PARSI CASTE STRATIFICATION IN CYRUS MISTRY’S CHRONICLE OF A CORPSE BEARER
Keywords:
Corpse Bearer, Khandia, Nussesalar, Marginalization, Mistry, Parsi, Zoroastrian.Abstract
The works of Bapsi Sidhwa, Rohinton Mistry and other Parsi writers has described the social conditions of Zoroastrian community in the twentieth century Indian sub-continent. They are indeed successful for depicting the various problems encountered by the minority. But, perhaps, one of the major issues has been left out of their comprehensive portrayal. It is the inherent stratification of Parsi community. The Zoroastrian faith is known for being a casteless community from its advent but in the recent times the two of its hereditary jobs have been dragged into the bog of untouchability and with the passage of time, have been solidified as Dalits. This problem has been raised by Cyrus Mistry in his novel Chronicle of a Corpse Bearer where he takes the story of a Parsi corpse bearer who has been continually pestered for choosing that job. His depressive dealing with the world reminds us the introspective Dalit autobiographies. The present paper is an attempt to study the predicament of Parsi corpse bearers. It also tries to delineate the status of corpse bearers from the otherwise affluent Parsi community.
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