Parsiana sources information for the Milestones column from various anjumans, hospitals, individuals, newsletters and publications. While much of the material is sketchy, the Bombay marriages and death lists are quite exhaustive.
Data on marriages within the community in Bombay is culled four times in a year from the office of the Registrar of Marriages at the Bombay High Court and on interfaith unions from the Registrar of Marriages offices at Fort and Khar. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony.
The list of the deceased and causes of deaths for those consigned to the Doongerwadi in Bombay is provided by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet with a disclaimer that the information has not been verified or authenticated by them. The Worli Prayer Hall sends Parsiana names of those cremated there.
The last few names of those deceased in September 2021 find mention here as well as those who passed away till October 11.
In the break-up of Bombay Doongerwadi deaths, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
Causes of deaths for September 2021: Heart disease being the major killer, felled 35 Zoroastrians, 28 of whom had crossed their 80-year-old mark. The other diseases that took lives were: lung disease/pneumonia (seven), septic shock (a widespread infection causing organ failure and dangerously low blood pressure) (six), cancer and diabetes (three each), kidney failure (two) and malaria, urinary tract infection, multi organ failure, Parkinson’s disease and septicemia (the persistence and multiplication of living bacteria in the blood stream) (one each). Ninety-nine was the eldest age at death; 43, the youngest. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for September 2021 in Bombay was 83 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 81 years and for females, 84 years.
Parsiana also receives death intimations from the Poona Parsi Panchayat, Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, The Surat Parsi Panchayat Funds and Properties Trust, Jhansi Parsi Anjuman, Nagpur Parsi Punchayet, Zoroastrian Society of Ontario, Fram Framji of Karachi, Dr Ardeshir Damania of California and Arnavaz Sethna of Houston.
Data on births in Bombay is made available by the Breach Candy Hospital. Births in other hospitals and private nursing homes are included when an individual sends us information together with a copy of the birth certificate.
If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, they are welcome to write to/email us. Some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be necessary. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement.
Bombay
born
A girl to Roxane and Shaveer Mody on September 15, 2021
Twins (boy and girl) to
Gillian and Purazar
Fouzdar: September 21
A boy to Rukkshana and
Aashish Variava; September 21
A boy to Mahafrin and Arzaan Billimoria; September 28
died
consigned
Dolly Jamshed Homji (89), residing at 5, Batliwalla Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Grant Rd, 400007; September 26
Noshir Phiroze Banker (74), 105, Pride-1 Co-op Hsg Soc, Plot no 16, opp Roses Garden, near Pani Ki Tanki, Village Kalundre, Panvel, Raigadh, 410206; September 28
Dinshaw Kaikhasroo Hodiwalla (86), Room no 2, 204-A, Khetwadi, Girgaon, 400004; September 28
Ruxana Homi Messman (74),
3, Ushta-Te, Jehangir Daji
Rd, Grant Rd, 400007;
September 28
Neena Kekobad Mody (89), 20, Aryan Mhl, 43 C Rd, Marine Lines, 400020; September 28
Kersi Phirozshah Bhathena (74), Multan Bldg, Khambatta Lane, Khetwadi, Grant Rd (E), 400004; September 29
Dhun Hormusji Fitter (Irani), (87), E-21, Godrej Baug, off Napean Sea Rd, 400036;
September 30
Mehroo Kersi Hozdar (81), Hozdar Hse, 24, Nawab Tank Rd, near Mazgaon Dock,
Dockyard, 400010;
September 30
Dina Noshir Tara (92), 1,
Habib Court, Colaba
Causeway, 400001; October 2
Daraius Hoshang Shroff (53), 6, Banaji Bldg, Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; October 3
Kamal Dhunji Billimoria (69), B-101, M. A. Patel, Pali Ram Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; October 4
Edul Dadiba Bharucha (76), 704-A, Himalayan Heights, Bhakti Park, Wadala (E), 400037; October 5
Bachu Phiroze Panthaki (86), Wadia Bldg, 604-E, S. Gandhi Marg, opp Parsi Dairy Farm, Kalbadevi, 400002; October 5
Khurshed Kersi Bardoliwalla (79), 6/19, B. S. Panthaki Baug, Andheri (E), 400069; October 7
Soli Dinshaw Shroff (85), 12/162, Nariman Bldg, M. K. Rd, 400021; October 8
Dilnawaz Tehmasp Munshi (74), G-44, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; October 9
Jal Hoshang Doctor (74), 19, Windsor Chmbs, Cawasji Patel St, Fort, 400001; October 10
cremated
Zarin Soli Bharucha (80), 4/39, A. H. Wadia Baug, Parel Tank Rd, 400033; September 12
Darayus Karl Kerawalla (31) Hotel Karl Residency, 36, Lallubhai Park, Andheri (W), 400058; September 13
Prochee Phiroze Konkravala (93), 11, Mancherji Seth Bldg, 262, Tardeo Rd, opp Bhatia Hosp, 400007; September 14
Kamal Keki Cooper (74), 3C, Navjivan Kutir, 31A, Altamount Rd, Cumballa Hill, 400026; September 27
Jeannie Kerse (Kershasp) Naoroji (96), 2, Fairfield Co-op Hsg Soc Ltd, 112 Kumari JTS Marg, Churchgate, 400020; October 3
Nergish Manek Panveliwalla (92), M-43, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400039; October 6
Katy Kersi Gazdar (86), 402, Luisa Bldg, St John Baptist
Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; October 9
Rustom Jamshed Irani (67), E202, Parsi Punchayet
Complex, Sharma Est, Walbat Rd, Goregaon (E), 400063;
October 11
COONOOR
died
Kaiwaan Rusi Patel (62),
husband of Binaifer and
father of Meher and Tiraan; September 26
NAVSARI
died
Banoo Sam Bulsara (95), mother of Gool Boman Irani; October 10
SECUNDERABAD
died
Khorshed Soli Bhathena (90), mother of Rohinton, Zareer and Behram; September 24
Silloo Keki Pochkhanawalla (94), mother of Rohinton
and Arnavaz M. Vasaigara;
September 24
SURAT
died
Adi Jamasp Dastoor (69),
husband of Bakhtaver and father of Aadil; August 18
• • •
CANADA
British Columbia
died
Jehangir Minocher Panthaky (95), husband of late Khorshed and father of Jasmine and
Rohinton in Vancouver;
July 29
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-October 11, 2021
Marriages: 81
Parsi: 43
Interfaith: 38
Males married out: 26
Females married out: 12
Deaths: 633
Consigned to dakhmas: 498
Males: 251, Females: 247
Cremated: 135
Males: 74, Females: 61
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver