In an old, neo-gothic building in Fort, an upmarket area in India's financial capital Mumbai, is a run-down office that produces one of country's oldest and most prominent Parsi magazines - Parsiana.
The magazine was started in 1964 by Pestonji Warden, a Parsi doctor who also dabbled in the sandalwood trade, to chronicle the community in the city.
Since then, the magazine has grown in subscribers and reach. For many Parsis, it has offered a window into the goings-on in the community, helping members across the world feel connected and seen as their numbers dwindled and dispersed.
After 60 years, Parsiana will shut this October due to dwindling subscribers, lack of funds, and no successor to run it.
The news has saddened not just subscribers but also those who knew of the magazine's legacy.
It's like the end of an era, says Sushant Singh, 18, a student. We used to joke about how you weren't a 'true Parsi' if you didn't know about Parsiana or wax eloquent about it.
Since the announcement in August, many tributes have surfaced. Readers have expressed that Parsiana has been more than just a magazine; it has been a companion, chronicling the Parsi journey with dedication.
Jehangir Patel, who bought the magazine for one rupee in 1973, transformed it from a monthly serving primarily essays into a vibrant fortnightly journal with reported stories, humor, and insights on contentious community issues.
Under Patel’s leadership, the magazine addressed controversial topics often avoided by traditional publications, including its community's dwindling population and interfaith relationships.
As the team begins to prepare for the final issues, their sense of tiredness is mixed with sadness, marking the close of a significant outlet for the Parsi community.
