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 April 2022 find mention here as well as those who passed away till May 11.
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 April 2022: Heart disease (19, 14 of whom were octogenarians and nonagenarians), cancer, old age/general debility and kidney failure (three each), hypertension, septicemia and pneumonia/lung disease (two each) and multi organ failure, diabetes, cellulitis (inflammation of subcutaneous connective tissue), anemia and septic shock (a severe drop in blood pressure) (one each). A stillborn baby girl was also lost to the community. The eldest and youngest ages at death were 96 and 64. The mean age at death of Zoroastrians for April 2022 in Bombay was 81 years. The life expectancy at birth for males was 82 years and for females, 80 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 Meher Vakil and
Matthew Taff on April 1, 2022
A girl to Mahafreenn and
Jamshed Irani; April 4
A girl to Rashmena Vania and Xerxes Katrak; April 13
A boy, Parzan, to Dinaz and Yezaad Surti; April 15
A girl, Riana, to Delshad Irani and Rayomand Birdy; April 16
A girl to Meherenaaz Paddar and Peerzaad Dadyburjor; April 27
died
consigned
Perviz Noshir Damania (76), residing at 12/11, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla (E), 400027; April 10
Baby girl (stillborn), B/3,
Jer Baug, Dr Ambedkar Rd, Byculla, 400027; April 13
Sarosh Kaikhushroo Dumasia (77), 7/A/7, Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; April 30
Jeroo Adi Katgara (94), Katgara Hse, 15, Nepean Sea Rd, Malabar Hill; 400006; April 30
Dhunjishaw Cavasji Gazdar (86), 602 C, Indu Villa, Lady Jehangir Rd, Matunga, 400019; May 1
Pervin Homi Gandhi (72), 12, V. K. Bldg no 1, Forjett Hill, opp Bhatia Hosp, 400036; May 2
Mehroo Dhunjisha Langrana (97), 34, Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, 400007; May 2
Meherwan Rustom Vakshoor (69), 635, Mistry Bldg, Girgaum Rd, Dhobi Talao, Kalbadevi, 400002; May 2
Keki Jehangir Mogrelia (87), 8/E, Nowroz Baug, Dr S. S. Rao Rd, Lalbaug, 400012; May 4
Perin Jehangirjee Mehta (87), L3, G1, G2, Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; May 5
Arnavaz Dhunjishaw Udwadia (94), 15/B, Shila Apts, Besant St, Santacruz (W), 4000054; May 5
Bapsy Maneck Antia (90), Room no 415, Wadia Bldg, Old Khareghat Clny, Hughes Rd, Babulnath, 400007; May 6
Hormuz Peshotan Mama (88), 667, Dhunmai Bldg, Lady Jehangir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar (E), 400014; May 6
Hoshang Manekshah Boatwala (94), 8, Ratan Manzil, 64,
Wodehouse Rd, above Charagh Din, Colaba, 400005; May 7
Mani Nariman Pastakia (97), H/705, Veena Beena Co-op Hsg Soc Ltd, A. D. Marg, Sewree, 400015; May 7
Perviz Percy Daruvala (87), 62, Bakhtawar Annexe, Nepean Sea Rd, 400006; May 10
Soli Ardeshir Karanjia (91), Soona Villa, Perry Cross Rd, opp Brahmakumari Garden, Bandra (W), 400050; May 10
Mozam Phiroze Murzban (62), 22, Colaba Chmbs, Colaba Rd, near Colaba Bus Stn, Colaba, 400005; May 10
Rustom Phirozeshaw Mistry (91), 31, Ruki Mhl, Colaba Causeway, 400005; May 11
Keki Sorab Patel (62), Room no 40, A-4, Mehta Block, New Khareghat Clny, N. S. Patkar Marg, Babulnath, 400007;
May 11
cremated
Keki Dorab Poonjiaji (92), 1, Kapadia Chmbs, Cinema Rd, 400020; April 29
Jimy Gayamard Dandiwala (84), N-2, Nowroz Baug,
Lalbaug, 400012; May 1
Pervez Eruchshaw Driver (67), Hira Manzil, Gilder Lane, Bombay Central, 400008; May 2
Nariman Gustad Irani (95), Dawar Hall, 70H Old Khandala Rd, Lonavala, 410401; May 2
BULSAR
died
Silloo Chothia (85), wife of Keki and mother of Aloo Burjis Aibara and Rohinton; April 27
Parin Keki Patel (87), mother of Rashna Kersi Dastur and Sarosh; May 1
• • •
CANADA
Ontario
died
Hoshang Nanavati (93),
husband of Frene and father
of Rashna Cussen, Shireen Preksta and Sarosh, April 29
Bomansha Kotwal, husband of Silloo and father of Veera in Toronto; May 5
PAKISTAN
Karachi
died
Diniar Meherwanji Shroff, brother of Meher; May 6
Jolly Kersi Mehta, mother of Parvez and Jhabux; May 9
USA
California
died
Jahanbakhsh Varjavand, father of Bahram, Mahrokh and
Tahmineh Farkhani; May 5
Illinois
born
A girl, Aryana, to Sophia Tareen and Mehrshad Shastri, sister to Jehan in Chicago; March 4
Texas
died
Noshir R. Sidhwa, husband of Bapsy and father of Parizad Khurshed Sethna in Houston; May 2
• • •
Figures for Bombay
January 1-May 11, 2022
Marriages: 14
Parsi: 14
Deaths: 267
Consigned to dakhmas: 210
Males: 105, Females: 105
Cremated: 57
Males: 29, Females: 28
Compiled by Roxan A. Driver