Category Archives: News

Heard of Zoroastrianism? The ancient religion still has fervent followers

Posted on 25 April, 2024 by yazdi Leave a comment

The Zoroastrian belief in one supreme being and good versus evil had a profound influence on the Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenian Persian Empire, freed the Jews from captivity in Babylon in 539 b.c. and returned them to Jerusalem, where they rebuilt their temple. Their exposure to Zoroastrianism in Babylonia and Persia, many scholars believe, helped solidify basic elements of Jewish belief, including an afterlife and final judgment. The ancient Greeks noted the wisdom of Zoroastrian sages, which gave rise to the Three Wise Men of the New Testament. And scholars note the similarity between Zoroastrian and Muslim practices of praying five times a day, and the ritual ablution that accompanies these prayers.

The Zoroastrian god is not a negotiating or punishing deity. There’s no notion of original sin that requires repentance. Rather, the Zoroastrian god is more like the force of gravity, indifferent to your daily well-being. Your job is to fight for asha (truth, righteousness, and order) and against druj (filth, lies, and chaos). After death, your soul, or urvan, reunites with your guardian spirit, or fravashi, and lives on in a world of song or a world of purgatory. Then comes the final battle, when good triumphs over evil and everyone is resurrected to live in a perfect world free of war, hunger, and earthly desires.

India’s Zoroastrians—known as Parsis—claim to be the true custodians of the religion. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the former center of the Persian Empire, Zoroastrians have been persecuted and forced to take many of their practices underground. Zoroastrianism claimed millions of followers at its height; now there are possibly 15,000 to 25,000 adherents left in Iran. Parsis number around 50,000 in India, concentrated mostly around Mumbai and the state of Gujarat, with less than a thousand more in neighboring Pakistan. The most orthodox of them consider only the children of Zoroastrian parents to be true Parsis, and they frown on marriage outside the faith. These restrictions, coupled with a decreasing birth rate, have led to a rapid decline of the Parsi population.

Click Here to read in full, this interesting article in the Apr 24 issue of National Geographic

Cowas Jehangir On Being The Vanguard Of His Family’s Rich Legacy

Posted on 4 April, 2024 by yazdi One comment

Walking into Cowas Jehangir’s office building in the historic part of the city instantly transports you back in time. Old Bombay, in its golden age, would be the best way describe it. A lift of a bygone era slowly takes us up to an office, the walls of which bear portraits and photographs of members of the Jehangir family over the decades. The Jehangirs are a prominent Parsi family of India that contributed generously to the developmental landscape of Bombay (now Mumbai) via a varied array of businesses and philanthropy from the first half of the 1700s.

It all began with Hirji Jeevanji, who came from Navsari (Gujarat) to Bombay, and was the first Indian to open trade with China along the sea route in the 1720s. Since then, succeeding generations have diversified into various fields including art, finance, trade, education, textiles, chemicals, healthcare and prime real estate, with notable contributions such as the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Public Hall (now NGMA), Crawford Market, Mumbai University and the Jehangir Hospital, among others. Fast forward to today and it’s Cowas and his family that are the current gatekeepers of this centuries-old legacy.

Cutting a dapper figure, Cowas welcomes us into his work sanctuary. He possesses an easy-going demeanour, is down-to-earth and charming, and, as we soon find out, has a brilliant sense of humour. Born and brought up in Mumbai, he moved to Pune to finish high school. Armed with degrees in business administration, real estate, and finance from San Diego, California, his career began in the USA at a real estate fund. “I moved back to Mumbai in 2013 to work full-time with a real estate development management company, and by late 2019, I pivoted to take a more active role in the family business and management — particularly our hospital and healthcare group, the Jehangir Hospital in Pune,” he shares as we sit down for the interview to learn more.

HELLO!: Cowas, the first thing we want to ask is the story behind the family’s Readymoney nickname…

Cowas Jehangir: Since there were no permanent last names for Parsis until the 1900s, typically, the son took on the father’s name. Hirji Jeevanji, our first ancestor who moved to Bombay, took on the name ‘Readymoney,’ which eventually became the family surname. He acquired this nickname since he was a prominent financier and had ever ready money available to lend. His great grandson, Cowasji Jehangir was Knighted in 1872 in recognition of his various donations and charitable causes. His son, Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, was titled with a Baronetcy by the British in 1908 and took on the official name of Sir Cowasji Jehangir (in honour of his father), which then led to the title being handed down from one generation to the next (my dad, Jehangir is the fourth generation baronet and I will be the fifth). He later dropped the Readymoney name and Jehangir has remained the family name since the Second Baronetcy.

H!: Does the weight of the family legacy feel daunting?

CJ: I wouldn’t define it as weight (smiles). I consider it a privilege and my responsibility to take that legacy forward. It is fundamentally built on doing good and giving back to society as the first driver. Business will always follow. This is why it is a privilege to take that further. The expectations are high, as are the standards that previous generations and our parents have set; however, there has never been pressure from our parents to go in any particular direction that they wanted. Both my younger sister (Simone) and I are fully empowered in taking that legacy forward simply because of the values and ethics that have become a part of our being.

H!: Your family leads a private life, far away from the public eye. Can you tell us about the bond you all share?

CJ: I have an extremely happy relationship with everyone in my family — my mother, Jasmine, my father, Jehangir, and Simone. Our parents treated us as friends as much as their children, which made for a much more open and easy relationship as we grew up — and still continue to grow up! (Laughs). They’ve luckily been very easy-going with us and let us live our lives. They’ve been our parents when we needed it but also our best friends when we needed that. Humility, respect for others, always being grateful and living honest lives have been values that my parents have championed throughout my life.

H!: How do you spend time together as a family?

CJ: We are a family of musicians! My mother plays the saxophone, my father plays the trumpet, my sister sings and I play the drums and saxophone. We’ve played plenty of gigs together as a family (with a full band) for nearly my entire life — so sharing a stage with my family with a passion that we’re all fond of is something I’m very proud of and has been some of our best times together.

H!: Tell us more about your role specifically in the family business…

CJ: My role is to drive expansion in the Jehangir Hospital Group — be it internally within the main hospital campus or expansion of future hospitals in other cities. Our focus is also on preventive healthcare and wellness, aiming to establish a network of holistic wellness centres. In any family business, especially one as old as ours, moving the organisation in a certain direction becomes slower with so many moving parts. My focus is to try and make our hospital group nimble — a large organisation with the decision-making and execution of a start-up. I also closely work with and support my uncle, Adi Jehangir, who is a strong pillar in our family and focuses on our institutions in Mumbai like the Jehangir Art Gallery with his son (my cousin, Hirji).

H!: Speaking of decision-making, do you have the freedom to make your own within the company?

CJ: Yes, I do. But it’s very important to recognise the professional management we’ve established with our hospital group that are fully empowered to drive decisions. Decision making becomes a lot clearer and easier to navigate when you leverage and empower the right people in the right places which we have done well.

H!: What’s your vision for the future?

CJ: To expand the vast experience and goodwill of Jehangir Hospital’s 79 years of ethical healthcare for the society into areas where healthcare is moving forward — newer medical technologies and equipment, focus on preventive healthcare, wellness, the applicability of AI, providing the best environmental for all healthcare workers for them to thrive and deliver quality healthcare for all strata of society. Even as we look into these areas, our focus will always be people, healing them and keeping them well. The hospital was started as a charitable trust and is still one today, therefore, everything that we do will always have the overarching objective to keep providing the best quality and ethical healthcare for all equally.

In the post-pandemic era, our clinical trial company, Jehangir Clinical Development Center, has come to the forefront as people increasingly recognise the value of clinical research. Our aim is to advance this platform further.

H!: What are your interests outside of the office?

CJ: Music is one of my biggest passions — whether it’s listening to it all the time, playing along with music, or jamming with friends. I’ve been playing the drums for over 20 years and saxophone for the last 3-4 years. I’m particularly keen on jazz, blues and rock. Health and wellness have become important aspects of my life and it’s developed into a huge interest for me lately — I’m always trying to learn more about fitness, nutrition and overall health to better myself.

H!: Any guilty pleasures?

CJ: Chocolate is always a guilty pleasure. I’ll never say no to it! (Laughs)

H!: What about your family history are you most proud of ?

CJ: I am extremely proud of the fact that for all the successes that have come through various generations and businesses, the main focus has always been to give back to society in any way, first.

H!: Is there an heirloom that’s been given to you that you’ll forever cherish?

CJ: There are many heirlooms with rich histories that could fill pages! While this is not a single heirloom per se, I cherish our family crest and motto that has been passed down through the generations. The motto is, ‘My Life Is His Who Gave It,’ which is a lovely reminder to always be grateful.

H!: The best piece of advice you’ve received?

CJ: Two bits of advice, one from each parent. The first from my mother — whatever you do, make sure you’re enjoying yourself and doing it with a smile. The rest will always fall into place and you’ll always do well. And from my father — respect all relationships with people and truly care for them, whether it be a personal or professional, it will always come back to you with positivity somewhere and at some point.(Smiles)

Photos: Ryan Martis

Jeena J Billimoria

https://in.hellomagazine.com/lifestyle/20240329304370/cowas-jehangir-exclusive-interview/

Parsi history, humour and food flowed at Bawa Bhonu & Gupshup

Posted on 28 March, 2024 by yazdi Leave a comment

Own the Past brought the Parsi community of Kolkata together to celebrate their legacy, culture and food ahead of Navroz

JAISMITA ALEXANDER | PUBLISHED 21.03.24, 12:31 PM

Noomi Mehta and Cyrus Madan, prominent figures in Kolkata’s Parsi community, regaled the audience with humorous anecdotes

All photos by Upama Dutta

Who is a Parsi? What is their history? All this and more unravelled at the Bawa Bhonu & Gupshup event held as a prelude to Navroz, on March 17. At Olpadvala Memorial Hall, the Parsi community in Kolkata gathered along with a few history enthusiasts to discover more about the legacy, culture and food of the Parsis in Kolkata.

Organised by Vibha Mitra’s Own the Past, a city group of history and heritage enthusiasts, the event was focused on reviving conversation. Own the Past is a gurukul vertical in Mitra’s OPUS Foundation Trust, which focuses on immersive learning about history.

Exploring the question, ‘Who is a Parsi?’

Prochy N Mehta in conversation with (right) Yezdi Karai about her book

The evening unfolded with philanthropist, sportswoman and author Prochy N. Mehta engaging in a conversation with Yezdi Karai about her book Who is a Parsi? It was a detailed introductory session on the community and its roots. Speaking about the book, Yezdi Karai asked the author, “This book is a research text. A book like this doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a copious amount of research. Take us through the journey of the book — from writing the very first page to the day of publication.” Answering the question, Mehta spoke about the journey and her motivation behind writing the book. She said, “I decided to write the book around 2012, when my grandchildren faced discrimination. That’s when my quest to find out who is a Parsi began. I found out that many of the stories that we have heard are just myths. Finally, during Covid, I put down all my research and sent it to Fali Nariman. I did not know him, but I just sent him asking if he could help me and if my research was correct.”

For her book ‘Who is a Parsi?’, Mehta recieved guidance from legal doyen Late Fali Sam Nariman

Late Fali Sam Nariman, legal doyen, a prominent constitutional lawyer, who was 90 then, went through the book and corrected it by hand and gave his valuable advice to Mehta. “He added judgments to the book and helped me with the constitutional way forward to the equality of the community,” she said.

Addressing the question – ‘Who is a Parsi?’ – Prochy N Mehta said, “There’s no definition of a Parsi. Some say religion, some say caste, some say the way we look, some define us by our mannerisms and the food we eat. But there’s no fixed definition and the book addresses why.”

Yezdi Karai said, “The acid test of a book is when it is accepted in the field of education. I am glad to inform you all that the book has been included in St. Xavier’s University’s school of philosophy and religion. Also, the book is a research text in the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.”

The conversation flowed into various anecdotes and historical facts about the community and its lineage. A music video, ‘To Parsi girls we’ll wrong no more’, was also screened featuring Samara Mehta Vyas, who is a singer and the granddaughter of Prochy Mehta. The lyrics capture the key message of Prochy N Mehta’s book.

Little touches at the venue like artworks by Katayun Satlak that were on display celebrated Parsi culture

Chuckles and chit-chat

Two stalwarts of the Parsi community in Kolkata, Noomi Mehta, chairman of the Selvel One group, and Cyrus Madan, former chairman of Royal Calcutta Turf Club, took the stage to share some funny stories from the community. Opening the fun banter, Cyrus Madan said, “Parsis tend to be a little eccentric. You can’t help that! You are so brilliant that you cannot help being eccentric!”

Taking over the conversation, Noomi Mehta shared his experience with what people think about the Parsis. He said, “Once I asked my friends as to what are the characteristics they think of when they think of a Parsi. They said that it was loyalty and eccentricity. I’m leaving out the eccentricity for now, but when it comes to loyalty, we are still loyal to an oath — a promise we made but we aren’t sure what the promise was!”

The duo also discussed the story of the lives of prominent Parsis like Edulji Olpadvala of the 20th century, after whom the Olpadvala Memorial Hall was named. They also shared funny stories about their friends and family.

Bhonu to conclude the evening

No Parsi gathering is complete without ‘bhonu’ or feasting

When Parsis gather, there must be food! The evening rolled into a night of culinary extravaganza. And there was much more than Dhansak. The buffet of Parsi cuisine had dishes like Patrani Macchi, Parsi Stew, Sali Marghi, Mutton Dhansak and rice and Mitthu Dahi. The buffet was catered by Khurshid Vatcha, who is known in the Parsi community for her food.

A haft-sheen table was laid out by Sanam Karai to offer a glimpse of a Navroz tradition followed at Parsi homes. Artworks on canvas by Parsi stained-glass artist Katayun Satlak were on display too.

Post the event, Vibha Mitra, the mind behind the initiative said, “It was a wonderful event. That’s what everyone who joined in told me. It was educational and enriching with all the speakers sharing their thoughts and knowledge. We plan to do more such events like this to revive the legacy and conversation about the heritage of Kolkata.”

On the menu were classic Parsi dishes including Patrani Machchi and Sali Margi

Courtesy Own the Past

https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/events/celebrating-parsi-heritage-the-community-in-kolkata-unites-ahead-of-navroz-with-history-anecdotes-and-parsi-food/cid/2008342

Prayer Hall Celebrates 8 years of service

Posted on 17 January, 2024 by yazdi 3 comments

Mumbai: Worli Crematorium’s Prayer Hall, Facilitating Post-Death Rites For Parsi-Zoroastrians, Celebrates 8 Years Of Service

Bodies that were interred in the Dakhmas, or Tower of Silence, in a system called Dokhmenashini, to be eaten by carrion birds, were not being disposed off fast enough, creating unhygienic conditions.

Manoj RamakrishnanUpdated: Sunday, January 14, 2024, 09:42 PM IST

Mumbai: Worli Crematorium’s Prayer Hall, Facilitating Post-Death Rites For Parsi-Zoroastrians, Celebrates 8 Yrs Of Service | Manoj Ramakrishnan

The Prayer Hall at the Worli municipal crematorium, which offers a place for the after-death rites of Parsi-Zoroastrians who do not want to be interred in the Tower of Silence, or Doongerwadi, on Malabar Hill, has completed more than eight years, but opinion is divided on the facility’s success, though the number of Parsis opting for cremations has nearly doubled during the period.Before the Prayer Hall was set up, it is estimated that 7-8% of funerals among Parsis in Mumbai were cremations. The Prayer Hall Trust estimates that between 15-20% of all funerals now take place at crematoriums. Data on funerals at the Prayer Hall show that the number of cremations has grown from 33 in 2015, the year when the Prayer Hall was set up to 90 in 2019 and 66 in 2020. Data is available for the subsequent years.

Why need for crematorium arose

Dinshaw Tamboly, a former trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), who is now a member of The Prayer Hall Trust said that out of the average 650 funerals in Parsi-Zoroastrian community in Mumbai annually, between 100 and 120 were cremations.
The need for alternate funeral arrangements was felt after the decimation of India’s vulture population. Bodies that were interred in the Dakhmas, or Tower of Silence, in a system called Dokhmenashini, to be eaten by carrion birds, were not being disposed off fast enough, creating unhygienic conditions.

Mumbai: Worli Crematorium’s Prayer Hall, Facilitating Post-Death Rites For Parsi-Zoroastrians, Celebrates 8 Yrs Of Service | Manoj Ramakrishnan

The Tata funeral

Though it opened in August 2015, the Prayer Hall project had its beginnings in the 1980s when J R D Tata, the patriarch of the Tata Group, called up the then Municipal Commissioner Jamsheed Kanga about a suitable crematorium in Mumbai for the funeral of his brother D R D Tata. Many dignitaries were expected at the funeral and most of the city’s municipal crematoriums were in a shabby condition.

The Dadar crematorium was chosen for the Tata funeral but a search continued for an alternate place for funerals of Parsi-Zoroastrians who did not want to be interred at the Dakhmas. Dinshaw Tamboly, trustee of The Prayer Hall who was a trustee of the BPP, the apex community trust that manages the Tower of Silence cemetery, between 1996 and 2008, said that there was a debate in the trust about whether alternate funeral methods like cremation should be allowed at the cemetery. The idea was rejected after opposition from the clergy and orthodox members of the community. Those wanting an alternate funeral method were asked to make their arrangements.

Worli municipal crematorium becomes Prayer Hall

The Worli municipal crematorium, which had space, was chosen as the site for The Prayer Hall which was registered in August 2013. The A H Wadia Trust gave a founding grant of Rs one and a half crores.

Framroze Mirza, the Zoroastrian priest in charge of the religious services at the Prayer Hall said that there was a spike in the number of cremations during the Covid epidemic when bodies of those who succumbed to the disease were not allowed to be interred in the Tower of Silence. “Otherwise the number of funerals at the Prayer Hall has been fluctuating. In some months there are eight to 10 funerals, but there are months where there are only one or two ceremonies,” said Mirza who is assisted by two other priests.

Though the number of funerals is not high, the Prayer Hall has fulfilled the needs of those who wanted an alternate method of funerals, said Tamboly. “It is a service that has been provided because people wanted it. The Bunglis (prayer halls) at the Tower of Silence could be used because it was out of bounds for those who opted for cremation,” said Tamboly.

Facility becomes blessing

Jehangir Patel, editor of the community magazine Parsiana, said that the facility has ‘”It has been a real blessing to people who wanted an alternative to Doongerwadi. Earlier, they (The Tower of Silence) would not allow even prayers of cremated persons to be done at the prayer halls in Doongerwadi. It was a nightmare for families of those who opted for cremation,” said Jehangir Patel, editor of the community magazine ‘Parsiana’. “The number of people cremated may not have increased, but the quality of life for families of those opting for cremation has improved. The services at the Prayer Hall are institutionalised and getting a Hall or a priest for the post-funeral rites is not a problem anymore.”

Patel said that the number of people opting for cremation has not increased substantially though the number spiked up in the COVID years when bodies of those who died in the epidemic were not allowed to be consigned in the dakhmas. Non-Zoroastrians are not made to sit separately like in Doongerwadi. “It was embarrassing (at the Tower of Silence) as non-Parsi friends and relatives were made to sit separately. Non-Parsis were treated as outcastes,” added Patel.

Dokhmenashini funeral system

The Dokhmenashini funeral system relies on the sun and carrion birds to dispose off dead bodies. The last time the birds were found in significant numbers at the Tower of Silence was in the 1990s. The nationwide decline in the population of vultures has been linked to diclofenac, a drug used in veterinary medicines. The drug is blamed for causing kidney failure in birds feeding on carcasses of cattle treated with it.

Though the drug is now largely excluded from veterinary preparations, it is still used in pain-killer medicines prepared for humans. Three species of vultures are found in India and ornithologists estimate the population of the birds has collapsed by 95 per cent. A vulture-breeding programme was set up in Pinjore near Chandigarh.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-worli-crematoriums-prayer-hall-facilitating-post-death-rites-for-parsi-zoroastrians-celebrates-8-years-of-service

Historic Moment: Parsi Priest originally from Mumbai Takes Center Stage at Orange City CA USA Epiphany Gathering

Posted on 16 January, 2024 by yazdi One comment

https://cityoforange.granicus.com/player/clip/781

(Orange, CA – January 11, 2024): In a groundbreaking moment of interfaith understanding, the City of Orange invited Ervad Zarrir Bhandara, a priest from the Zoroastrian Association of California, to deliver the invocation for their Epiphany meeting on January 9th. This historic gesture not only celebrated the diverse tapestry of religious beliefs in the city but also resonated with the Zoroastrian faith’s core principles of “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.”

Ervad Bhandara’s captivating speech transported the audience, including city officials, residents, and members of the medical and social work communities, on a journey through Zoroastrianism’s rich history and its emphasis on environmental respect, inclusivity, and universal human rights. He drew parallels to the legacy of Emperor Cyrus the Great, a pioneer of human rights whose decrees inspired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and influenced the American Constitution.“Our city thrives on the unique contributions of all its citizens. Let this council be a crucible where differences become ingredients for progress, and where compromises strengthen our bonds. Let us be co-creators of a brighter future for all.” Ervad Bhandara said.

Beyond showcasing the Zoroastrian faith’s wisdom, Ervad Bhandara was also recognized for his own exemplary acts of service. He has donated platelets and plasma over 550 times, saving the lives of over 1600 individuals. This selfless dedication resonated with the city, leading Mayor Pro Tem Ms. Barrios and Mayor Dan Slater to present him with a plaque in appreciation.

This momentous occasion served as a powerful testament to the City of Orange’s commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where diverse voices are heard and celebrated. It demonstrates the importance of building bridges between faiths and recognizing the shared values that bind us together.

As we move forward, let us embrace the spirit of unity and understanding embodied by Ervad Bhandara and the City of Orange. Let us learn from each other’s traditions, appreciate our differences, and work together to create a brighter future for all.

MATHEMAGICIAN MINOO JOKHI AMAZING MATHEMAGIC SUCCESS IN BANGALORE 2023

Posted on 18 December, 2023 by yazdi One comment

Minoo Jokhi of Mumbai who has over the years performed over 975 Mathemagic Programs and enthralled thousands of people as well as taught over 10000 children and people of all ages has added another feather to his cap recently. He travelled to Bangalore from 28^th November till 6^th December 2023 and performed 8 Mathemagic Shows for MAXWELL Public School, Little Angel School, St. Joseph School, Rotary Bangalore South Parade, joint meeting program of Rotary Bengaluru South End and Rotary Bangalore Spandana, Rotary School in Channapatna, joint program for Government High School, Bhagini Nivedita School and Gandhi Smaraka High School kids and for St.Vincent Palloti College. Minoo was thoroughly involved in these 8 shows and taught the children plenty of useful Maths Tricks and Memory Techniques which were very useful to the children in their school and college studies. The children loved Minoo immensely and were amazed the way Minoo beat the calculator in saying the tables of any 3 digit number faster than the calculator and many of those who were weak in Maths saw in Minoo a great inspiration. Minoo himself may be a renowned Maths Genius today but was a FAILURE IN MATHS ALL THROUGH HIS TEENS till the age of 15 in the 9^th standard. From there the way he mastered the very subject where he was the worst student truly inspired and touched the Bangalore young kids. The children asked me for autographs and many asked me to pose for selfies. Minoo loved the interaction with the audience. The Mathemagician was truly humbled with the love and adulation. A local newspaper Vijayavani too covered him.

This was Minoo’s 3^rd visit to Bangalore having been there in 2015 and 2017. Minoo has performed 11 times for International Audiences, 7 times in Sri Lanka and once each in USA, Canada, Spain and Indonesia. In India he has performed in Ahmedabad, Kerala, Dharampur, Lonavala, Navsari, Rajkot, Chennai, Kolkata but Bangalore holds a very special place in his heart. Channapatna where he performed 2^nd time for the Rotary School too is a place Minoo is extremely fond of. Minoo spoke 3^rd time for Rotary Bangalore Spandana Club and he has very fond memories of many from that lovely club. And Minoo is determined not to stop but spread MATHEMAGIC to various parts of the world. It is his LIFE MISSION to remove MATHS FEAR from children and adults and install confidence in them.

Bangalore is a beautiful place. While it is not possible to visit all of them in one trip; Minoo did visit some places be it Century Club where he addressed a Rotary Club; he also went to UB City; visited the Visvesvaraya Museum where he indulged in taking selfies with the dinosaur enclave; he also visited Ulsoor lake and Cubbon Park. Being a very religious person he also went to Bangalore Parsi Agiary and prayed and thanked GOD for everything.

Minoo can be contacted on 9821407519; his website is www.minoojokhi.in and his email is minoojokhi@rediffmail.com He has a Facebook; Instagram and LinkedIn Account by his name Minoo Jokhi and a youtube channel by the name Minoo Jokhi where many of his shows videos are there to see.

Preserving Mumbai’s Cultural Legacy

Posted on 21 November, 2023 by yazdi One comment

Virtusa Corporation Supports Restoration of the Iconic B.J.P.C Institution

Mr. Rustom N.B, Trustee of the BJPC Institution and Mr. Santosh Thomas, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Virtusa Corporation unveiling the coffee table book at the successful completion of the restoration project of the Institution in Mumbai today – Photo By GPN

Mr. Ram M, Chief Technology Officer, Virtusa Corporation, Swwapnil Joshi, Actor and Alumni BJPCI, during the unveiling of the Plaque after the completion of the restoration of the Institution in Mumbai today – Photo By GPN

Mr. Rustom N.B, Trustee of the BJPC Institution Lighting the Ceremonial Lamp – Photo By GPN

Virtusa Corporation and the Trustees of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (B.J.P.C.I) jointly unveil a Landmark Restoration.

Virtusa Corporation alongwith The Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (B.J.P.C.I) celebrated The Grand Unveiling Ceremony of the Renovated B.J.P.C.I Facilities and A Captivating Coffee Table Book – Unwrapping The Story of a Landmark Restoration in presence of Swwapnil Joshi, Indian Film & Television Actor & alumni; Mr. Santosh Thomas, CEO, Virtusa Corporation and Mr. Rustom N.B. Jeejeebhoy, Trustees of The B.J.P.C Institution today Thursday, 9th November 2023 at Venue:The B.J.P.C Institution, Maharishi Karve Marg, Opp Charni Road Station, Girgaon, Mumbai – 400004.

MUMBAI, 9th NOVEMBER, 2023 (GPN) – Virtusa Corporation, a leading provider of digital engineering, and technology services through its philanthropic arm, Virtusa Foundation, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (B.J.P.C.I) Heritage School Restoration Project. The restoration of this iconic institution not only preserves a vital piece of history but also underscores Virtusa’s commitment to fostering education, empowering future generations, and contributing to a sustainable environment.

Furthermore, Swwapnil Joshi, renowned actor and an esteemed alumnus of the B.J.P.C.I, graced the event with his presence. In addition, Santosh Thomas, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Virtusa Corporation, Amit Bajoria, Chief Finance Officer, Virtusa Corporation, Ram Meenakshisundaram, Chief Technology Officer, Virtusa Corporation and the B.J.P.C.I trustees together unveiled the captivating Coffee Table Book – “Unwrapping The Story of a Landmark Restoration,” making the event a truly exceptional and meaningful occasion.

At the event, Santosh Thomas, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Virtusa Corporation, emphasized, “It has been a great privilege for Virtusa to collaborate with the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (B.J.P.C.I) in the restoration of this historic structure. As a company that believes strongly in social responsibility, this project aligns with our corporate sustainability ethos.”

He continued, “The Virtusa Foundation has built a comprehensive program to foster access to education for over 15 years. These initiatives have benefitted over 20,000 students. Today, with the restoration of this 132-year-old beautiful structure, we are able to mark another milestone in this mission that will benefit students and society for generations. The opportunity to support the restoration of this iconic building and preserve a piece of history that will provide opportunity to young minds will always be cherished. It has been an honour to help the B.J.P.C.I safeguard this mission so that the dreams of countless students can be fostered for years to come.”

Founded in 1891, the B.J.P.C.I holds an esteemed position in the annals of Mumbai’s cultural and educational history. Nestled at 33, M. Karve Marg, this architectural masterpiece stands as a cornerstone of the city’s rich heritage. The B.J.P.C.I is recognized as a heritage structure in Mumbai and was the recipient of The Urban Heritage Award in 1993 for being the “Best Preserved Monumental Building”.

Key highlights of the B.J.P.C Institution and the restoration project include:

Historical Significance: With a legacy spanning 132 years, the B.J.P.C.I stands as one of Mumbai’s oldest educational institutions, making significant contributions to the city’s academic landscape.
Architectural Marvel: The institution’s heritage building, designed by Master Architect Khan Bahadur Muncherji C. Murzban follows the Gothic Revival style and boasts unique teakwood screens and coloured glass elements.
Academic Excellence: The B.J.P.C.I offers a comprehensive educational program spanning from kindergarten to senior classes, serving over 1400 students. The institution consistently maintains an impressive 100% success rate in board exams, which stands as a testament to its steadfast commitment to academic excellence.

Amit Bajoria, Chief Finance Officer, Virtusa Corporation, echoed this sentiment, said, “Revitalizing a heritage school like the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Parsee Charitable Institution (B.J.P.C.I) not only preserves its rich legacy but also empowers future generations.”

He further added, “Our participation in this initiative has brought us great satisfaction, and the accomplishment strongly aligns with the core pillars of the Virtusa Foundation: enhancing access to education, preserving our environment, and empowering society.”

Rustom N.B, Trustee of The B.J.P.C institution, expressed gratitude, said, “Virtusa, our collaborators, have generously financed the restoration and renovation of the building. Their patience and timely input of funds made the difference between old and the freshly renovated appearance of our building. This building is a rarity in our city, and we are happy and honoured to say it will be sent as an entry for the UNESCO Heritage award by our architect. A resounding thanks to Virtusa Corporation from the trustees, staff, and students of The B.J.P.C.I.”

Through strategic partnerships and active community engagement, the Virtusa Foundation is dedicated to addressing societal challenges while paving the way for a brighter future. Virtusa employs an “Engineering First” approach to creative problem-solving, which empowers individuals and communities to enhance social outcomes for all. This approach is what Virtusa refers to as “Engineering with Purpose.”

About Virtusa:

Virtusa Corporation is a global provider of digital business strategy, digital engineering, and information technology (IT) services and solutions that help clients change, disrupt, and unlock new value through innovative engineering. Virtusa serves Global 2000 companies in Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Healthcare, Communications, Media, Entertainment, Travel, Manufacturing, and Technology industries.

Virtusa helps clients grow their business with innovative products and services that create operational efficiency using digital labor, future-proof operational and IT platforms, and rationalization and modernization of IT applications infrastructure. This is achieved through a unique approach blending deep contextual expertise, empowered agile teams, and measurably better engineering to create holistic solutions that drive the business forward at unparalleled velocity enabled by a culture of cooperative disruption.

Virtusa is a registered trademark of Virtusa Corporation. All other company and brand names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective holders.

POSTED BY: SACHIN MURDESHWAR

Virtusa Corporation Supports Restoration of the Iconic B.J.P.C Institution, Preserving Mumbai’s Cultural Legacy

Malcolm Baug Parsi Housing Colony

Posted on 20 November, 2023 by yazdi Leave a comment

A Century of Tranquility Amidst Mumbai’s Hustle and Bustle

This month, the colony holds its centennial celebrations.

Malcolm Baug Parsi Housing Colony: A Century of Tranquility Amidst Mumbai’s Hustle and Bustle | Manoj Ramakrishnan/FPJ

Mumbai: As you exit the traffic-clogged S V Road near Jogeshwari railway station and enter the metal arches of the Malcolm Baug Parsi housing colony, you leave the noise and busyness of the city behind. The air temperature drops by degrees, and the smell of soot is replaced by the aroma of vegetation warming in the sun. The lanes, lined with early-twentieth-century bungalows and cottages, have a languid charm to them. The city’s Parsis call it a ‘hill station’ in the middle of Mumbai.Later this month, the colony will hold its centennial celebrations. The festivities will be low-key, and invitations are only for people who stay in the colony and former occupants. The residents do not want to invite the hustle and bustle of the city that surrounds them.

Malcolm Baug Parsi Housing Colony | Parsiana magazine

Colony inaugurated in November 1922

The colony was planned by N M Wadia Charities on the lines of the ‘Garden Suburbs’ that were being developed in London in the early 20th century. The first building and bungalow were inaugurated in November 1922. Like the other planned housing layouts such as Dadar-Wadala and Sion-Matunga, Malcolm Baug was the result of an idea to decongest the crowded localities in the southern part of the city that bore the brunt of epidemics sweeping the world in the late 18th and early 20th century. A plague epidemic, which had traveled across the world, is estimated to have killed more than 20,000 people and created an exodus out of the city. In 1898, the city created Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT), two years after the plague.

BIT took over vacant lands north of the city and created mixed-use layouts with planned roads, gardens, and public facilities. The book ‘N M Wadia and His Foundation’, first printed in 1961, links this history of the city to that of Malcolm Baug. An appendix to the book states: “During the early years of the twentieth century, Bombay appeared to be one of the most ill-fated cities in the world. The root of all the evils from which people suffered – insanitation and disease, malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, plague – was acute house-famine, the concomitant of overcrowding. With a view to striking at the root of the malady for which the existing agency of the Bombay Municipality was not considered adequately equipped, a special agency, namely, the Bombay Improvement Trust, was created for the wholesale reconstruction of the city.”

Parsis were then a significant section of the population of Mumbai and were among those who needed more housing. The trustees of the N M Wadia Charities liked the idea of the new urban plans sweeping the city and decided to create a colony for ‘poor and ill-housed’ Parsis. They chose Amboli village near Jogeshwari railway station as the location for the ‘salubrious’ colony. The colony consists of apartments and also plots for single homes.

Around 300 families now live in the estate. Most residents will not live anywhere else. “I was born and brought up in this colony. I will not live anywhere else,” said a resident who ran a data center. “Where else in this city will you get such green patches and serenity? It is close to the railway station, and there is a fire temple. It is self-sufficient,” said the resident.

One resident who moved into the colony in 1991 after marriage said, “When you enter the colony, you will forget that you are in Mumbai.”

Others who moved out reluctantly share a nostalgia for the place. One reader wrote in the Parsiana magazine: “The Malcolm Baug of my long-ago memories was a self-sufficient world. It was a little Parsi republic whose citizens did not have to step outside its borders for their daily needs if they did not want to. The pauwallo brought bread. The eedawallo brought eggs. The machhiwalli brought fish. The goswallo brought mutton. The tarkariwalli brought vegetables. The doodhwallo brought milk. The paperwallo brought the morning Times, Express, or Free Press Journal. The mochi fixed shoes. The dhobi picked up the dirty laundry.”

Trustees of the N M Wadia Charities did not respond to messages and calls for a comment. The centenary celebrations will be spread over November 18 and 19, and there are no invites for ‘outsiders’.

Manoj Ramakrishnan

https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/malcolm-baug-parsi-housing-colony-a-century-of-tranquility-amidst-mumbais-hustle-and-bustle

ZAC Celebrates the 7th Salgreh of their Atashkadeh

Posted on 18 November, 2023 by yazdi One comment

A Day of Celebration
The 7th Salgreh of the Zoroastrian Association of California‘s Atash Kadeh was celebrated with great religious fervor and Parsi gusto on the 12th of November. The celebration started a day in advance with deep cleaning of the premises by volunteers Freny Bacha, Vira & Burjor Santoke, Dhun & Ketty Alamshaw, Jimmy Colabewala, Firoze Avari, Xerxes, Zane & Zara Commissariat, Ruzbe, Zubin & Farzan Daruwalla, Mehernosh Pithawalla, Kerman & Annu Dangore, Khushroo Dubash & Zerkxis & Zarrir Bhandara.

On the day of Salgreh, in the wee hours of the morning, the Chowks were done by Annu & Kerman Dungore, the hars and Torans were made by Rukshana Colabewala. A Hama Anjuman maachi was offered to Atashpadshah in all five gehs. A Jashan was performed in the morning by Ervads Ardaviraf Minocheherhomji, Kyan Arzan Lali, & Zerkxis, and Zarir Bhandara which was attended by about 75 Zoroastrians.

The ZAC Cleaning crew

The ZAC Youth in Action

The Importance of Service
After the Jashan, Zarrir thanked the donors Hootoxi and Dr. Ervad Ardaviraf Minocheherhomji who also sponsored the celebrations, and gave a brief talk explaining the terms:

Agiyary: A Sanskrit word meaning “Agni rakhvani jagya” which means Atashkadeh in Persian, which can store either of the three grades of fires Dadgah, Adaran and Atash Behram fire.
Dadgah fire: The ZAC Ataskadeh which houses the dadgah fire, which was duly consecrated under the guidance of Dasturji Dr. Firoze M. Kotwal.

He stressed the importance of service, saying serving our community and humanity in general is serving God. Further, he stressed the importance of focusing on our feelings, emotions, that we derive from experiences, as we are living, feeling beings, by transforming our feelings, we can transform our thoughts, words, deeds, and our life.

Captain Khush & President Rooky Fitter, Ervads Minocheherhomji, Kyan Lali & Bhandaras,
Treasurer Firoze Gundevia, Secraetaries Vira & Burjor Santoke

A Time for Reflection
After which, he invited Ervad Dr. Minocheherhomji to speak, who said:

Anybody can donate money, but the important thing is the serving, which these ervads do so devotedly and the community coming here to pray. By quoting the Jasameavanghe Mazda prayer, he said:

We are peace-loving, bridge-building community. Hence, it is important that we stay united and spread peace in the world by decreasing the negativity and increasing the positivity quoting from the Haft Amshaspand Afrin. Further, he spoke about “Ossmoi oozaresva Ahura” Which means “You unfold to me, be with me Ahura, and if God is with you, you don’t need anyone else”and Ushtano Zato Athrav Yo Zarathushtra” meaning “the whole creation rejoiced at the birth of Asho Zarathushtra, that is how great our prophet is” engraved in Rustom Framna Agiyary Dadar, Mumbai

A Community Comes Together
At the conclusion, ZAC President Mrs. Rooky Fitter thanked the then President Mrs. Tehmi Damania and the ZAC community for their stupendous team work and that we have come a long way and we can continue to progress further unitedly.

A Delicious Feast
Afterward, the chashni was served along with the delicious compassionate Pulav Dal prepared by Reshma Rustomi, Ravo by Xerxes commissariat, and Flan by Dhun & Ketty Alamshaw, Fruits- Freny Bacha. The afternoon ended with merriment and laughter by the ZAC members. Everyone had a great time, and it was the perfect way to end the event.

UNVEILING OF SCYLLA VATCHA’s PORTRAIT AT BAI MANECKBAI P. B. JEEJEEBHOY SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE, NAVSARI

Posted on 28 October, 2023 by yazdi One comment

UNVEILING OF SCYLLA VATCHA’s PORTRAIT

AT BAI MANECKBAI P. B. JEEJEEBHOY

SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE, NAVSARI

GENESIS OF THE INSTITUTION

TEAM WZO TRUST FUNDS

WZO Trust Funds unveiled a portrait of Late Mrs. Scylla Vatcha at their Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Senior Citizens Centre at Navsari on 20^th October 2023 in the presence of residents, trustees, administration & staff.

For us at the Centre, we consider Mrs. Scylla Vatcha to be our patron Saint. She was also philanthropist and benefactor to thousands of Zoroastrians, a legend in her lifetime who will never be forgotten.

After the portrait was unveiled, Mr. Dinshaw Tamboly spoke to the gathering and informed all about the very interesting sequence of events that led to the establishment of the Centre.

In Dinshaw Tamboly’s words:

“It was sometime in 1992 that a Parsi gentleman, working with Central Bank of India, came to meet me at my office and conveyed that he was single, had no relatives and due to retire in 1995. He mentioned that upon his retirement, he would seek my assistance to help him locate a suitable house at Navsari that he would purchase from the terminal benefits that he would receive, where he could spend his retired life in the company of five to six healthy Parsis of his age group, who like him were single.

I conveyed to him that I would help him in his quest; he was so keen that he began to visit me at my office ever so often and kept on reminding me of my commitment. Finally, in 1995 when he did retire, he asked me to begin scouting for suitable premises. After a bit of effort, a suitable house was located and he was informed to meet the owner and finalize the terms.

That was the last I heard of the gentleman; he seemed to have simply vanished into thin air, not accepting the few reminder ‘phone calls that I made to him.

It is truly said that wonders are performed by Divinity in mysterious ways. Just a couple of days after we had given up on the gentleman and his project, Bachi & I were invited to a social gathering at the residence of late Thrity & Homi Taleyarkhan, where Scylla was also present.

During the course of our conversation, we mentioned to her about our experience with the concerned gentleman. Scylla being the dynamic and vibrant person she was requested us to meet her a couple of days later at her residence.

At that fateful meeting at her residence, Scylla informed Bachi & me that she saw merit in what the gentleman had conceived and conveyed to us to prepare a project for a facility that could be established at Navsari where ‘Zoroastrian Senior Citizens’ who were healthy and active, capable of looking after their biological needs could reside with self-respect and dignity.

She made it very clear that the concept she had in mind was not that of an infirmary, as such facilities were already available at Mumbai, Surat & Navsari.

Scylla laid down three basic conditions, viz. that the facility should be planned in a predominantly Parsi precinct, should be close to a shopping area, and be near to an Agiyari.

Providence is known to create opportunities for things done with good intent. Within a few days, we were fortunate to locate suitable premises that met all the three conditions laid down. We prepared a blue print for the project, had rough architectural plans and costs prepared and presented them to Scylla. In true style, in keeping with her dynamism, Scylla approved the project within a fortnight and gave us the green signal to go ahead with purchasing the property, appoint an architect, float tenders, obtain quotations for construction, and put the project in fast forward mode.

The entire project from purchasing property, constructing the entire building, bearing cost of furniture, fixtures and furnishing were all borne by the Trustees of Bai Maneckbai P. B. Jeejeebhoy Deed of Settlement Fund.

Construction of the Centre began in mid-1995 and the magnificent structure spread over ground + five floors (20,000 sq. feet) was ready for occupation by end 1997. The Centre was formally opened on January 06, 1998 in the presence of large number of guests and media in attendance.

Scylla being the visionary she was, had foreseen that some residents as they progress in age would become bed ridden and unable to continue residing at the Centre and their families too would not be able to look after them. She therefore whilst the Centre was being constructed arranged for construction of a separate building at the Parsi Infirmary at Navsari, where our residents could be shifted under their care. Such was dear Scylla – A Woman of Stature & Substance”.

After the unveiling of the portrait and the genesis shared by Dinshaw Tamboly, some of the residents spoke about their life changing experiences at the Centre and showered their appreciation upon Scylla Vatcha, who was the visionary behind the creation of such a vibrant institution

Footnote:

The Centre has since its opening been a vibrant institution, blessed to be generally running to full occupancy, filled with positive energy, where residents reside in comfort, enjoy a very stress free pleasant life style where they mingle with each other, their needs being catered to the best extent possible.

Our residents are encouraged to go out in the mornings and evenings, a chemist visits them every day to take their orders for medicines that are delivered to them. Physiotherapy and yoga sessions are held every alternate day, residents are taken on outings to our Sanatorium at Sanjan, and from there to Iranshah at Udvada.

Frequent outings in evenings are arranged at various places of interest at Navsari and at times residents are treated to dinner at popular restaurants that provides a change of scene.

In case of illnesses requiring hospitalisation, we have arrangements with D. N. Mehta Sarvajanik Hospital, a leading hospital at Navsari, where we have created a WZO Trust Funds Ward where our residents are provided treatment.

The icing on the cake of the eventful and fulfilling journey that has completed 25 years has been solemnization of two marriages between our residents, one each in 2015 & 2016 which makes us feel proud that their marriages planned in heaven were solemnized at our Centre.

Our merry wagon continues on its journey that puts ‘life in to the days of our residents and not just days into their lives’. We repose confidence that Divinity will continue to bless our residents and our Centre for decades to come

Atha Jamyad, Yatha Afrinami.

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