Delineating philanthropy and responsibility in Parsi businesses: an analysis across timelines

Acts to social welfare (read responsibility) have been integral to Indian ethos across different religion-cultural segments. This study focuses on Parsis, a minority community but highly active in business activities. It traces their historical and cultural lineage of philanthropy and social development and how it has contributed to nation-building. This paper identifies the motivators of responsibility in Parsi-owned business units. It also brings out the Indianness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and elucidates the role of communication in promoting responsibility in businesses owned by members of the Parsi community. A systematic content analysis of biographies of leading Parsi entrepreneurs is made to bring out shreds of evidence. The paper discusses the current stance of mandatory CSR against the voluntariness of philanthropy and charity practiced earlier.