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 with the 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 May 2022 find mention here as well as those who passed away till June 8.
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 May 2022: Heart disease — 13 (nine of them were over the 80-year-old mark), diabetes — nine, pneumonia/lung disease — eight, old age/general debility and cancer — three each, urosepsis — two and hypertension, hypothyroidism, multi organ failure, meningitis, brain disease, septic shock, Parkinson’s disease, sepsis, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, liver disease and septicemic — one each. The youngest and eldest to breathe their last were both females: at 57 and 97 years respectively. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for May 2022 in Bombay was 82 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 81 years and for females, 85 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 boy to Parizad and Burzin Charna on May 3, 2022
A girl, Thea, to Aazrine and Pershid Katgara; May 25
died
consigned
Homi Kavashaw Munshi (95), residing at Plot no 4, Clover, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; May 2
Pervez Faramroze Aibara (59), 604, Excel Park Sector 6, Plot no 2, Airoli, New Bombay, 400708; May 17
Dinyar Minocher Daruwalla (88), 11, Godrej Bldg, Nawajbai Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim, 400016; May 26
Ratan Fardoon Postwala (78), Room no 12, Golwalla Bldg no 7, 8th Lane, near Pitle Murti Mandir, Khetwadi, Girgaon, 400004; May 27
Mickey Kaikashru Daver (82), 690, N. E. Dinshaw Bldg,
Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014;
May 28
Jamshed Dinsha Hathiram (87), Sethna Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; May 28
Cooma Burjor Pundole (90), 14, Clover Apt, Naushir
Bharucha Marg, Sleater Rd, 400007; May 28
Daraius Kaikhushroo Mulla (92), C-12, Ness Baug, Nana Chowk, Grant Rd, 400007; May 29
Keki Cawasji Kararia (84), K/506, 24, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Ballard Est, 400001; May 31
Perviz Pervez Damania (91), 9/7, Rustom Baug, near
Masina Hosp, Victoria Rd, Byculla (E), 400027; June 1
Roshan Cawas Damania (85), 1105/06, Bldg no 14, Indra Darshan - 2, New Link Rd, Oshiwara, Andheri (W), 400053; June 1
Kersi Jal Engineer (71), 601, Rati Engineer Bldg no 15, Behram Baug Parsee Clny, Jogeshwari, 400103; June 4
Homai Bahadur Kuka (87), 600, Bachan Manor, Jame Jamshed Rd, Matunga,
400019; June 4
Khodamorad Sarosh Zorabian (76), Apt 7, 19, Pali Rd, Dr
Rajendra Kumar Chowk,
Bandra (W), 400050; June 5
Freny Fali Kanga (86),
598/B, A. H. Wadia Bldg,
Girgaon Rd, Princess St, 400002; June 6
Jal Kaikhushroo Lilaoonwala (92), 8, Jer Mans, 68/70, August Kranti Marg, 400026; June 8
Mehroo Jamshed Bharucha (90), 1-E, Karai Est, 248,
Tardeo Rd, 400007; June 8
Yezdi Pestonji Panthaki (85), 10, Mobed Bldg, Godrej
Baug, near Simla Hse, off
Nepeansea Rd, 400036;
June 8
cremated
Cyrus Noshir Kerawalla (63), D5, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla (E), 400027; May 31
Phiroze Savakshaw Bhathena (89), 9, Mehta Bldg, Khan Est, M. Chotani Rd, Mahim (W), 400016; June 1
NAVSARI
died
Firoze Kavasji Surti (82);
May 26
Manekshaw D. Elavia (71), husband of Dhun and father of Adil and Maharukh Gazder; June 1
Bepsy Kekhashroo Patrawala (85), mother of Cyrus, Dinaz, Yazdi and Marazban; June 7
POONA
died
Homai Rohinton Kasad (85), mother of Parizad, Naushad and Zaheir; February 22
Zal Cursetji (39), son of
Gulene and Darius and
brother of Murad; May 21
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Goolu Farrokh Bharucha; December 12, 2021
Khorshid Bahramshahi, wife of Goshtasb Kavousi and mother of Parvin, Parviz, Firoozeh and Farahnaz in Toronto; January 21, 2022
Zarbanoo Jamshid BozorgChami (Contractor), mother
of Pouran, Manijeh, Abtin, Mandana and Camillia;
February 2
Nargis Rustom Saher (90), sister of Noshir and Rumi; March 2
PAKISTAN
Karachi
died
Savak Jamshed Meherhomji, husband of Anita and father of Natasha; June 6
USA
died
Gooloo Wunderlicch;
December 21, 2021
Hashem Razi;
February 7, 2022
California
died
Noshir Lakdawalla (85), husband of Rhoda and father of Shernaz Jayant Mohanty, Pervin Fernando and Darius in Los Angeles; January 11
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-June 8, 2022
Marriages: 22
Parsi: 22
Deaths: 313
Consigned to dakhmas: 251
Males: 129, Females: 122
Cremated: 62
Males: 32, Females: 30
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver