The magicians of Mazda by Ashwin Sanghi

​"The magicians of Mazda" by Ashwin Sanghi -  History overpowers story!

This book is published by HarperCollins India in 2022 and has 492 pages.

Jamshed Dastoor (Jim), is a Parsi scientist settled in America. He has discovered Hamzaa Dura, a miracle drug. A pharmacy giant wants to get hold of the research. Iranian regime is after Athravan star. Soroushpur, leader of the handful Zorashtrians surviving in Iran, is fighting for the survival of his faith and he too is after Athravan star. Jim is kidnapped by Iranians. His wife (Linda) and partner (Dan) take a bold decision. 

What is Hamzaa Dura? Does the Athravan star exist? Why are Iranians after a drug rather than weapons? What does Linda do? Can American security agencies help Jim, having no presence in Iran?

Jamshed (Jim) is a rebellious Parsi, who declines to inherit business empire and becomes scientist. Due to this rebellious streak he inherits an earthen box with some kind of powder in it and a verbal incantation. The box has been passed to the most rebellious child of the family for many generations. Linda is a child of American Christian father and Indonesian Hindu mother. She is a historian and is a scholar of Zorashtrian history. She also loves her husband and would go to any lengths for his safety. Although her character is knowledgeable one, she knows pretty much everything about anything. Soroushpur is leader of around 25000 surviving Zorashtrians in Iran. He wants to recover what belongs to the land. Abbasi is an Israeli spy in Iran. Dan is Jim’s partner. He helps Linda for a reason. Entry of Baba Malik makes the end too easy. His character doesn’t appear seamlessly woven in the story. 

It’s a plot with international implications. America, Iran, Israel, India and China are all involved. India wants Jim’s safety. Everyone wants Hamzaa Dura. Hamzaa Dura, the cure of all cures that will enable defective cells to heal themselves. 

This book introduces us to the Parsi history. Although Parsi community is an integral part of Indian multi religious heritage, there are so many things that we don’t know. Things like Atash Behram, Iranshah, faravahar, Udvada, extent of Zorashtrian empire, their persecution, their survival and even their origin. 

This is a fiction based on Parsi history. I believe that such fictions should be written. They help create awareness and interest in the history. This story has its roots in the history. Readers get a history lesson and history augments the story. This book has a lot of history. Too much of history that actually overpowers the story.

Author puts forth a theory that stumps the readers. He says that Zaratrushta was born in Kashmir and was a Vedic scholar who migrated west from Saraswati and formed a new religion. Zorashtrianizm is the first monotheist religion that predates Abrahamic religions. So actually Parsis returned to the land of their origin when they came to India. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? History overpowers story. 

What did I like? History. Theory. 

Read if you want to know about Parsi history.