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Parsi–Muslim riots

Coordinates:19°04′34″N72°52′40″E/ 19.0760°N 72.8777°E/19.0760; 72.8777
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Parsi–Muslim Riots of 1851, 1857, 1874 and 1885
Part ofReligious violence in India
Date17 October 1851, 10 May 1857, 13 February 1874 and 26 November 1885
Location
19°04′34″N72°52′40″E/ 19.0760°N 72.8777°E/19.0760; 72.8777
Caused byPublication of Muhammad (a Muslim taboo) by the Parsee press, on both occasions.
Casualties
Injuries7 Muslims and 4 Parsees[citation needed]
Bombay is located in Maharashtra
Bombay
Bombay
Location of the riots

TheParsi–Muslim riotsoccurred in 1851 inBombay,[1]and were reprised in 1874 in parts ofGujarat.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 aParsinewspaper,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 someMuslims.A third riot took place on 13 February 1874, over an article on the life of Muhammad in a book entitledFamous Prophets and Communities.[2]

History[edit]

1851[edit]

The first Parsi–Muslim riot began on 17 October 1851[1]and lasted for a month, after a copy of aGujaratiarticle depictedMuhammad.The article, published by Parsi newspaperChitra Gyan Darpan,was posted on the wall of theJama Masjidin Bombay.[3]People leaving the mosque afterNamaz(around 11 a.m.) saw it and were enraged, asIslamforbids thepictorial 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,Zoroastrianfire templeswere ransacked and jewellery was stolen. Thekotwaltried 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 whereCursetjiclarified 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 fromSimon Ockley.To demonstrate goodwill and friendship and to show that the two communities can peacefully coexist,Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoyand theKaziof Bombay rode together, sharing the same carriage through Muslim and Parsi neighbourhoods.[3]

1857[edit]

1874[edit]

On 15 June 1873, Rustomjee Hormusjee Jalbhoy published a book inGujaratithat contained biographies of eminent personalities, including Muhammad. The tension was already building up when an article fromThe Memorialquoted:

"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, theCommissioner of Policeat 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 atKhetwadi.The following day, some Parsis began throwing stones at a Muslim funeral procession heading towards a cemetery. Four Parsis and seven Muslims were admitted toJamsetjee 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]

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

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab Menon, Meena (2018).Riots and After in Mumbai: Chronicles of Truth and Reconciliation.SAGE Publication India Pvt Ltd. pp. 33–34.ISBN978-9352806140.Retrieved16 March2020.
  2. ^Palsetia, Jesse S. (1 January 2001).The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City.BRILL.ISBN9004121145.
  3. ^abChari, Mridula."How an accidentally distorted drawing of the Prophet led to a riot in 19th-century Mumbai".Scroll.in.Retrieved4 November2018.
  4. ^abcde"Story of two riots".Frontline.Retrieved4 November2018.
  5. ^"The Story of Two Mumbai Riots in the 19th Century".Parsi Khabar.18 October 2013.Retrieved4 November2018.
  6. ^Alan Williams; Sarah Stewart (16 February 2016).The Zoroastrian Flame: Exploring Religion, History and Tradition.I.B.Tauris. pp. 384–385.ISBN978-0-85772-886-9.