Bombay: Telling Figures for 2012
Roxana Driver
This column publishes milestones within the Zoroastrian community primarily for the former half of February 2013.
The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 22 and 63 years, the arithmetic mean — the total number of individual ages divided by the total number of brides — being 31 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 26 and 66 years, averaging at 33 years.
Data on four births in Bombay for the 15-day period was received by Parsiana while 34 deaths were reported from Doongerwadi (information supplied by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet). With 17 Zoroastrians having died due to various heart complications (12 being over 80), it was the major killer, as always. Three victims fell prey to hypertension. Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lung disease/pneumonia and hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) were the causes of deaths for two patients each. Old age/general debility, motor neuron disease, diabetes, brain disease, septicemia and liver disease claimed one life each. A lady, one less than her centenary was the eldest lost to the community. The youngest to breathe his last was a 47-year-old male. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for February 1-15 in Bombay, was 83 years.
The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newsletters and anjumans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or consistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the anjumans do not furnish the particulars; the birth figures for Bombay are supplied by two hospitals — births in suburban hospitals and private nursing homes are not included unless individuals send us information together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. The names of the deceased are supplied by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. In the break-up of deaths according to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
If readers have any births/ marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us.
BANGALORE
married
Kermeez Khushroo Kiash
and Vijay Nechikuttil on
November 23, 2012
BOMBAY
born
A girl, Shania, to Anahita and Zubin Buhariwala, sister to Nairah; January 14, 2013
A girl to Shernaz and Sarosh Anklesaria; February 11
Twins (girls) to Delnaz and Porus Irani; February 11
A boy to Parinaaz and Farhad Marolia; February 14
married
Persis Cyrus Desai and
Rayomand Rohinton Engineer; January 7
Jefrina Jimy Konkrawala and Rohinton Phiroze Bhagalia; January 20
Delzeen Parvez Watcha
and Hormaz Dara Mistry; January 27
Jasmine Bomi Randelia
and Meherzad Kersi Bavan; January 31
Jasmine Viraf Bharucha of Goa and Feyhan Filli Gorimar; January 31
Zenobia Dara Mistry and Kayazad Aspi Tampal;
January 31
Simonil Behram Dotivala and Zubin Maneck Dastur; February 1
Parizad Darayas Kheshwala of Indore and Kavas Macky Mistry; February 1
Meher Darab Sidhwa and Kaizad Aspi Pastakia;
February 3
Veera Firoze Polishwala and Parvez Pestonji Ravtewala; February 3
Zenobia Adil Mistry and
Farzan Soli Batiwala;
February 9
Azita Jehangir Ferzande and Mehernosh Hoshie Deboo; February 11
Kashmira Kersi Medhora of Auckland, New Zealand and Mohzad Faroukh Dubash of Ahmedabad; February 11
Nilufer Farrokh Shahnavaz and Farshaad Aliakbar Sadeghian; February 11
Shehzan Bomi Balsara and
Xerxes Behram Aga;
February 14
Nazneen Adil Marfatia of
Indore and Porus Hormaz Dutia; February 14
Nazneen Noshir Pithawalla and Sharukh Noshir Kotwal; February 14
Priya Keki Pardiwalla and Hanoz Jal Mahudavala;
February 15
Persis Zarir Mistry and Zubin Yazdi Patel; February 15
Zenobia Farhad Ginwalla and Rohinton Sam Poonawala; February 15
died
Banoo Jamshed Charna (80), residing at 6, Malegaonwala Block, Gilder Lane, 400008; February 1
Coomi Rusi Khajotia (89), B/602, Ahuna, Divecha
Complex, Edulji Rd, Charai, Thana, 400601; February 1
Freny Jal Mistry (83), R/27, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; February 1
Amy Soli Daruwalla (86), 1, Hormuzd Bldg, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; February 2
Erach Bejonji Hathiram (96), 5/3, B. S. Panthaki Baug,
Andheri (E), 400069;
February 2
Pesi Phirojshaw Mistry (83), 2/7-C, Tata Blocks, C. J. Clny, Tardeo, 400034; February 2
Jaloo Adi Gazdar (99), West Hill, 27/A, Nepean Sea Rd, 400026; February 3
Aban Rusi Ghandhi (71), 4, Popa Bldg, Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; February 3
Rustom Behram Mistry (52), 35/A, Bandstand Bldg, Kane Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; February 4
Shirin Jimmy Vasania (90), B-6, Rajat Rekha Hsg Soc,
J. P. Rd, 7 Bglws, Andheri (W), 400068; February 4
Rustom Sohrab Davar (89), Bglw no 63, Mysore Clny, Chembur, 400074; February 5
Navaz Noshir Gazdar (71), 9-B, Gool-Dhun-Abad, S. V. Rd, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; February 5
Khorshed Sheharyar Daruwala (92), 2-17/A, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 6
Noshir Framroze Unwalla (88), 132, Bora Bazar St, Fort, 400001; February 6
Putlan Faramroze Shroff (85), 29/A, Sethna Bldg, Naoroji Seth St, Girgaum, 400004; February 7
Soli Jehangir Engineer (89), 502-A, Raj Sarita, opp Bhakti Complex, Kandarpada, Dahisar (W), 400068; February 8
Freny Minoo Irani (82),
Niyamat Manzil, N. Petit St, Grant Rd, 400007; February 8
Neville Adi Anklesaria (47), M-49, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; February 9
Sheroo Phiroze Dhabhar (92), 2/2, Malcolm Baug, S. V. Rd, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; February 9
Hira Adi Hataria (69), 0/12, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; February 9
Adar Byramjee Tarapor (93), B/11, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027;
February 9
Rhoda Sorab Gorimar (90), 23, Girdhar Niwas, S. B. Rd, 400039; February 10
Homai Sorab Nalladaru
(82), E/25, Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 10
Peshotan (Pesi) Manchershaw Khan (93), 30/17-C, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; February 11
Jal Jehangirji Engineer (78), 3, Pushpa Niwas, Uranwalla St, Grant Rd (E), 400007; February 13
Piloo Jal Kanga (94), 61, West Minister, Duncan Causeway, Sion, 400022; February 13
Burjor Mancherji Mehta (92), C-19, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027;
February 13
Katie Kersi Mistry (88), A2/24, New Khareghat Clny,
Babulnath Rd, 400007;
February 13
Minoo Jalejar Pherozshaw (77), A/3, Botawala Bldg,
239, Tardeo Rd, 400007;
February 13
Freni Dinyar Tadiwala (82), Emp 55/302, Thakur Village, Kandivali (E), 400101;
February 13
Edul Ardeshir Karanjia (77), Soona Villa, Perry Cross Rd, Bandra (W), 400050;
February 14
Dara Jehangir Mugaseth
(81), A/54, Ganga Bhavan, Versova, Andheri (W), 400061; February 14
Nozer Rustomji Patel (71), Room no 46, 189, Hirabai Petit Bldg, Grant Rd (E), 400007; February 14
Tehmuras Jivanji Patel (79), 34/D-3, S. B. Bharucha Baug, S. V. Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; February 14
CALCUTTA
born
A girl, Meher, to Kiran
and Vikram Arora;
December 17, 2012
married
Firoza Zoobin Bapooji
and Melroy Romauld;
December 29
died
Banoo Jehangir Master;
October 23
Jimmy Nadarshaw Jall;
November 29
Meherji Keki Fatakia;
December 6
Mehru Singh; December 13
Jehangir N. Bhesania;
December 29
Noshir Ardeshir Gherda
(90), father of Sarosh
and Kerman Aspy Mehta; February 1, 2013
MHOW
died
Roshan Dhunjishaw Marker (89), mother of Aspi, Merzi and Kerman; September 26, 2012
Homi Behramshah Bhaya (88), December 26
NAGPUR
died
Tehmi Manchersha Mehta
(95), 10, Kamdin Blocks,
opp Gandhi Sagar, 440018; February 15, 2013
SURAT
died
Jimmy Eruchshaw Elavya (80), Parsiwad, Gam Elav, Tal
Hansot, Dist Bharuch;
February 2
Noshir Rustomji Dapotawala (72), Sneh Sagar, Sarita Sankul, Chandni Chowk, Piplod, 395003; February 5
Ketty Barjorji Ghadyali (85), 12/1383, opp Nariman Home and Infirmary, Shahpore, 395003; February 7
Shorabji Mehervanji Dastur (72), 9, Nilkantuvarni Apt, Dodha Mohallo, Nanpura, 395001; February 13
CANADA
Ontario
born
A girl, Tinaaz, to Lily and Nozer Gariba in Mississauga; December 6, 2012
PAKISTAN
Karachi
married
Alla Navzer Mavalvala
and Cyrus Sarosh Dubash; January 5, 2013
died
Hilla Burjor Bharucha, mother of Jasmin Chowna; January 30
Dolly Byram Ghandhi, mother of Dinaz; February 10
UAE
born
A girl, Sydel, to Debashree
and Polard Nazir in Dubai; October 21, 2012
USA
California
died
Thrity Master, wife of Firoz and mother of Pearly, Lilian and Shehrever in San Mateo; February 6, 2013
Georgia
died
Goolshan Edul Udvadia (91), mother of of Mehru Rohinton Jamooji, Jimi and Fili in
Chatham; January 31
Illinois
born
A boy, Zachary, to Roxana and Nevin Dubash, brother to Aliza in Chicago; January 23
New Jersey
born
A girl, Naasha Zarin, to
Patience and Jamshed
Dastur; September 27, 2012
Ohio
married
Amanda Minor, daughter of Anita and Jim, and Zubin Khambatta in Mason;
November 17
Texas
died
Pilloo Randeria, wife of
Godrej (Goshi) in Houston; January 26, 2013
Of the 222 marriages registered by Zoroastrians in Bombay in 2012, 93 were interfaith unions, showing that the percentage of intercommunity marriages has risen to 42 from 39 in the year prior. Fifty-three percent females married out of the community in Bombay as compared to 47 percent males in 2012. In the preceding six years, males opting for interfaith marriages had outnumbered the females. As compared to 67 males who married out of the community in 2011, there were 44 in 2012; amongst females, 45 had found partners from other communities in 2011 as compared to 49 a year later.
The number of marriages in 2012 declined by 66 from 288 in 2011, a 23 percent drop. Whilst community marriages dropped from 176 to 129, a decline of 47, interfaith unions dropped from 112 to 93, a decline of 19. Being a leap year, 2012 is considered inauspicious, by some Parsis who opt to prepone or postpone their wedding. This trend has been perceptible over past leap years as well.
The average age of brides which was 30 in 2011 remained the same in 2012. The youngest though was a 19-year-old bride, and the eldest, 78! Amongst bridegrooms, the average age increased from 32 to 34, with the youngest being 24 and the eldest 49 years of age (who tied the knot with the 78-year-old)! Data on community marriages is obtained from the Bombay High Court while that on interfaith marriages from the Registrar of Marriages at Fort and Bandra (which has relocated to Khar since). December 2012 saw the maximum number of Parsi-Parsi marriages, 38, whilst there was not a single wedding in July.
The birth count reduced by 10 from 103 in 2011 to 93 in 2012, as per records available with Parsiana. The birth figures from the Bombay Municipal Corporation for 2012 are not yet available, but from Parsiana’s count based on the information from the Breach Candy Hospital and families who send us copies of birth certificates, the number of boys were 49, and girls, 44.
Whilst there were 717 bodies consigned to the Doongerwadi in 2011 of whom 364 were males and 353 females, in 2012 there were 730 bodies of whom 343 were males and 387 females. The number of those cremated last year showed a decline from 46 (in 2011) to 31. The figures —20 females and 11 males — were obtained from the Chandanwadi crematorium and partly from the Shivaji Park crematorium.
The average age at death which was 79 in the preceding year rose to 80 in 2012. Whilst the youngest to die were two teenagers, the eldest was a 105-year-old lady. Amongst those who died in Bombay last year were four centenarians. Other long lived Parsis included two aged 99 and four aged 98. Information on those consigned to the dakhmas is sent to Parsiana by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. The maximum number of deaths consigned to Doongerwadi were in the month of February, and the fewest in June.
Presented below are the 2012 figures pertaining to the Zoroastrian community in Bombay based on records available with Parsiana:
Births: 93
Boys: 49, Girls 44 (Parsiana figures)
Marriages: 222
Parsi 129, Interfaith 93
Males married out 44
Females married out 49
Deaths: 761
Consigned 730
Males: 343, Females: 387
Cremated 31
Males 11, Females 20