Rahanumai Mazdayasanan Sabha

The Western-educated progressive Parsis like Dadabhai Naoroji, J.B. Wacha, S.S. Bangali and Naoroji Furdonji founded the Rahanumai Mazdayasanan Sabha (Religious Reform Association) in 1851. The association had for its object “the regeneration of the social condition of the Parsis and the restoration of the Zoroastrian religion to its pristine purity”. Rast Goftar (Voice of Truth) was its weekly organ.

The Rahanumai Mazdayasanan Sabha was fortunate in having the unstinted support of the Parsi community for its reform efforts. Education as the driving force of social reform was its prime objective. The Sabha campaigned ardently for the education of Parsi priests and for the spread of Western education among the Parsis, including girls. Through its efforts the age of marriage was increased and Parsi women achieved emancipation.

To accelerate the reform movement, the Zoroastrian Conference was also organised to discuss the social, religious, and educational issues before the community. The first such conference was held in 1890.