Editing Parsis (section)

===Ties to modern-day Iran===
Parsis have also been migrating to the traditional homeland of Iran and while the number of Parsis who have returned to Iran is small compared to the overall Zoroastrian community in Iran, their presence has helped to strengthen the ties between the Iranian and Indian Zoroastrian communities. The Parsis played a significant role in the modernization of Iran, particularly in the 20th century. They served as a reminder of Iran's ancient heritage, which was crucial to Iranians. The Parsis also demonstrated to Iranians that it was possible to be both modern and culturally authentic, and that the revival of Zoroastrianism could be a way of modernizing Iranian culture while retaining its original identity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2020 |title=Afshin Marashi talks about the role of the exiled Zoroastrian Parsi community of India in shaping Iranian nationalism when they |url=https://en.radiozamaneh.com/30459/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Zamaneh Media |language=en-US |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315215635/https://en.radiozamaneh.com/30459/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Both [[Reza Shah]] and [[Muhammad Reza Shah]] played an active role in encouraging Parsis to invest in Iran and contribute to its economic development by inviting them to return to their homeland. During the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran, the relationship between Zoroastrianism and Iranian national identity was blurred. This was exemplified by Reza Shah's adoption of Zoroastrian calendar names and placement of the Fravahar symbol on prominent government buildings. Additionally, he maintained a close relationship with the Zoroastrian parliamentary representative, [[Keikhosrow Shahrokh]], who was entrusted by him with important governmental tasks.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Ringer |first=Monica M. |title=Iranian Nationalism and Zoroastrian Identity |date=2012 |url=https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137013408_13 |work=Iran Facing Others: Identity Boundaries in a Historical Perspective |pages=267–277 |editor-last=Amanat |editor-first=Abbas |access-date=2023-03-15 |place=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |language=en |doi=10.1057/9781137013408_13 |isbn=978-1-137-01340-8 |editor2-last=Vejdani |editor2-first=Farzin}}</ref>

Reza Shah was also sympathetic to Indian Zoroastrians (Parsis) and actively encouraged their return to Iran to invest and help develop the country's economy. In 1932, he invited [[Dinshah Irani]], a Parsi leader and founder of the Iranian Zoroastrian Anjoman and the Iran League in India, to visit Iran as part of a Parsi delegation. Irani was awarded honors by Reza Shah and entrusted with a message to take back to the Parsi community in India.<blockquote>''You Parsis are as much the children of this soil as any other Iranis, and so you are as much entitled to have your proper share in its development as any other nationals.''

''We estimate Our Empire's resources to be even greater than those of America, and in tapping them you can take your proper part. We do not want you to come all bag and baggage; just wait a little and watch.''

''If you find the proposition beneficial both to yourselves and to this land, then do come and We shall greet you with open arms, as We might.''

''Our dear brothers and sisters.''

''Iran is a vast country pregnant with many advantages and fresh fields waiting for development. We suggest that the Parsis, who are still the sons of Iran, though separated from her, should look upon this country of to-day as their own, and differentiate it from its immediate past, and strive to derive benefit from her developments.<ref name=":0" />''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Committee |first=Dinshah J. Irani Memorial Fund |title=Dinshah Irani Memorial Volume: Papers on Zoroastrian and Iranian Subjects |date=1943 |publisher=Dinshah J. Irani Memorial Fund Committee |language=en}}</ref><ref>The Shah's missive is reproduced in Sir Jehangir C. Coyajee, "A brief Life-Sketch of the Late Mr. Dinshah Jeejeebhoy Irani" in ''Dinshah Irani Memorial Volume: Papers on Zoroastrian and Iranian Subjects'' (Dinshah J. Irani Memorial Fund Committee, Bombay: 1948), pp i-xiii.</ref></blockquote>In the 1930s, Parsis discussed the idea of buying land in Iran to create a Parsi colony. Sir [[Hormusji Adenwala|Hormusji C. Adenwala]] proposed raising funds in Bombay for this purpose, with support from the Iranian government and Reza Shah. Some Parsis had already resettled in Iran earlier since the time of [[Maneckji Limji Hataria|Maneckji Hataria]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Marashi |first=Afshin |title=Exile and the Nation: The Parsi Community of India and the Making of Modern Iran |date=June 8, 2020 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=978-1-4773-2079-2 |language=en}}</ref> The Iran League Quarterly provided information on legal and economic aspects of land purchase. Land near Bandar-e Shapur was suggested as particularly valuable due to government plans for the port.<ref name=":1" /> Similar plans were considered for other Parsi colonies in Iran, including Yazd and Kerman. Textile manufacturing was seen as a potential area for Parsi investment, leading to the establishment of the Khorsovi Textile Mill in Mashhad (based on joint Parsi and Iranian ownership agreements).<ref name=":1" /> There was also discussion of combining industrial and agricultural ventures in such colonies.<ref name=":1" />