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. Due to newly introduced bureaucratic procedures, Parsiana has been unable to access the intercommunity marriage figures since around two years.
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. As some parties do not wish the name of the deceased to be published, the actual number of those cremated may be more than the figures shown in the magazine for the concerned month.
The last few names of those deceased in May 2025 find mention here as well as those who passed away till June 13.
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 2025: Heart disease (19, of whom 12 were octogenarians and nonagenarians); pneumonia/lung disease and brain disease (five each); cancer, multi organ failure, liver disease and hypertension (two each); head injury, septicemia, hypothyroidism, kidney failure, diabetes, general debility/old age and septic shock (one each). In the case of one death, the viscera was reserved for chemical analysis. A 98-year-old male was the oldest to die, the youngest, a 60-year-old female. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for May 2025 in Bombay was 81 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 80 years and for females, 83 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 Pooja Goradia
and Rayomand Adajania on May 7, 2025
Twins, boy and girl, to Poonam and Rustom Mehta; May 9
A boy, Nekzaad, to Meher and Khushroo Makihatana; May 14
A boy to Delkash and
Farzan Jijina; May 19
A boy to Pearl Madan
and Bizan Kolah; May 24
A girl to Dinaz Irani and Aamir Arsiwala; May 27
died
consigned
Farokh Framroz Kakalia (80), son of late Freny and late Framroz and brother of Kersi and Armaity Adi Bhabha, residing at B-1/12, Mazda Co-op Hsg Soc,
Sajan, Bulsar, 396159;
May 25
Nevile Bhikhaji Engineer (75), son of late Tehmina and late Bhikhaji and
brother of Homi, 1/G, 8, Blue Arch Co-op Hsg Soc, Convent Avenue Marg, 4 Bglws, Andheri (W), 400053; May 26
Gool Noshir Jamasji (89), daughter of late Jer and late Ady Dhondy, mother of late Freny Jamasji and sister
of Bapsy Homi Kanga, Vera Dhondi, Rusi Dhondy and late Khorshed, 32, Daulat,
S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400005; May 27
Homi Rustomji Khasusa (94), son of late Gol and late Rustom and brother of late Homai, late Amy and late Minoo, 10, Master Bldg, Navajbai Contractor Baug, Mori Rd, Mahim (W), 400016; May 27
Homi Behramsha Shroff (89), husband of Khorshed, son of late Meherbai and late Behramsha, father of Jimmy, Firuza Gev Siganporia and Farzana Bhavin Visaria and brother of Minoo, Room no 7, Boman Hse, 2, Homji St, near R. B. I., Fort, 400001; May 28
Thrity Homi Shroff (87), wife of Homi, daughter of late Tehmina and late Hormusji Tadiwalla and mother of Prochi Shroff, T-40, Godrej Baug, off Nepeansea Rd, 400026; May 31
Hoshang Rusi Billimoria (70), husband of late Ruby, son of late Gulestan and Rusi, father of Neville and brother of Firoza, Roshan and Nozer, 30, Sethna
Bldg, Nowroji St, behind
S. K. Patil Garden, Thakurdwar, 400002; June 2
Gool Kersi Daruwalla (75), wife of late Kersi, daughter of late Dolly and late Keki Bhoja, mother of Naznin Mehernosh Irani and sister of Roshan Jimmy Jilla,
late Sami Bhoja, 688, Wadia Bldg, Dinshaw Master Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; June 2
Hormazed Minocher Bharda (80), husband of late Homayun, son of late Kettayun and late Minocher and father of Poruchisti Yazdi Randeria and Mehernaaz Bharda, A-43, Flower Queen Co-op Hsg Soc Ltd, Veera Desai Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; June 3
Mehernosh Framroze Bharucha (76), husband of Armin, son of late Homai and late Framroze, father of Farhad and brother of Behram and Dinaz Homi Sidhwa, B-6, Captain Clny, Haji Ali, Tardeo, 400034; June 4
Nadir Ardeshir Modi (95), husband of late Homai, son of Perin and late Ardeshir, father of Peshotan and Nawaz Gautam Sighania and brother of Jamshed, Modi Lodge, Gamdevi, 400007; June 5
Perviz Noshir Engineer (80), wife of late Noshir, daughter of late Alamai and late Framroze Mehta, mother of Mehernosh, Rayomand and Anahit Marichi Mathur and sister of Sam, late Homai, Khorshed, Eruch and Roshan, Room no 9, West View, Grant Rd (E), 400007; June 6
Mehroo Behram Kasad (85), wife of late Behram, daughter of late Banoobai and late Jijibhoy Shroff, mother of Tanaaz, Aashish and Aazmeen Kasad and sister of late Freny Minoo Daruvalla, late Roshnie
Burjor Pavri, Adi Mehta,
Navroz Villa, 188,
Lamington Rd, 400007; June 7
Ardeshir Maneckshaw Patel (90), husband of late Arnawaz, son of Khorshedbano and late Maneckshaw, father of Maneckshaw and Nashman and brother of late Viloo Kapadia, 6/86,
Chateau Windsor, Veer Nariman Rd, Marine Lines, 400020; June 7
Tehmton Erachsha Sahiar (88), son of Dhanmai and late Erachsha and brother of late Burjor and Rohinton, 626, Adenwalla Bldg, Homavazir Rd, Parsi
Clny, Dadar, 400014;
June 7
Noshir Kaikhushroo Harda (76), husband of Dolly, son of late Banoo and late Kaikhushroo, father of Delna Bomsi Tavaria and Zynobia Kaizad Hozdar
and brother of Minoo, late Rusi and Dara, 31/2, Merwanjee Cama Park, Cama Rd, 400058; June 8
Homai Jehangir Mondegari Irani (94), wife of late Jehangir, daughter of late Shirin and late Behram, mother of late Cyrus and Firoz and brother of Perin, Gulcher, Shernaz, Farad, late Rashid, Minoo, Husang and Rusi, Room no 17, New
Contractor Bldg, Victoria Garden Rd, Byculla, 400027; June 8
Roshan Jehangir Lentin (86), wife of late Jehangir, daughter of late Bachan and late Rustom Allbless, mother of Percy and sister of late Homi Allbless and Mehroo R. Baria, 201, Vijay Apt, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400036; June 8
Dara Jamshedji Daruwalla (95), husband of Dina, son of late Meherbai and late Jamshedji, father of Pervin Noshir Gotla, Firdaus and Neville and brother of late Dolly R. Homina, late Aloo D. Mistry, late Amy F. Mistry, 10, Dr Sethna Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Tardeo, 400007; June 9
Hosy Dadi Mody (80), husband of Kety, son of late Gool and late Dadi, father of Dick and Naznin and brother of late Neville, Nozer and Percy, 44/M1, Merwanji Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; June 9
Gool Sohrab Patel (85), daughter of late Jerbai and late Sohrab, 7, Dulwich, Mans, 224, Tardeo Rd, 400007; June 9
Sorab Cawasji Suratia (92), husband of late Banoo, son of late Hillamai and late Cawasji, father of Jimmy and Kurush and brother of late Rustomji, Keki, Mehroo, Homai and Nergesh, 403-404/6A, Salsette Parsee Clny Co-op Hsg Soc, Pump Hse, Andheri (E), 400093; June 9
Paully Dossabhoy Paul (93), husband of Zarin, son of late Goolbai and late Dossabhoy and brother of Amy Soli Madan, E-6,
Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400005; June 10
Zubin Soli Dubash (65), husband of Ayesha, son of Homai and late Soli and father of Aanya and Ayesha, 4001-4101, Tower 5, Planet Godrej, 30, K. K. Marg,
Jacob Circle, 400011;
June 11
Sorab Hormasji Khajotia (90), husband of late Roshan, son of late Jerbai and late Hormasji and father of Roxanne Nagarwalla and Sharon Khajotia, P-17,
Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, Colaba, 400001; June 11
cremated
Soonu Tilak Chinoy (85), wife of Tilak, daughter of late Alamai and late Maneckji Nagporewalla, mother of Delnaa and sister of late Behram, Freni and Mehru Nagporewalla, 3, Subodh Guru, 38, Tagore Rd, Santacruz (W), 400054; May 21
Mehru Nariman Battiwala (87), wife of late Nariman, daughter of late Tehmina and late Dhanjishah Bottlewala, mother of Dinshaw and Dineez Battiwala and sister of late Thrity Dalal and late Noshir Bottlewala, 504, Sidh Ratnakar, P. Balu Marg, Prabhadevi, 400025; May 25
Sam Boman Bhathena (73), husband of Behroze Shroff and son of late Khorshed and late Boman, 1101, The Primordial Hse, 62, August Kranti Marg, Gowalia Tank, 400026; June 6
Ratanji Jamshedji Khambatta (91), husband of late Roshan, son of late Goolbai and late Jamshedji, father of Zerina and Yezdi and brother of late Nergish Khambatta and Khorshed Balsara, Lakshmi Nivas, Westfield Est, Bhulabhai Desai Rd, 400026; June 6
Homi Rustomji Patel (93), husband of late Nina, son of late Shirinbai and late Rustomji, father of Parizad Adil Mistry and Valerie Zarir Baliwalla, 701,
Angel Hse, Pali Mala Rd, Bandra (W), 400050;
June 10
Jasmine Niruman Bastani (74), wife of late Niruman, daughter of late Coomi and late Fardun Beramji, mother of Neil and sister of Rumi Beramji, Dinaz Neville Wadia and Yezdi, 275,
Enterprise Apt, Forjet
Hill Rd, Tardeo, 400026; June 13
GANDEVI
died
Homji Ratansha Suratia (90), husband of Amy, son of late Dosamai and late Ratansha, father of Firuza Rajneesh Sharma and brother of Jal, Piloo Suratia and Naju Bhagalia, Navani-Kui,
Parsiwad, 396360; May 16
JAIPUR
born
A boy, Aarish, to Taronish and Zubin Mehta; May 25
MADRAS
died
Arnavaz Panthaki (76), sister of Jehangir and Azra Panthaki; May 26
NAVSARI
died
Hoshang Nusserwanji
Kavarana (79), husband of Sillu and father of Zubin, Vilu Kersi Bhagalia, Freny Vispy Dastur and Roni
Elavia, Bai M. P. B.
Jeejeebhoy Bldg, Bamjiwad, Tarota, 396445; June 8
Farokh Ratanji Munshi (82), son of late Dinbai and late Ratanji and brother of Homi, Parsi Infirmary,
Vejalpore, 396445; June 9
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Jamshed Buhariwala,
husband of late Dhun and father of Kerman and Khoorshed Buhariwala; May 30
USA
California
died
Jimmy Kaikhushru
Colabavala (73), husband of Meher Tatna, son of late Thrity and late Kaikhushru and brother of Mahrukh Gushtasp Forbes in Los Angeles; May 16
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-June 13, 2025
Marriages
Parsi: 20
Deaths: 287
Consigned to dakhmas: 252
Males: 137, Females: 115
Cremated: 35
Males: 13, Females: 22
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver