Royal Asiatic Society Of Great Britain and Ireland

The role of the British and the impact of the ‘Great Game’

This talk will draw on the research I conducted for my recent book, Zoroastrianism in India and Iran: Persians, Parsis and the Flowering of Political Identity, which examines the cultural, religious, and political ties between the Zoroastrian communities of Iran and India during the late Qajar and early Pahlavi periods.  In particular, I will focus on the role played by the British in encouraging strong relations between the two Zoroastrian communities and on the geo-political factors that motivated them to do so. 

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the rivalry between Britain and Russia over Iran led the British to attempt to utilise their positive relations with the Parsis, Zoroastrians in India, to establish strategic ties with Zoroastrians in Iran.  Additionally, the British supported efforts being made by Parsis to reconnect with their co-religionists and with their ancient homeland. 

Diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia underwent a significant development with the signing of the Anglo-Russian Convention in August 1907.  I will assess the extent to which the tripartite relations between the British, Zoroastrians in Iran, and Parsis were affected by the convention in the following months and years.