拜火教/ Zoroastrian

拜火教徒手持祈禱書(Edmond Tang攝)。A Zoroastrian holding a prayer book. (Picture by Edmond Tang)

是上週的專題工作之一。
不談其教義，看看其歷史及對香港的影響也有趣。
拜火教徒，源於波斯﹝今伊朗﹞，但因回教盛行，拜火教徒面對迫害之危，遷入印度及中國。時至今日，也可稱他們為帕西人。他們富有學問，善於經商，是當時英國與中國貿易的橋樑。
他們在1822年先到澳門，後來隨英國在港實行殖民統治而來港。香港開埠初期，四分一有地位人士也是帕西人。現時香港有200帕西人，在跑馬地有一個墳場及一幢會址，名為善樂施大廈。他們大多從事貿易，亦有醫學及法律從業員等。
香港有今天，他們的貢獻不可抹殺，只是他們被遺忘或當作印度人﹝這可能是他們低調之故﹞。不知道家住西九龍的有心人A氏夫婦帶小女孩行經麼地道時，會否想到這條街是以帕西人麼地爵士命名。這位麼地爵士，在上世紀初期捐出港幣十五萬興建香港大學。而律敦治也是帕西人，就是出錢興建律灣仔敦治醫院那位。
而帕西人在印度的影響力當然更厲害。我的印度同事說，帕西人支持甘地的運動。因此，不理解帕西人便不可能完全理解印度歷史。
當天接待本人的拜火教徒，彬彬有禮。給本人之款待不只是提供飲品般表面化，而是有誠意地回答問題。會面完後，我打電話提跟進問題，他快速地搜集資料回答，絕不像其他富家子要拖延幾天才。當我把初稿發給他看時﹝不是給他審查，而是確保我沒有曲解其宗教﹞，不到兩小時回覆。
香港人，當我們在街上看見南亞人士會暗叫他們做「阿差」時，把他們當作在深水埗無所事事的人或街童，又或稱內地新來港人士為「大陸喱」時，請想想香港有今天，不只是你與我的努力，其他人士也是有份的。

Zoroastrians
is the features I am working over the week.
Let’s not talk about the principle of the religion. It is interesting to merely look at its history.
Zoroastrianism is originated from Persia (now Iran). But the Zoroastrians moved to India and China under the threat of being forced to covert to Islam. In India, they focused on trade between the British government and China. Till now, we can call the Parsee. They are well established and educated.
They came to Macau in 1822, and to Hong Kong later following the establishment of the British colonial government. Some 25 percent of the well-established in Hong Kong in the 1840’s were Parsee. Currently, there are about 200 Parsees in Hong Kong. There is a Parsee cemetery in Happy Valley and a Zoroastrian Building in Causeway Bay. They focus on trade, but some of them are engaged in the medical and legal field.
Their contributions to Hong Kong prosperity cannot be ignored. But they are always forgotten and regarded as Indians by Hong Kong people (probably because they keep a low-profile). I am wondering whether my friend, Mr and Mrs Sincere A, will be aware that Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is named after Parsee Sir Mody when they are walking along the area with their daughter. Sir Mody donated HK$150,000 to build the University of Hong Kong in early 20th century. Another famous philanthropist Ruttonjee, who built Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, is also a Parsee.
My Indian colleague says the influence of Parsee in the South Asia country is significant as they have helped Mahatma Gandhi’s movement. The understanding of India’s history will not be complete without knowing their role.
The Zoroastrian who serves me is courteous. He is not only doing the superficial thing of giving out drinks, but answering the question very sincerely. When I call him up making follow-up question after the interview, he immediately goes to check for answers. Unlike other rich person who will delay the matter for days. It takes him less then two hours to reply to me when I send him the draft of the article (not for censorship, but to ensure that I have not misunderstood their religion).
When we, Hong Kong people, make degradable remark as Ah Cha to South Asians, or regard them as those having nothing to do in Shamshuipo or street kids, and When we name the new mainland arrivals as Tai Look Lei, have we ever thought that Hong Kong’s prosperity is not only contributed by you and me, but also by others?