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 September 2023 find mention here as well as those who passed away till October 4.
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 2023: Six of the 11 patients to succumb to heart disease were over the age of 80. Old age/general debility and pneumonia/lung disease claimed six lives each. While five Zoroastrians each perished due to brain disease and septicemia, four fell prey to cancer and two each to Parkinson’s disease, multi organ failure and hypertension. Kidney failure, diabetes and urinary tract infection took isolated lives. In the case of one death, the coroner’s report was kept pending. An 83-year-old female was a victim of multiple traumatic injuries due to a fall. The youngest age at death was 50, the eldest, 96. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for September 2023 in Bombay was 81 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 80 years and for females, 82 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 Zian and Urvan Udwadia on September 1, 2023
A girl to Nawaz and Dareus Shroff; September 10
A boy to Zeenia and Sherzad Shahuna; September 20
A girl to Gabriela and
Meherzad Contractor;
September 25
died
consigned
Darabshah Sorabji Ghaswalla (88), husband of late Farida, son of late Goolbanu and Sorabji, father of Sorab and Gulnaz Noshirwan Sheriyarji and brother of late Noshirwan, Fali and Rati, residing at Saibaba Apts, 13, Tadiwalla Rd, Poona 411001;
September 21
Khushru Bahadur Wadia (76), husband of Mahabanoo, son of Khorshed and late Bahadur, father of Firdosh and Shazneen Bomi Tampal and brother of Rohinton, Phiroze, late Viraf and Zarine Sarosh Siganporia, 3-302, Damavand, Behram Baug Parsi Clny, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; September 22
Dinoo Rusi Powvalla (93), wife of late Rusi, daughter of late Piroja and Rustomji Jesang, mother of Farrokh and Kaynaaz and sister of late Jehangir Jesang and late Sohrab Jesang, 20, Ratan Abad Co-op Hsg Soc, Sleater Rd, Grant Rd, 400007; September 24
Goshi Rustom Zarolia (80), wife of late Rustom, daughter of late Goola and Rusi Daruwalla, mother of Tehemton and late Kamal, 102, Zarina Co-op Hsg Soc, S. V. Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; September 24
Homi Jehangirji Achhadwalla (83), husband of late Perin, son of late Dinmai and Jehangirji, father of Firuzi Aftab Meherhomji and Zarin Achhadwalla (Fernandese) and brother of late Minoo, B-203, Ahuna Divecha Complex, Thana, 400601; September 25
Jal Maneckshaw Elavia (84), son of late Sarver and Maneckshaw, Chawl no A-1, Ambawadi, Hanging Gardens, 400008; September 25
Mehernosh Hoshang Santok (72), son of late Soonamai and Hoshang and brother of late Parvin Cyrus Panthaky, 694, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014;
September 25
Framroze Jamshed Bhamgara (50), husband of Genevive and son of Pervin and late Jamshed, A-203, Trimurti Apts, Sheetal Ngr, M. T. N. L. Rd, Mira Rd, Thana, 401107; September 26
Miki Tehmurasp Buhariwala (59), husband of Roxana, son of Nergish and late Tehmurasp, father of Vahbeez Mazdiar Mehta, Hormazd and Shahrukh and brother of Gulshan Sarosh Kolah, Zarin and Shernaz, P-39, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400001; September 26
Fali Kaikhushroo Kanga (94), husband of late Freny, son of late Manekbai and Kaikhushroo, father of Meher and Khursheed and brother of Nergish Dadi Kalyaniwala and late Phiroze, 598-B, A. H.
Wadia Bldg, Princess St, 400002; September 27
Beji Dorab Manjra (77), husband of late Gulcher, son of late Tehmina and Dorabji, father of late Perviz and brother of Piloo Eruch Aga, Siloo Dara Mehta and Viraf, 723, Navroze, Dr Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014;
September 27
Jal Jehangirji Patel (77), husband of Perin, son of late Dina and late Jehangirji, father of Hormuz and Khushroo and brother of late Sam, Minoocher and Rusi, 102, Coolshanagh Bldg, opp Silver Foil, 8, Navroji Gamadia Rd, Cumballa Hill, 400026; September 28
Baji Homi Avari (83), husband of Shernaz, son of late Dolly and Homi, father of Anahita Porus Hakim and Eric and brother of Perviz Kapadia, late Rusi and Homai Sethna, Mackawee Mans, near Fort Fire Brigade, 7, Gunbow St, Fort, 400001; September 29
Dinoo Dara Desai (90), wife of late Dara, daughter of late Tehmina and Framroz Hilloo and sister of late Bomi Hilloo, Dara Hilloo and Bahadur Hilloo, 7, Ratan Tata Bldg no 2, Tata Blocks, S. V. Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; September 29
Sohrab Maneckshaw Mistry (84), husband of late Tehmi, son of late Dosamai and late Maneckshaw, father of Aban Firdos Bhoot and brother of late Fakir, Rusi and Banoo
D. Amrolia, B-21, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012;
October 1
Sam Savak Morena (70), son
of late Mani and Savak and brother of Kashmira Naushirwan Bhathena, 786A, Khareghat Rd, Parsi Clny,
Dadar (E), 400014; October 1
Dinyar Darabshaw Karma (82), husband of Aloo, son of late Putlamai and Darabshaw, father of Daisy and brother of late Roda Jesang, Mani Vaghchhipawalla and Ratan, 704, The Panorama Tower Co-op Hsg Soc Ltd, Prathamesh Complex, opp Evershine Park, Veera Desai Rd, Andheri (W), 400053; October 2
Freny Polly Parekh (88), wife of late Polly, daughter of late Jerbanoo and late Rustom Irani, mother of late Percy and Jasmine and sister of late Shorabh Irani and Merwan Irani, Room no 12, Bori Chawl, Fakhruddin Manzil, Alibhai Premji Marg, Grant Rd (E), 400007;
October 3
Ketayun Minoo Bhagalia (68), wife of Minoo, daughter of Meher and Jamshed Modi, mother of Diana and Burjis and sister of late Darayus Modi, Mohamadi Minar, near H. N. Reliance Hospital, 14th Khetwadi Lane, Girgaon, 400004; October 4
Roda Noshir Pardiwala (86), wife of Noshir, daughter of late Goolcher and late Minocher Kooka, mother of Cyrus, Dinshaw and Rashneh and sister of Dara Kooka, 7-A, Jiwan Bldg, near Priyadarshini Park, 11, L. D. Ruparel Marg, Nepeansea Rd, Malabar Hill, 400006; October 4
cremated
Jeroo Minoo Mistry (92), wife of late Minoo, daughter of
Senam and Rusi Master and mother of Xerxes, Khushroo, Shernaz and Adil, 11, Delite Apts, 2, Carter Rd, Bandra, 400050; September 26
Roshan Dinshaw Pesikaka (95), wife of Dinshaw, daughter of Freney and Nasarvanji Kerawalla and father of Firoozi and Nauzer, Jer Mans, 18, Maratha Mandir Rd, 400008; September 27
Mehroo Fali Mistry (85), wife of late Fali, daughter of Perin and Rustomjee Balsara, mother of Rukshana Reshad Chesson and Bomi and sister of late Aloo, Aspi and Hilla, 15, Kanchanjunga, Peddar Rd, 400020; September 30
Yasmin Sham Sibal (84), wife of late Sham, daughter of late Freny and late Kurus Kothavala and mother of Anita Marina and Ruby Naveen Kapoor, 508B, Maple Leaf Bldg, Raheja Vihar Complex, Chandivali, 400072; October 3
BULSAR
died
Khurshed Nanabhai Sarkawala (57), husband of Roshan, son of late Hufriz and late Nanabhai, father of Jenifer and Jehan and brother of Firoj, Kashmira Navroz Dapotawala, Jangoo and late Arnavaz Jemi Khan, Luhar Tekra, opp Jaldevi Mandir, Nana Parsiwad, 396001; September 17
NAVSARI
died
Roda Jalejar Kodia (86), Avabaug, 396445; October 3
Sam Rustomji Cooper (84), husband of Dina and son of Bapaimai and Rustomji, Parsi Infirmary, 396445; October 4
SECUNDERABAD
born
A girl, Khysha, to Frsha Taraporewalla and Kayan Jehani; September 26
VANSDA
died
Parin Eruch Tangri (67), wife of Eruch and mother of Mahrukh Percy Tangri, Armaity Firdosh Patel and Porus in Village Sara, September 24
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Farkhondeh Timsari, wife of late Jamshid Khodavandi and mother of Mehraban, Mahnaz and Bahram; September 2
Keykhosrow Kalantar, husband of Zahrin Honarmand and father of Aufteen and Nazaneen in Toronto; September 23
MUSCAT
died
Dhunmai Minocher; July 21
PAKISTAN
Karachi
died
Roshan Rustam Sidhwa,
wife of late Rustam and
mother of Kermin Soli
Parakh, Dhun Farokh Setna, Sohrab and late Yazdi;
September 25
Ava Sohrab Irani, wife of late Sohrab, September 26
USA
Maryland
died
Navaz Rustum Bankwalla,
wife of Rustum and mother of Adil, Viraf and Shahroakh; September 14
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-October 4, 2023
Marriages: 67
Parsi: 44
Interfaith: 23
Males married out: 12
Females married out: 11
Deaths: 515
Consigned to dakhmas: 462
Males: 232, Females: 230
Cremated: 53
Males: 24, Females: 29
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver