While compiling the list of deaths from Doongerwadi from March to June 2021, some names were inadvertently left out due to various factors pertaining to the lockdown.
The missing names are being carried in this issue. Parsiana regrets the omissions.
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 (BPP) 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.
In the break-up of Bombay Doongerwadi deaths, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
Published herein are the causes of deaths of those who passed away in the months of March, April, May and June.
Causes of deaths for March 2021: The major killer — heart disease — took the lives of 12 patients, four of whom were octogenarians and nonagenarians. The other killers were: pneumonia/lung disease and cancer (seven each), diabetes (five), hypertension (four), septic shock (a widespread infection causing organ failure and dangerously low blood pressure) and old age/general debility (three each), kidney failure, sepsis (the state of being infected with pus-producing organisms), dementia and multi organ failure (two each) and urosepsis, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, senescence (normal changes of mind and body with increasing age), and septicemia (the persistence and multiplication of living bacteria in the blood stream) (one each). The community lost a 101-year-old male (the eldest to die). A 51-year-old male was the youngest to breathe his last. A stillborn baby girl was also lost to the community. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for March 2021 in Bombay was 79 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 77 years and for females, 84 years.
Causes of deaths for April 2021: Twenty-five victims fell prey to various diseases of the heart. Sixteen of the 25 had crossed their 80-year mark. While 15 Zoroastrians succumbed to hypertension, 10 died due to diabetes and five to old age/general debility. Cancer, septic shock, liver disease and brain disease felled four patients each. Pneumonia/lung disease and kidney failure were the causes of deaths of three persons each. Urosepsis claimed two and breathlessness and urinary tract infection, one each. The eldest to pass away was a 102-year-old male, the youngest, a female, aged 52. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for April 2021 in Bombay was 80 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 79 years and for females, 82 years.
Causes of deaths for May 2021: Fifteen of the 19 Zoroastrians who lost their lives due to heart disease, were over 80 years. While pneumonia/lung disease claimed nine victims and septic shock, eight, cancer took the lives of four. Three patients each succumed to hypertension and diabetes and two to kidney failure. Urosepsis, gastro intestinal bleed and old age/general debility claimed isolated lives. The eldest and youngest to breathe their last were both males — at 97 and 56 years respectively. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for May 2021 in Bombay was 81 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 78 years and for females, 84 years.
Causes of deaths for June 2021: Heart disease claimed 17 lives (11 were 80 years and above). Six Zoroastrians each died due to old age/general debility and lung disease/pneumonia. Kidney failure, cancer and diabetes felled three patients each. Two deaths each were attributed to septicemia and urinary tract infection and one each to multi organ failure, dementia, brain disease, hypertension, Alzheimer’s disease, sepsis and septic shock. The community lost a 24-year-old male who was the youngest to die. The eldest was a 96-year-old male. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for June 2021 in Bombay was 79 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 76 years and for females, 83 years.
The last few names of those deceased in July 2021 find mention here as well as those who passed away till August 9, 2021.
Parsiana also receives death intimations from Navsari’s Samast Parsi Jarthosti Anjuman, 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
Twins (girl and boy) to Lenaaz and Behzad Bhandari on
July 5, 2021
A boy to Alishka and Karl Bharucha; July 5
died
consigned
Baby girl of Cherag Irani
(stillborn), residing at 31-C-D, N. A. Purandare Marg,
Chowpatty, 400007; March 16
Arnavaz Dara Mistry (80), 91, Patel Apt, Agiary Lane,
Tembhi Naka, Thana, 400601; March 24
Eruchshah Sorabji Hodiwalla (82), H-36, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400001; April 10
Keki Bomanji Limboowalla (89), 622, Palia Mans, Lady Jehangir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; May 19
Rohinton Jamshed Master (68), 7/14, B. S. Panthaki Baug, near Vishal Hall, Andheri (E), 400069; June 11
Mani Rustom Mody (89), T-27, Godrej Baug, Napean Sea Rd, 400036; July 22
Perin Soli Crawford (99), 695, Keki Hse, Sohrab Palamkote Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; July 23
Russi Kaikashru Bilimoria (85), 202, Belmont, 37D, Napean Sea Rd, Malabar Hill, 400006; July 24
Rustom Khodadad Shokri (87), 65/502, Amaltas Vasant Vihar, Pokhran Rd no 2, Thana (W), 400610; July 24
Parvez Godrej Mullan (86), 804/D, Jai Bhagwati, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Dadar T. T., 400014; July 25
Phiroze Noshirwan Patel (82), B-19, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400001; July 26
Sam Nariman Tavadia (81), 8/14, C. J. Clny, Tardeo, 400034; July 26
Kersi Shavaksha Contractor (92), 72, Ferena, 25, Arthur Bunder Cross Rd, Colaba, 400005; July 28
Jimmy Homi Cooper (75), 4, Roxana, 109, M. K. Rd, Churchgate, 400020; July 28
Homai Dinshawji Ragina (74), 811, Jame Jamshed Bldg, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; July 28
Nargis Rustom Sasani (72), 21, Multani Bldg, Khetwadi, Girgaon, 400004; July 30
Mahafarin Dara Kapadia (65), 11/3, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; July 31
Roshan Zal Contractor (85), Cowies Guesthouse Bldg, 15, Walton Rd, Colaba, 400001; August 1
Hoshang Navroji Jilla (77), 5/5, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla (E), 400027; August 1
Kersi Meherji Bodhanwala (76), D-10, Malegamwala Bldg, Chhotani Rd, Mahim, 400016; August 2
Rashid Rustom Irani (75), Room no 56, Botawala Bldg, opp Anjuman Atash Behram, B. M. Rd, Dhobitalao, 400002; August 2
Farokh Minoo Patel (79), 20, Old Chinoy Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Tardeo, 400007; August 3
Yasmin Khurshed Vajifdar (78), 12, Wishram, Plot no 476, near Khar Gymkhana, 16th Rd, Khar (W), 400052; August 3
Rusi Homi Chacha (80), 503/504-5B, Salsette Parsi Clny, Old Pump Hse, Andheri (E), 400093; August 7
Dara Khurshedji Mehta (88), B/4, Ginwalla Bldg, Captain Clny, Tardeo Rd, 400034; August 7
Hoshang Pestonji Sarkari (92), 11/26, Navjivan Soc, Lamington Rd, 400008; August 7
Aspi Maneck Thanawala (64), R/10, 114, Marine Mans, B Block, Anandilal Podar Marg, 400002; August 7
Perin Noshir Viccajee (87), 304, Varun Apt, opp Krishna Ngr, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Parel, 400012; August 9
cremated
Sam Dinshawji Kasad (87), 44/17-E, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; July 23
Katie Gev Umrigar (94), 9, Summer Breeze, 15th Rd,
Bandra, 400050; July 27
Dara Tehmuras Gandhy (93), 301, Golden Rock Annexe, Perry Cross Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; July 28
Cowas Rustom Nazir (77), Marine Mans, 104/1, 1st Marine St, 400002; August 2
Firdaus Homi Mehta (74), Avan Abad, 6, Walton Rd,
Apollo Recl, 400001; August 7
SECUNDERABAD
died
Sohrab Burjorji Vakil (93), father of Beyniaz Viraf Edulji; July 27
AUSTRALIA
New South Wales
died
Mohta Engineer, wife of Billy in Sydney; July 20
Dorab Ratan Kotwal (94), husband of Sherna and
father of Rashid in Sydney; July 23
Jer Rusie Rustomjee (97), mother of Zarine Rusi
Meher-Homji, Tehmi Farokh Mistry and Jamshed in Sydney; July 26
PAKISTAN
Karachi
died
Dhun Rohinton Dossabhoy,
mother of Neville, Lilly and Hilla; July 18
Jamshed Mobed, husband of Roshni and father of Jarafshan Tehmus Mistry, Jarafreen Darius Bharucha and Tanaz; August 7
UK
East Yorkshire
died
Najoo Jamshed Mulla,
mother of Hufrize Mushtaq Rasool and Rohinton in Hull,
July 25
USA
New York
died
Nariman Burjor Mistry
(83), husband of Virginia
(Gin) and father of
Roshan Eric Swope,
Manek, Premila and
Jal in Ithaca; July 1
Texas
died
Dolat Bakhtiari (88), wife of Esfandiar and mother of Shirin Arman Izad in Houston;
July 22
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-August 9, 2021
Marriages: 22
Parsi: 22
Interfaith: --
Males married out: --
Females married out: --
Deaths: 504
Consigned to dakhmas: 387
Males: 192, Females: 195
Cremated: 117
Males: 65, Females: 52
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver