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Every viable society has leaders; people with
vision, courage and character who think and act beyond their own
self-interest and can take steps to safeguard the well being of their
people. They lead the way to be among those who refresh the world and
thus make a better place for all humans to live. They are not super-humans
or life forms from other planets. They rise from amongst ordinary people,
caring deeply about the betterment of their society and end up doing
extra-ordinary deeds. They are the type of people who cannot bear to be
indifferent to the pain and sufferings of other human beings. Their
compassionate feelings knows no boundaries of race or religion.
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Middle Row (right to left) Arbab Sohrab
Kianian, Dastur Tirandaz Mazdayasni, Rustam Mahvandad.
Yazd 1931 |
The Zoroastrians of Iran in the past few
centuries were fortunate to have had their share of such caring
visionaries.
[i]
Today, many decades have passed since one of the most distinguished
Zoroastrian leaders of the 20th century in Iran passed away. He
secured a place in the Zartoshties hall of fame due to the abundance of
his good deeds. He was the respected head of the (Naseri)[ii]
Zoroastrian association of Yazd for many terms. Whenever there was an
issue or a problem to be solved, the board members of the Zoroastrian
Anjoman of Yazd would gather at his house for advice and consultation.
During his many years of public service, he
supported and maintained a few institutions. One of these was the Khosravi
elementary school in Yazd. Every morning, students had to stand to
attention in the playground and recite Avesta songs just to remind
themselves of the need to be good, and to live a life filled with good
thoughts, good words and good deeds. He and his loving wife had an open
door policy for all people of every facet of life, regardless of their
background and social status.
He was also in touch with many of the top
government officials who respected him. His close and friendly
relationship with the authorities was very
helpful in resolving issues for the Zoroastrians in Yazd, as the surviving
members of this tiny and fragile community were coming back from the verge
of extinction just a generation earlier. In some ways, the Zoroastrians
of Yazd owe their progress to such a towering man of courage, vision and
care.
This great man of honor and respect was Sohrab
Kianian, or as was known by the Iranian Zartoshties and others as ‘Arbab
Sohrab’.
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Left on middle Row: Arbab
Sohrab Kianian; and family members, Yazd 1956 |
Sohrab Kianian, his brother Keikhosrow and
sister Firozeh were born in Yazd, Iran. They were the only surviving
children of Rostam Keikhosrow Viraf and his wife Mahasti. Sohrab was born
in 1888. It is believed that the Kianian family originally came from
Khurasan and left under difficult circumstances due to the overwhelming
religion persecution of the remaining Zartoshties in that region. It is
believed, that an earlier generation moved to the village of Ahmad-Abad in
the vicinity of Yazd before the final settlement in the Zartoshty quarters
of Yazd.
The three siblings grew up in Yazd and
received their education in that city. The conditions for the Zartoshties
in Iran was starting to improve as the Qajar reign was coming to a close
and the Pahlavi dynasty was on the rise. Sohrab and his brother
Keikhosrow established themselves in trade and agriculture businesses and
were in partnership with the Soroushian brothers of Kerman (Soroush and
Faridon). Together, they expanded the scope of their operation
considerably.
While his brother Keikhosrow moved to Kerman,
Sohrab stayed in Yazd to handle the family business in Yazd. With the
passing years, Sohrab was drawn into community service, and soon became an
active member of the Naseri Zartoshty Anjuman of Yazd which had been
founded several decades earlier as a result of the efforts of Manekji
Limji Hateria.
Sohrab was the president of the Anjuman till the last days of his life and
was regarded with the highest respect in the Zarathushtrian community. As
he got older, he dedicated most of his time in serving the Zartoshties and
his birth city of Yazd.
Despite his quiet and low-key demeanor, Sohrab
was very effective in handling the problems and grievances of his
constituency. Respected and trusted by the community, as well as by the
governmental officials, Sohrab was able to help resolve many of the issues
faced by the Zartoshty community. He was affectionately referred to as
Arbab Sohrab by the Zartoshties and others who came to know him. It was a
common sight in Yazd to see Arbab Sohrab and his loyal helper, Mirza
arriving at a government office to make the case for one of his
constituents.
His house in Yazd was a center of community
activity. It served as an informal hostel, where many traveling
Zartoshties passing through Yazd, as well as visiting Parsees from India
and elsewhere stayed. Many visitors would arrive unannounced at any hour
and would be received and provided with accommodation by Arbab Sohrab
himself.
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Second on left, seated
row: Arbab Sohrab Kianian; along with several prominent Zarathushtis,
Yazd 1947 |
As a community leader Sohrab Kianian was a
reformist and ushered in many changes. He was instrumental in the
Zartoshties of Yazd adapting the Falsi calendar for their religious
observations. This initiative was successfully championed by Keikhosrow
Shahrokh in Tehran, Soroush Soroushian in Kerman and Sohrab Kianian in
Yazd as the respective heads of the Zartoshty associations in those
centers in the decade of 1930.[iii]
Sohrab and his wife Simin Khosrow Jahanian
were active philanthropists and took an active interest in the running of
the Dinyari School for boys that was founded through donations from Abab
Khosrow Jahanian’s estate.
In the fall of 1958, while attending a
community event, Sohrab Kianian fell to the ground, and suffered injuries.
His frail body did not respond to medical care and within a few weeks he
passed away. His body was committed to the tower of silence which is
still in use in Yazd for the disposal of dead bodies by the Zartoshty
community.
Arbab Sohrab was born in 1888 and passed away
in 1958, in the beloved land of his people. With his passing, a distinct
chapter in the history of the Zartoshties of Yazd and its Naseri Anjuman
came to a close. The significance of contributions made by Sohrab Kianian
to his hometown and its Zartoshty community was more due to his effective
leadership and caring. His fatherly figure helped the evolution of the
community that was rebounding from the verge of extinction to becoming a
vibrant and progressive force in moving the city and country forward. We
salute the character, leadership, vision and courage of Arab Sohrab. May
his spirit of service and quiet giving inspire others.
Bibliography
Bagli, Jehan. (2003), The Fire Within – Jamshid Soroushian Memorial
volume II, 1stBooks Library, pp. 23-30.
Bastanifar, Khosro. (2003), Personal Memories, Orange County, California
Boyce, Mary. (1979), Zoroastrians,
Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, Routledge & Kegan Paul, page
221.
Pishdadi, Jamshid. (1999), Mirza Soroush Lohrasp,
California Publication, pp. 157-158.
[i]
Some others in the same group include, Manekji Limji Hataria, Jamshid
Jamshidian, Kaikhosrow Shahrokh, Rostam Guiv, Faridon Zartoshty, Ardeshir
Jahanian, and Esfendiar Yeganegi in Tehran, Shahriar Soroushian, Soroush
Soroushian, Shahriar Ravary, Jamshid Soroushian in Kerman as well as many
others. Fortunately the Zoroastrian community has been blessed with many
selfless and giving individuals.
[ii]
Both Anjomans of Kerman and Yazd are referred to as the Naseri Anjomans.
It was a decree from Naser-ul Dinshah Ghajar (19th century) in
response to an appeal from Manekji Limji Haātāriā that allowed the
establishment of the two Anjomans as officially recognized bodies.
[iii]
Bagli, Jehan. Historical Perspective on Zoroastrian and interfaith
religious calendars, ĀTAŠ-E DORUN: The Fire Within – Jamshid
Soroush Soroushian Memorial Volume II, 1st Books Library,
Bloomington, IN, 2003, pps. 23-30. |
