Some Iranis still speak [[Persian language|Persian]] and the [[Dari (Zoroastrian)|Dari]] dialects of the Zoroastrians of those provinces. Iranis are generally seen as a subset of the wider Zoroastrian community.


As is also the case for the Parsis, the Iranis predominantly settled the west-coast of India, in the states of [[Gujarat]] and [[Maharashtra]]. A concentration of their people live in and around the city of [[Mumbai]].
As is also the case for the Parsis, the Iranis predominantly settled the west-coast of India, in the states of [[Gujarat]] and [[Maharashtra]]. A concentration of their people live in and around the cities of [[Mumbai]] and [[Pune]].


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 08:29, 1 July 2022

Template:Zoroastrianism sidebar

The Irani (Persian: ایرانی; meaning Iranian) are an ethno-religious community in the Indian subcontinent; they descend from the Zoroastrians that emigrated from Iran to British India in the 19th and 20th centuries.[1] They are culturally, linguistically, ethnically and socially distinct from the Parsis, who – although also Zoroastrians – emigrated to the Indian subcontinent from Greater Iran many centuries prior, starting with the Islamic conquest of Persia.

Distinction from Parsis[edit | edit source]

The Parsis and Iranis are considered legally distinct. A 1909 obiter dictum relating to the Indian Zoroastrians observed that Iranis (of the now defunct Bombay Presidency) were not obliged to uphold the decisions of the then regulatory Parsi Panchayat. Some of the Irani community speaks an ethnolect called Zoroastrian Dari. However, the two communities increasingly intermarry and are said to have been "integrated well" with each other.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Although the term 'Irani' is first attested during the Mughal era, most Iranis are descended from immigrants who left Iran and migrated to the Indian subcontinent during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At the time, Iran was ruled by the Qajars and religious persecution of Zoroastrians was widespread. Some Iranis still speak Persian and the Dari dialects of the Zoroastrians of those provinces. Iranis are generally seen as a subset of the wider Zoroastrian community.

As is also the case for the Parsis, the Iranis predominantly settled the west-coast of India, in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. A concentration of their people live in and around the cities of Mumbai and Pune.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Masashi, Haneda. "Emigration of Iranian Elites to India during the 16-18th centuries". Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. Shastri, Padmaja. "What sets Zoroastrian-Iranis apart". Retrieved 24 June 2018.


Template:Iranian peoples Template:Social groups of Gujarat