If Delhi offered the community prospects for professional growth, the Parsis returned the favour in full spirit,...
arZan Articles
Delhi Parsi Anjuman marks 100 yrs with centenary celebrations
Founded in 1925, the Anjuman has anchored the Capital’s Parsi community for a century. Events include a photo...
Prominent south Mumbai dentist, hurt in Bhau Daji Lad Museum lift crash, dies
A prominent south Mumbai dentist, who was injured in an elevator crash at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum (BDL) on April 28, died on Thursday at Masina Hospital. Dr Arnavaz Havewalla, 63, suffered a...
JRB Jeejeebhoy: Mumbai has forgotten the ‘leading historian’ who once highlighted its forgotten past
JRB Jeejeebhoy, who wrote numerous pieces on the city and its heritage from the 1920s to the 1950s, has met the fate of his subjects. History unfortunately has been superseded in favour of flighty...
Chennai’s Parsi community looks back on its ties with the metropolis
The city’s Royapuram fire temple stands on the brink of turning 110 In Royapuram, heavy with humidity and the sharp tang of sea salt, stands a white building that has sheltered an undying flame for...
How to Get Away With Murder’s Behzad Dabu to Star in Put Your House in Order at La Jolla Playhouse
The world premiere from Chicago-based playwright Ike Holter begins previews June 2.Article by Adam Hetrick | PlaybillBehzad Dabu (How to Get Away with Murder), Linda Libby (Ether Dome), and Shannon...
The dancer’s guide to hitchhiking: Astad Deboo
Celebrated Indian contemporary dancer and choreographer Astad Deboo on his 50-year career, hitchhiking across the world and moreArticle by Samira Sood | CNN TravellerAstad Deboo in flow. Photo: Amit...
Toxy Cowasjee Steps Down as Editor of Hamazor After 17 years
Earlier this year Toxy Cowasjee, the editor of the Hamazor magazine reached out to me asking if I would cover a local NYC event for her to go in the next issue of Hamazor. I, of course said yes. You...
Batasas and the Parsi Bakery: Not Just Dhansak Ep 02 Featuring Cyrus Dotiwala
On this episode, Bawi Bride Perzen Patel is in conversation with the sixth generation owner of the very famous Dotivala Bakery in Surat, Cyrus Dotivala. Cyrus shares the story of how bread traveled...
A Bid to Maintain One of the World’s Oldest Culinary Traditions
For the ever dwindling Parsi community of western India, food is both pleasure and heritage — and a secret language in danger of dying out. TO TASTE DHANSAK at the Ripon Club in Mumbai — whose...
Chairman, trustees in battle over BPP’s place in all-India Parsi body
Yazdi Desai's idea of keeping BPP out of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India's affairs led to a heated exchange of words between trusteesNoshir Dadrawala and Yazdi DesaiWith the...
Irani Cafes: A fading love story
The little culinary revolution that Mumbai’s tiny Iranian diaspora began a 100 years ago is now quickly dwindling“Agar teer e aalambejombad be jay. Na barradragi, gar nakhwaahadkhodaay (Even if the...
What is Parsi Food, Really: Not Just Dhansak Ep 01 Featuring Kurush Dalal
On the first episode of our Parsi food show, Not Just Dhansak, our host Perzen Patel, popularly known as the Bawi Bride, is in conversation with archaeologist and food historian, Kurush Dalal. When...
The opium trader who became one of India’s richest men
On his fourth trip to China, Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy was captured by the French. It was the middle of the Napoleonic Wars and hostilities between the British and the French had carried over to the...
Not Just Dhansak: A New Parsi Podcast
Our dear friend Perzen Patel a.k.a Bawi Bride writes in... What is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone tells you they are Parsi? Is it Dhansak? Well, no one would blame you!Over the...
Shayaan Oshidar: My music will tackle wrong notions of beauty
Music runs in the family of Cyrus Oshidar, the man who made MTV and VH1 cool. His daughter Shayaan is topping the dance charts and planning her Indian invasion Article by Asatha Atray Banan | Mid...
Nawaz Merchant’s ‘The Rajabai Tower Mystery’ wins Mystery Writers of America’s prize
Our dear friend and first time novelist Nawaz Merchant who writes under the pseudonym Nev Merch informs us... At the Edgar Awards last week, my historical novel 'The Rajabai Tower Mystery' won the...
Two decades from now, Pakistan will have no Parsis
Just before sunset, five elderly men leave their homes in the Cyrus Minwalla Colony, the oldest settlement of Karachi’s Parsis, and sit themselves down on cement benches placed alongside a...
Ad Age Rising Stars: Delna Shroff
Delna Shroff, who comes from a family of engineers, was stubborn about the fact that she did not want to be one. She started her journey in advertising five years ago. ‘Dil mein always kuch-kuch...
Feritta–Set Myself Free: In Conversation
Our dear friend Feritta is featured in an interview on Broad Tube Music ChannelFeritta grew up in a family where education and family duty came first but her passion has always been creating in one...
Godrej and the Ballot Boxes for for India’s First Elections
When independent India was laying the groundwork for its first elections in 1952, clueless to the rest of the world, workers at a factory in Mumbai’s Vikhroli were making history.They were...
Made To Order: Gulshan Kolah
Custom-made garments, whether couture or everyday outfits, are a significant part of our dressmaking heritage. Verve scouts around for Mumbai-based tailors and boutiques that specialise in the art...
Jimmy Engineer selected for Habib Jalib Peace Award
World-renowned Pakistani artist, peace activist and social crusader Jimmy Engineer has been selected for Habib Jalib Peace Award for 2019 in appreciation and recognition of his meritorious services...
Dr. Khursheed Wadia Wins the W J M Mackenzie Book Prize
Dr. Khursheed Wadia, an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick in the U.K. was the winner of the prestigious W. J. M. Mackenzie Book Prize for her book Muslim Women and Power: Political...
Dosabhoy Framji Karaka
Karaka, Dosabhoy Framji [Dosoo] (1911–1974), journalist and writer, was born on 14 April 1911 in Bombay, British India, into a middle-class Parsi family, the eldest of three children of Framji...
Pervin Taleyarkhan received award from American Bar Association’s Section of Intellectual Property Law
Pervin Taleyarkhan has received an award from the American Bar Association's Section of Intellectual Property Law. She received the honor in "Recognition for Outstanding Leadership Contribution" on...
Leah Divecha Graduates from the Symphony Orchestra of India
The Symphony Orchestra of India’s SOI Music Academy celebrated the graduation ceremony of five of their academy students last Saturday (April 13th 2019). Among these was 15 year old Leah...
Celebrated Parsi chef Anahita N Dhondy is today the toast of Asia
Chef Anahita N Dhondy was selected in the 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2019' list for her contribution towards food sustainability and for popularising the Parsi cuisine. Chef Anahita N Dhondy was at a...
Empowering Mobeds Invites Mobeds To Open House Discussion
Empowering Mobeds invites all Mobed sahebs and their wives to an Open-house discussion on a much needed topic that needs attention – ‘Expectations To Enroll Your Son In Full Time Mobedi’. This will...
Delhi Parsi Anjuman Defends Right of Entry to Fire Temple
Parsi body defends ‘right’ to keep people out of fire temple The bench was hearing a PIL which alleged that persons belonging to other races and religions were being discriminated against as they...
Arashasp Shroff Conferred Ontario Hostelry’s ‘Top 30 Under 30 Award’
We are really proud to hear that our dear buddy Arashasp Shroff has been selected as one of the Top 30 Under 30 Hospitality professionals in Ontario, Canada.Per Parsi Times: On March 28, 2019,...
BJP vs Congress: Parsi community stands divided over Lok Sabha elections
The Parsi community who otherwise shows the united front is split when it comes to voting this election season. The members who are known to support the Congress, are now divided.Many members of the...
Zoroastrian ‘fire temple’ opens in Houston
On a typical-looking stretch of southwest Houston — down the street from Kwik Kar Lube and Storage Choice, across from a privacy fence hiding cookie-cutter McMansions — a Zoroastrian fire temple...
It’s There To Stay: Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal On The Vagina Monologues
“Let’s just start with the word “vagina.” It sounds like an infection at best, maybe a medical instrument: “Hurry nurse, bring me the vagina.” “Vagina.” “Vagina.” Doesn’t matter how many times you...
The Forever Bike by Adil Jal Darukhanawala: Book review
This near-300-page volume is an encyclopaedic account of Ideal Jawa and Yezdi’s history and is overflowing with insights.Book reviewed by Ruman Devmane | Autocar IndiaThat The Forever Bike makes you...
Hong Kong-based Parsi couple renew pledge to donate $22.5 mn to hospital at Breach Candy
A Hong Kong-based Parsi tycoon and his wife on Saturday renewed their pledge to donate $22.5 million (Rs 160 crore) to the financially-ailing Parsi General Hospital (PGH) at Breach Candy in south...
Ban on Parsi newsletter shows an old press tradition
The ban on the distribution of the newspaper in community housing estates, which houses nearly 5,500 families, was ordered by the BPP’s chairperson Yazdi DesaiLast week, HT had reported that a...
Houston Inaugurates The Bhandara Atash Kadeh
Jamshedi Navroze 2019 and the subsequent days shall long remain etched in the memory of the hundreds of Zarathushtis who gathered here to witness the inauguration of North America's latest place of...
The Story of Sir Hormusjee N Mody and Hong Kong University
Our dear friend and the resident dasturji of the Hong Kong Anjuman Ervad Homyar Nasirabadwala speaks about the amazing contribution of Sir Hormusjee N Mody, a distinguished Parsi businessman and a...
Celebrating the Persian New Year in Mumbai
Every year in the third week of March, Manijeh Irani, 64, makes a tour of the markets of her adopted city, Mumbai—grocery stores, stalls of fresh and dried fruit, sweet shops, even an aquarium—for...
A play in Mumbai on Parsis called Geedra of Thrones
A play that imagines a world with no Parsis reminds us why we need them more than everThere are people outside of Mumbai, who think Parsis are a figment of our imagination. "You can't blame them,"...
Africa, Imagery and the Western Gaze with Kainaz Amaria
Our good friend Kainaz Amaria was a recent guest on the “On Africa” podcast. Kainaz is an award-winning photojournalist and is current at Vox News where she is an outspoken voice on many critical...
Munchi Cama Speaks on the Parsee General Hospital Issue
The following is an op-ed by Munchi N. Cama, past Trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet.Manchi writes…I have read a recent mail comparing the B.D.Petit Parsee General Hospital in Bombay with The...
Metro realignment for Shiv Sena’s Matoshree irks Parsi community
Say all problems should have been taken into consideration, some call it blatant discrimination Reports of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) realigning Metro 2B near...
5 Delicious Parsi Dishes and Where to Eat them in Mumbai this Navroze
Navroze, The Persian New Year is right around the corner and that can only mean a celebration full of great food. For those of you who do not have Parsi or Irani friends willing to feed, you don't...
Tycoon may withdraw Rs 150 crore donation offer to Parsi hospital
Hong Kong-based Parsi tycoon Jal Shroff may withdraw his offer to donate Rs 150 crore to Parsi General Hospital (PGH) after March 31 if challenges to a controversial agreement are not resolved by...
Author Tanaz Bhathena talks her new novel THE BEAUTY OF THE MOMENT
In Tanaz Bhathena’s new YA novel, The Beauty of the Moment, Susan is new Canada. She’s not used to the cultural freedoms in this new country, she’s used to live in Saudi Arabia. Susan is reserved,...
Metro speedily realigned at BKC but not elsewhere
Work on the 2B corridor, which will connect D N Nagar and Mankhurd, has begun at several places along its 23.6km route. The corridor will run along the 3.6 km-long arterial BKC road. MMRDA...
Jhalawar’s century-old Parsi theatre getting a facelift
Nearly half the work in the restoration and facelifting of the century-old Parsi Opera Theatre at Bhawani Natyashala in Jhalawar has been completed, state government officials said.The Rajasthan...
Rati Framroze Cooper: In Memorarium
On Friday March 8, 2019 Rati Framroze Cooper passed away in Lahore, Pakistan. It may be coincidence or not, that one of the most amazing women educators of the Indian sub-continent, passed away on...
Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate For Change
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY -MARCH 8, 2019 The theme for International Women’s Day 2019 is “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change.” The theme focuses on innovative ways in advancing gender...
Hosi Mehta Shares Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds!
Our dear friend Hosi Mehta, Co-Chair of the FEZANA Welfare and Critical Assistance Committee, Chicago resident, business owner, and all around good guy, shares his life story. Mehta describes...