Talking to 80-year-old Dhanjishae H. Munderji, an occupant of the he Parsi general hospital, over a cup of tea, turned out to be quite an elucidating experience. Speaking on a host of issues, we eventually came to the topic of Karachi in terms of the city as we know it and how it once was.… Continue reading Conversation From Karachi
Category: Heritage
Taking pride in caring for elders
The ageing of population is inevitable and an obvious consequence of the process of demographic transition. However, as the country faces a steady growth of the elderly, facilities or institutions for their care remain inadequate. The Zoroastrian community in Karachi, commonly referred to as Parsis, is known to run one such institution for the elderly… Continue reading Taking pride in caring for elders
Rolling in gold but still poverty-stricken
IN 1865, Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata – a one-time opium trader and scion of a sparkling line of Parsee priests, Zoroastrians who had fled to western India from persecution in Iran – attended a lecture in Manchester given by Thomas Carlyle. Carlyle, a cantankerous Scot, was known for his historical and philosophical essays, but he also… Continue reading Rolling in gold but still poverty-stricken
BMC again eyes Bandra agiary land
The Parsi agiary on Hill Road, Bandra (west), is in danger of losing its porch and part of its compound yet again. The civic administration is making another effort to acquire land for widening parts of Hill Road from the existing 60 to 90 feet. Last year, the civic administration backed off from acquiring land… Continue reading BMC again eyes Bandra agiary land
Tower of Silence trees to stay
Assuring the protection of the trees in the Towers of Silence, the Zoroastrian crematorium, better known as Doongerwadi, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the BMC to submit an undertaking to the court stating that no trees would be cut or damaged because of the double decker hoarding erected at the heritage precinct. Activist… Continue reading Tower of Silence trees to stay
Funeral billboards raise cash, ire in India
Some might see the towering billboards that rise out of a centuries-old Bombay funeral ground as a message from beyond the grave. But the signs — which exhort motorists to “Rev up your night life” by buying a popular car — have bitterly divided the city’s Parsi community since they were erected last week, with… Continue reading Funeral billboards raise cash, ire in India
Bringing up the mediums: Parsi Mobeds
Parents make the heartbreaking decision to send their children to residential schools for various material reasons. It’s seldom for a cause. But last year, parents of 30 Parsi children decided that the cause of serving the community was worthy enough. So they packed them off, some of them only about six years old, to the… Continue reading Bringing up the mediums: Parsi Mobeds
Tehmulji Parsi Lying-In Hospital May be Demolished
Parsi maternity home on the block Tucked away in a quiet lane off D N Road is one of the city’s oldest infirmaries–the charmingly named Dr Tehmulji’s Parsi Lying-in hospital. Built more than a century ago in 1895, the heritage building near New Excelsior cinema is up for sale. For generations, Parsi women have delivered… Continue reading Tehmulji Parsi Lying-In Hospital May be Demolished
Zoroastrianism dying out in modern times
Many young boys being trained as priests will instead follow other careers Like most 12-year-old boys, Rayan Dastoor watches movies, goes to school and surfs the Internet for the latest tunes by Linkin Park. But Rayan also spends five hours a day in prayer sessions and religious studies. His homework includes memorizing sacred scriptures in… Continue reading Zoroastrianism dying out in modern times
