author
Rustom Pestonji Masani
1876–1966
A prolific Parsi public intellectual, this Bombay scholar wrote accessibly about religion, history, and social ideas while also building a major career in civic life. His books range from studies of Zoroastrianism to folklore and biography, reflecting a wide curiosity about culture and public service.
1 Audiobook
Folklore of Wells: Being a Study of Water-Worship in East and West
by Rustom Pestonji Masani
About the author
Born on September 23, 1876, Rustom Pestonji Masani was an Indian writer and public figure associated with Bombay. Sources consistently describe him as a scholar and essayist, and also as a notable civic administrator; he is remembered as the first Indian to serve as Municipal Commissioner of Bombay. He later held other prominent posts, including service connected with the University of Bombay, and he was knighted during the British period.
As an author, he wrote across several subjects rather than staying in one lane. His books include Folklore of Wells: Being a Study of Water-Worship in East and West, Zoroastrianism: The Religion of the Good Life, and a biography of Dadabhai Naoroji. Taken together, these works show a writer interested in religion, Indian public life, and the ways beliefs and traditions shape everyday society.
Masani died on November 14, 1966. Today he is remembered both for his writing and for the breadth of his public service, with a body of work that can still appeal to listeners curious about history, faith, and the intellectual world of early modern India.