18 Aban, the 149th birthday of a great man and benefactor in the history of Zoroastrians, Pashutanji Dusabhai Marker, a Parsee merchant, who lived in India and dedicated his wealth and property to provide welfare and educational facilities for Iranian Zoroastrians and Iranians, in general. Many of his charitable donations can be seen in the cities of Yazd, Kerman, and Tehran. The name “Marker”, is a symbol of construction and prosperity for the people of Yazd that shines on the face of this city, from the past until now, and is considered as an identity of this province.
In 1306 (1927) Pashutanji Marker built a school for boys and for girls (named Marker) and thus took his first step towards providing literacy and primary education to the children of Yazd. In 312 (1934) he founded the Marker School for boys and girls. In 1301 (192) he founded the orphanage, which was actually a dormitory with full facilities, for boarding of under-privileged students who would come from surrounding villages, to attend school. By building the (Ferdowsi) clock tower in Yazd and the Ferdowsi statue in Tehran, in 1313 (1934), he showed his deep interest in spreading Iranian culture in Iran.
Pashutanji dsabhai Marker was born on 18 Aban 1250 (Nov 1871) in a Parsee family, in India. His father’s name was Dusabhai and his mother’s name was Dean Banoo, daughter of Dinshaw shroff. He had his primary education in Elfiston School in Bombay, and then got a training in administrative affairs in the Dinshaw Silister training center. Because of his interest in Iran, he learned the Farsi language. He was fluent in English but his mother tongue was Gujrati. After completing his education he took up commerce and became very rich. At first, he was representative of the Iran/Bombay Zoroastrian Association, in Iran and was responsible for taking care of the Zoroastrians’ affairs in Iran. In 1304 (1925) he became deputy of the Irano/Bombay Zoroastrian Association, and in 1317 (1938) became president.
By establishing Marker girls’ and boys’ schools in February 1928, Pashutanji Marker took the first step towards literacy of the children of Yazd. He also founded Marker High School in September 1933. Marker founded the Marker Orphanage in 1922.
Marker Orphanage is now called Pardis-e Danesh-e Marker (the heaven of knowledge) and is semi active at present. The basement of this building has been turned into a museum for acquainting visitors with the customs and traditions of Zoroastrians, and is named “Museum of History and Culture of Zoroastrians”. This orphanage was located in the building of ‘Arbab Rostam Shah-Jahan’ until 1926, and then was moved to the building of the ‘House of Shirazis’. He showed his affection for extending culture in Iran by the construction of an orphanage, Borj-e Sa’at-e Marker (Marker Clock Tower), and the statue of Ferdowsi in Tehran in 1934.
Some of the donations and financial endowments of the late Marker (May his soul rest in peace) include:
- Purchase and improvement of Tehran lands in Tehranpars neighborhood
- Donating land of Marker Park in Yazd
- Construction of Marker Conference hall in Tehran
- Construction of Marker orphanage in Yazd
- Construction of Marker School and high school in Yazd
- Construction of Borj-e Sa’at-e Marker
Investing in religious publications under the supervision of Iranian Zoroastrian Anjuman of Mumbai. One example would be the translation of Gathas and Yashts by Ebrahim Pourdavoud.
Marker died on 18 Mehr 1344 (Oct 1965), in Bombay. After his death, Sorush Lohrasb took over supervision off the schools and institutes, for some time. He continued to serve the Iranian society and the association of Zoroastrians.
Marker was an example of a thousand Behdin (of good religion) who have always sincerely tried to build their Ahura homeland with purity and sincerity, and have kept the feature and identity of their and other coreligionist’s religion alive.
