Parsi–Muslim riots: Difference between revisions

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Date	17 October 1851, 10 May 1857, 13 February 1874 and 26 November 1885
Location	19°04′34″N 72°52′40″E / 19.0760°N 72.8777°E
Caused by	Publication of Muhammad (a Muslim taboo) by the Parsee press, on both occasions.
Casualties
Injuries	7 Muslims and 4 Parsees[citation needed]
	Bombay Location of the riots

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 20:27, 29 October 2025

The Parsi–Muslim riots occurred in 1851 in Bombay,^[1] and were reprised in 1874 in parts of Gujarat. These marked the beginning of a period of tension in the two communities. The first riot took place over the blurred depiction of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, and his appearance in a public print by a Parsi newspaper, Chitra Gyan Darpan, in October 1851. A second riot place in May 1857, over a Parsi named Bejonji Sheriaiji Bharucha was accused of disrespecting a mosque by some Muslims. A third riot took place on 13 February 1874, over an article on the life of Muhammad in a book entitled Famous Prophets and Communities.^[2]

History[edit | edit source]

1851[edit | edit source]

The first Parsi–Muslim riot began on 17 October 1851^[1] and lasted for a month, after a copy of a Gujarati article depicted Muhammad. The article, published by Parsi newspaper Chitra Gyan Darpan, was posted on the wall of the Jama Masjid in Bombay.^[3] People leaving the mosque after Namaz (around 11 a.m.) saw it and were enraged, as Islam forbids the pictorial depiction of Muhammad. Due to the printer, an image of Muhammad was published with a blemish over one of his eyes, making him look blinded in that eye.^[4]

Parsis were attacked by the mob on the streets and in their homes. Shops were looted, Zoroastrian fire temples were ransacked and jewellery was stolen. The kotwal tried stopping the riots but failed to do so. The police were unable to stop the violence. A curfew was declared and the army was posted in various parts of the city.^[4]

One month later, a meeting was held on 24 November 1851 between members of both communities where Cursetji clarified that it was not the intention to hurt Muslim feelings by depicting their prophet. He explained that it was just a piece of information about Muhammad, like all other remarkable personalities that the newspaper was used to publishing. He mentioned that the controversial work was copied from Simon Ockley. To demonstrate goodwill and friendship and to show that the two communities can peacefully coexist, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and the Kazi of Bombay rode together, sharing the same carriage through Muslim and Parsi neighbourhoods.^[3]

1857[edit | edit source]

1874[edit | edit source]

On 15 June 1873, Rustomjee Hormusjee Jalbhoy published a book in Gujarati that contained biographies of eminent personalities, including Muhammad. The tension was already building up when an article from The Memorial quoted:

"a mob of Seedees and Arabs armed with sticks and stones invaded Abdool Rehman Street"
— The Memorial, Friday, February 13, 1874

Sir Frank Henry Souter, the Commissioner of Police at that time, knew about the tensions, but failed to escalate police presence.^[5] The mob, practically unopposed, started attacking Parsis in their homes and on the streets. The next day, riots again erupted at Khetwadi. The following day, some Parsis began throwing stones at a Muslim funeral procession heading towards a cemetery. Four Parsis and seven Muslims were admitted to Jamsetjee Hospital, where several other injured were also treated.^[4]

Narayan Wassoodew and Dr. Blaney took the initiative to launch a Parsi and Muslim community "Reconciliation Movement".^[4] The Parsis demanded "sincere regret at the conduct of the lower classes of their co-religionists" from the Muslims, but the movement failed.^[4] This was due to the fact that the Muslims had failed to submit to the Parsi leaders an authenticated copy of the resolution, despite the Parsis' insistence on it.

1885[edit | edit source]

There was another riot between Parsis and Muslims on 26 November 1885 when land to build a Dargah was not granted by the authorities. As there were Parsi members in the Municipal Council, they were accused of not granting it.^[6]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Menon, Meena (2018). Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation. SAGE Publication India Pvt Ltd. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-9352806140. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
↑ Palsetia, Jesse S. (1 January 2001). The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City. BRILL. ISBN 9004121145.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Chari, Mridula. "How an accidentally distorted drawing of the Prophet led to a riot in 19th-century Mumbai". Scroll.in. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 "Story of two riots". Frontline. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
↑ "The Story of Two Mumbai Riots in the 19th Century". Parsi Khabar. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
↑ Alan Williams; Sarah Stewart (16 February 2016). The Zoroastrian Flame: Exploring Religion, History and Tradition. I.B.Tauris. pp. 384–385. ISBN 978-0-85772-886-9.

Template:Civil navigation

[Menon_2018_pp33-34-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Menon, Meena (2018). Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation. SAGE Publication India Pvt Ltd. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-9352806140. Retrieved 16 March 2020.

[2] Palsetia, Jesse S. (1 January 2001). The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City. BRILL. ISBN 9004121145.

[:0-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Chari, Mridula. "How an accidentally distorted drawing of the Prophet led to a riot in 19th-century Mumbai". Scroll.in. Retrieved 4 November 2018.

[:1-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 "Story of two riots". Frontline. Retrieved 4 November 2018.

[5] "The Story of Two Mumbai Riots in the 19th Century". Parsi Khabar. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2018.

[WilliamsStewart2016-6] Alan Williams; Sarah Stewart (16 February 2016). The Zoroastrian Flame: Exploring Religion, History and Tradition. I.B.Tauris. pp. 384–385. ISBN 978-0-85772-886-9.

[1]

[2]

[3]

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[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Riots which occurred in 1851 in Bombay}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
-{{short description|Riots which occurred in 1851 in Bombay}}
 {{Infobox civil conflict|title= Parsi–Muslim Riots of 1851, 1857 , 1874 and 1885|date=17 October 1851, 10 May 1857, 13 February 1874 and 26 November 1885| partof           = [[Religious violence in India]]|place=[[Bombay]] (now [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]])|coordinates={{coord|19.0760|N|72.8777|E|display=inline,title}}|causes=Publication of Muhammad (a Muslim taboo) by the Parsee press, on both occasions.|injuries=7 Muslims and 4 Parsees{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}|map_type=India Maharashtra|map_label=Bombay|map_caption=Location of the riots}}
 The '''Parsi–Muslim riots''' occurred in 1851 in [[Mumbai|Bombay]],<ref name="Menon 2018 pp33-34">
-{{cite book|last=Menon|first=Meena|title=Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation|year=2018|publisher=SAGE Publication India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-9352806140|pages=33–34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wLcyDQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=16 March 2020}}
+{{cite book|last=Menon|first=Meena|title=Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation|year=2018|publisher=SAGE Publication India Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-9352806140|pages=33–34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wLcyDQAAQBAJ|accessdate=16 March 2020}}
-</ref> and were reprised in 1874 in parts of [[Gujarat]]. These marked the beginning of a period of tension in the two communities. The first riot took place over the blurred depiction of the Islamic prophet, [[Muhammad]], and his appearance in a public print by a [[Parsis|Parsi]] newspaper, ''Chitra Gyan Darpan,'' in October 1851. A second riot place on May 1857,over a Parsi named Bejonji Sheriaiji Bharucha was accused of disrespecting a mosque by some Muslims. A third riot took place on 13 February 1874, over an article on the life of Muhammad in a book entitled ''Famous Prophets and Communities''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R6oNt3M_yLgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=9789004121140&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-u6-17LneAhVMRo8KHaBPDHwQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=9789004121140&f=false|title=The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City|last=Palsetia|first=Jesse S.|date=1 January 2001|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9004121145|language=en}}</ref>
+</ref> and were reprised in 1874 in parts of [[Gujarat]]. These marked the beginning of a period of tension in the two communities. The first riot took place over the blurred depiction of the Islamic prophet, [[Muhammad]], and his appearance in a public print by a [[Parsis|Parsi]] newspaper, ''Chitra Gyan Darpan,'' in October 1851. A second riot place in May 1857, over a Parsi named Bejonji Sheriaiji Bharucha was accused of disrespecting a mosque by some [[Muslims]]. A third riot took place on 13 February 1874, over an article on the life of Muhammad in a book entitled ''Famous Prophets and Communities''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R6oNt3M_yLgC&q=9789004121140|title=The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City|last=Palsetia|first=Jesse S.|date=1 January 2001|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9004121145|language=en}}</ref>
 == History ==
 === 1851 ===
-The first Parsi–Muslim riot began on 17 October 1851<ref name="Menon 2018 pp33-34"/> and lasted for a month, after a copy of a Gujarati article depicted [[Muhammad]]. The article, published by Parsi newspaper ''Chitra Gyan Darpan'', was posted on the wall of the [[Jama Mosque, Mumbai|Jama Masjid]] in Bombay.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/700501/how-an-accidentally-distorted-drawing-of-the-prophet-led-to-a-riot-in-19th-century-mumbai|title=How an accidentally distorted drawing of the Prophet led to a riot in 19th-century Mumbai|last=Chari|first=Mridula|work=Scroll.in|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref> People leaving the mosque after [[Namaz]] (around 11 a.m.) saw it and were enraged, as [[Islam]] forbids the [[depictions of Muhammad|pictorial depiction of Muhammad]]. Due to the printer, an image of Muhammad was published with a blemish over one of his eyes, making him look blinded in that eye.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.frontline.in/the-nation/story-of-two-riots/article5233190.ece|title=Story of two riots|work=Frontline|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref>
+The first Parsi–Muslim riot began on 17 October 1851<ref name="Menon 2018 pp33-34"/> and lasted for a month, after a copy of a [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] article depicted [[Muhammad]]. The article, published by Parsi newspaper ''Chitra Gyan Darpan'', was posted on the wall of the [[Jama Mosque, Mumbai|Jama Masjid]] in Bombay.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/700501/how-an-accidentally-distorted-drawing-of-the-prophet-led-to-a-riot-in-19th-century-mumbai|title=How an accidentally distorted drawing of the Prophet led to a riot in 19th-century Mumbai|last=Chari|first=Mridula|work=Scroll.in|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref> People leaving the mosque after [[Namaz]] (around 11 a.m.) saw it and were enraged, as [[Islam]] forbids the [[depictions of Muhammad|pictorial depiction of Muhammad]]. Due to the printer, an image of Muhammad was published with a blemish over one of his eyes, making him look blinded in that eye.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.frontline.in/the-nation/story-of-two-riots/article5233190.ece|title=Story of two riots|work=Frontline|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref>
-Parsis were attacked by the mob on the streets and in their homes. Shops were looted, Zoroastrian [[fire temple]]s were ransacked and jewellery was stolen. The ''[[kotwal]]'' tried stopping the riots but failed to do so. The police were unable to stop the violence. A curfew was declared and the army was posted in various parts of the city.<ref name=":1" />
+Parsis were attacked by the mob on the streets and in their homes. Shops were looted, [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] [[fire temple]]s were ransacked and jewellery was stolen. The ''[[kotwal]]'' tried stopping the riots but failed to do so. The police were unable to stop the violence. A curfew was declared and the army was posted in various parts of the city.<ref name=":1" />
-One month later, a meeting was held on 24 November 1851 between members of both communities where Cursetji clarified that it was not the intention to hurt Muslim feelings by depicting their prophet. He explained that it was just a piece of information about Muhammad, like all other remarkable personalities that the newspaper was used to publishing. He mentioned that the controversial work was copied from [[Simon Ockley]]. To demonstrate goodwill and friendship and to show that the two communities can peacefully coexist, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy and the Kazi of Bombay rode together, sharing the same carriage through Muslim and Parsi neighbourhoods.<ref name=":0" />
+One month later, a meeting was held on 24 November 1851 between members of both communities where [[Cursetjee|Cursetji]] clarified that it was not the intention to hurt Muslim feelings by depicting their prophet. He explained that it was just a piece of information about Muhammad, like all other remarkable personalities that the newspaper was used to publishing. He mentioned that the controversial work was copied from [[Simon Ockley]]. To demonstrate goodwill and friendship and to show that the two communities can peacefully coexist, [[Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, 3rd Baronet|Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy]] and the [[Qadi|Kazi]] of Bombay rode together, sharing the same carriage through Muslim and Parsi neighbourhoods.<ref name=":0" />
 === 1857 ===
 {{Further information| 1857 Bharuch riot}}
 === 1874 ===
 On 15 June 1873, Rustomjee Hormusjee Jalbhoy published a book in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] that contained biographies of eminent personalities, including Muhammad. The tension was already building up when an article from ''The Memorial'' quoted:
 {{Quote|text="a mob of Seedees and Arabs armed with sticks and stones invaded Abdool Rehman Street"|sign=|source=''The Memorial'', Friday, February 13, 1874}}
-Sir Frank Henry Souter, the Commissioner of Police at that time, knew about the tensions, but failed to escalate police presence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://parsikhabar.net/bombay/the-story-of-two-mumbai-riots-in-the-19th-century/6889/|title=The Story of Two Mumbai Riots in the 19th Century|date=18 October 2013|work=Parsi Khabar|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref> The mob, practically unopposed, started attacking Parsis in their homes and on the streets. The next day, riots again erupted at Khetwadi. The following day, some Parsis began throwing stones at a Muslim funeral procession heading towards a cemetery. Four Parsis and seven Muslims were admitted to Jamsetjee Hospital, where several other injured were also treated.<ref name=":1" />
+Sir Frank Henry Souter, the [[Commissioner of Police (India)|Commissioner of Police]] at that time, knew about the tensions, but failed to escalate police presence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://parsikhabar.net/bombay/the-story-of-two-mumbai-riots-in-the-19th-century/6889/|title=The Story of Two Mumbai Riots in the 19th Century|date=18 October 2013|work=Parsi Khabar|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref> The mob, practically unopposed, started attacking Parsis in their homes and on the streets. The next day, riots again erupted at [[Khetwadi Assembly constituency|Khetwadi]]. The following day, some Parsis began throwing stones at a Muslim funeral procession heading towards a cemetery. Four Parsis and seven Muslims were admitted to [[Jamsetjee Hospital]], where several other injured were also treated.<ref name=":1" />
 Narayan Wassoodew and Dr. Blaney took the initiative to launch a Parsi and Muslim community "Reconciliation Movement".<ref name=":1" /> The Parsis demanded "sincere regret at the conduct of the lower classes of their co-religionists" from the Muslims, but the movement failed.<ref name=":1" /> This was due to the fact that the Muslims had failed to submit to the Parsi leaders an authenticated copy of the resolution, despite the Parsis' insistence on it.
 === 1885 ===
 {{see also|1857 Bharuch riot#Aftermath}}
-There was another riot between Parsis and Muslims on 26 November 1885 when a land to build Dargah was not granted by the authorities. As there were Parsi members in the Municipal Council, they were accused for not granting.<ref name="WilliamsStewart2016">{{cite book|author1=Alan Williams|author2=Sarah Stewart|title=The Zoroastrian Flame: Exploring Religion, History and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rp2LDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT384|date=16 February 2016|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=978-0-85772-886-9|pages=384–385}}</ref>
+There was another riot between Parsis and Muslims on 26 November 1885 when land to build a [[Dargah]] was not granted by the authorities. As there were Parsi members in the [[Municipal council (India)|Municipal Council]], they were accused of not granting it.<ref name="WilliamsStewart2016">{{cite book|author1=Alan Williams|author2=Sarah Stewart|title=The Zoroastrian Flame: Exploring Religion, History and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rp2LDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT384|date=16 February 2016|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=978-0-85772-886-9|pages=384–385}}</ref>
 == See also ==
@@ Line 34: / Line 36: @@
 * [[List of riots in India]]
 * [[Zoroastrianism in India]]
-* [[Persecution of Zoroastrians #Persecution of Zoroastrians by Muslims|Persecution of Zoroastrians by Muslims]]
+* [[Persecution of Zoroastrians#Persecution of Zoroastrians by Muslims|Persecution of Zoroastrians by Muslims]]
 == References ==
 {{reflist}}
 {{Riots in India}}
+{{Zoroastrianism}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Parsi-Muslim riots}}
-[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
+[[Category:Religious riots in India]]
-[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
+[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Mumbai]]
+[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Gujarat]]
+[[Category:1851 in India]]
+[[Category:1857 in India]]
+[[Category:1874 in India]]
+[[Category:1885 in India]]
+[[Category:1850s riots]]
+[[Category:1874 riots]]
+[[Category:1885 riots]]
+[[Category:October 1851]]
+[[Category:May 1857]]
+[[Category:February 1874]]
+[[Category:November 1885]]
+[[Category:Islam in Mumbai]]
+[[Category:Zoroastrianism in India]]
+[[Category:History of Islam in India]]

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