Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4
CHAPTER
Local Culture, Popular Culture,
and Cultural Landscapes
Field Note
Preserving Culture
The signs with the Tata Corpor-
ation's logo were everywhere
on the landscape of the city of
Hyderabad in India (Fig. 4.1):
a Tata corporate building
across the street from
our fl at; Tata emblazoned
on the grill of trucks
throughout the city; Tata
sky satellite dishes bring-
ing television into homes;
Tata International consulting
buildings in the high-tech district
of the city.
I asked my host what the Tata Corporation was
and where the name came from. He explained, “Tata is
a family name. The Tata family are members of the
Parsi religion, and they own many businesses through-
out India and the world.”
I was surprised I had not heard of the Tata family
before, but I had heard about the Parsi. The Parsi are an
ethnic group and a religion. The Parsi are followers of
the Zoroastrian religion and came to India from Persia
(present-day Iran) sometime between the eighth and
tenth centuries.
According to Indian folklore, the Parsi were
looking for a place of refuge as they fl ed from Persia
(present day Iran). They sent word to a Hindu ruler in
western India that they wanted to settle there. The
Hindu ruler sent the Parsi a bowl full of milk to sym-
bolize that they should not come to India because
the western states were already full. Legend has it
that the Parsi leader placed a gold ring in the bowl of
milk and returned it to symbolize they would bring
wealth to the region without displacing the people.
Bombay
INDIA
ARABIAN
SEA
Hyderabad
Bay of
Bengal
75 E
Figure 4.1
Hyderabad, India.
A Tata Corporation building in Hyderabad, India.
© Erin H. Fouberg.
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