Bombay Parsi Punchayat faces internal dissent over a flat allotment to a family allegedly owning multiple properties....
Blog Articles
Kolkatta’s oldest agiary not lost to fire, believers call it a miracle
Call it divine intervention or simply a miracle. A nearly two-century-old fire temple, the city’s oldest,...
Tehmtan Dumasia’s Dhansak Gets A New Address
Tehmtan Dumasia and wife Shernaz have been feeding their famous Dhansak and other Parsi fare to members of the Ripon Club for the past eight years. This will be their last month at the 131-year-old...
Meet Ami Shroff, India’s bartending champ
“Being a bartender meant that I would be working at a bar or pub and performing in front of drunk people, at late hours. “Playing with tools and ingredients is risky as you might get...
An Uncensored Life: Zerbanoo Gifford
The official launch of this book is planned during the Times Litfest in Mumbai on December 4th, 2015 ‘An Uncensored Life’ by seasoned editor Farida Master, is a compelling biography of the human...
Acclaimed Immigrants: India’s Parsi Through Textiles
Mass migrations are in the news today, but populations have been relocating all through human history. When Muslims invaded Iran over 1200 years ago, most followers of the Zoroastrian religion...
A Nirangdin in Navsari at the Vadi Dar-E-Mehr
A sacred nirangdin ceremony was held at the historic 874 years old Vadi Daremeher, Navsari on Roz Aspandarmad Mah Tir Yezdezerdi 1385 Friday midnight of 20th November 2015. The ceremony which lasted...
Dishes and Digs: Kurush Dalal
Archaeologist and chef extraordinaire Kurush Dalal on why we should be biting again into the food of our ancestors Son of archaeologist and Parsi cookery legend Katy Dalal, Kurush Dalal, 46,...
Saving the Zoroastrians: An Australian Perspective
Here is a clip from SBS Australia aired in May 2013 “Have you ever heard of Zoroastrianism? If not, that’s because there aren’t many Zoroastrians left. Jeannette Francis talks to a...
A half-breed in Bombay: Suhasini Haidar
How do you preserve the purity of lineage and yet propagate the line of an ever-dwindling community? This is the question that Parsis continue to debate fiercely Article by Suhasini Haider | The...
Iranshah Udvada Utsav: Tolerance, People-To-People Contact To Be Highlighted
Udvada’s Iranshah Fire Temple has a special bond with Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn criticism for rising intolerance in India, but tolerance of India is expected...
PM Modi Addresses Singapore and Begins with Parsi Story
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a state visit to Singapore on November 24, 2015 addressed the Indian community there. He begins the speech with the Qissa-I-Sanjan story about Sugar In The...
Zarin Malva: Montessori Teacher Extraordinaire
Here are some things that, in all probability, you have been doing completely wrong all your life. Thinking that your child is averse to what is around them; considering them a ball of fluff that is...
Dinshaw Kaiki Tamboly Honoured at Navroz Baug
Dinshaw Kaiki Tamboly needs no introduction to the Parsis of India and to the Zoroastrian diaspora worldwide. An amazing visionary, thought and action leader and champion of the poor, Dinshawji and...
Zia Mody: Powerhouse counsel
It is five in the evening on a hot humid day in Mumbai. The fresh coat of polish on the long wooden table that runs along the length of this empty boardroom is quite distinct. I can catch glimpses...
Laudato Si: Insight of Spenta Armaity
FEZANA recently put out a research paper titled “Laudato Si: Insight of Spenta Armaity”. The entire document can be accessed on FEZANA’s website. Below is a short primer. FEZANA informs The...
How Big Is The Tata Empire ?
A beautifully researched documentary clip on the business house of the TATA’s.
Cheers to Lal Chimney
It’s a privilege I haven’t had. Of living in a baug, that quaint yet quintessential bastion of Parsidom, the housing hub whose clusters across town are home to over half the 40,000 members of my...
Zarin Daruwala Named StanChart India CEO
Standard Chartered Plc named Zarin Daruwala, a senior banker at India’s ICICI Bank, as new chief executive of its India operations on Tuesday as the British bank looks to halt rising losses on...
Are Parsis in Hyderabad Getting Less in Number?
How Parsis came to Hyderabad? When Parsis made a mass exodus from their native land Faras, they moved to different settlements in areas of Gujarat and Bombay. But the question is how some of these...
The Hatworks Boulevard
The lovely mellow yellow building beckons you with just the huge nameplate facing Cunningham Road — The Hatworks Boulevard. The vast expanse is almost hidden away behind a regular commercial...
Festivals: A Fond Memory
India thrives on festivals. A time to rejoice, festivals are supposed to bind different people together. There are some common festivals celebrated all over the country and there are some which are...
We have a “take it or leave it” approach with advertisers: Ronnie Screwvala
It has been a little over 2 years since Ronnie Screwvala left the media and entertainment sector after UTV, the company he had founded back in 1990, was bought over by The Walt Disney Group....
Ahmedabad Parsi Sanatorium Likely to be Destroyed
A 35-foot road has been planned along the stretch that has the sanatorium A 90-year-old structure which is part of the Parsi heritage in the city is in the middle of a raging controversy. Located on...
When Nani Palkhivala Refused to Defend Indira Gandhi in Court
On 12 June 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of Allahabad High Court found the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices in the “State of Uttar Pradesh vs Raj Narain” case....
Shaheen Mistri’s Teach for India: Read, Baby, Read
It’s 5 p.m., but even at this late hour, the 50-some sixth-graders in Rushali Daga’s Mumbai classroom are bopping in and out of their seats. It’s the last class of the day; the kids belong to the...
Banajee Agiary in Calcutta is now an Electrical Market
The huge Rustomjee Cowasjee Banajee Agiary (Agiary – is a fire temple in which Parsi Zoroastrians pray) at 26 Ezra Street in Central Kolkata has been turned into an electrical market of sorts, but...
The Parsi Contribution to Indian Cinema
Being Parsi ‘The Path of Zarathrustra’ made in English is a film that perhaps for the first time explores the Parsi identity and the history and origin of the faith. This reminds...
Bumsuckerwallah Family of Karachi
Have you heard of the Bumsuckerwallah’s of Karachi ? Parsi family on a motorcar (Karachi, 1925): A Parsi family of Karachi poses for a photograph on their motorcar. Patrick O’ Meara wrote the...
The K.R.Cama Oriental Institute Turns 100
Institute houses Madam Cama’s will, and oldest image of Zarathushtra Today, images of the prophet Zarathushtra with his flowing beard, soft brown eyes, and golden halo, are ubiquitous in fire...
Parsis: Come Baby Come
The Parsi community, alarmed by dwindling numbers, has reason to celebrate as a repopulation programme shows results Around 35 Parsi middle-aged men and women, most of them couples and several of...
Vohuman cafe…. The Journey !
A man is known by the place he occupies. Very rare it is that a place us known by the man who is the life and heart of the place, Vohuman Cafe truly belongs to Hormaz Irani and his heart beats for...
Draw My Life: Ratan Tata
Watch as Vir Sanghvi takes us through the life story of one of the most philanthropic industrialists of India-Mr. Ratan Tata, in the latest episode of #DrawMyLife
Homi Bhabha:7 Things You Need To Know About The Father Of India’s Nuclear Program
Today is the 106th birth anniversary of the father of India’s nuclear program, Homi J. Bhabha. Not many know that he had initiated a successful nuclear programme in Great Britain and was in India on...
Najamal Welcomes Vohumai
Najamai is thrilled to welcome her new daughter-in-law…Of course as long as she is ” whitish” !
Zubin Mehta Says Ink Attacks Shameful, Wants Pakistanis To Play In IPL
If public intellectuals are ostracized or vilified from speaking their minds, India risks becoming a “cultural dictatorship”, world famous music conductor Zubin Mehta has said, calling...
Keka the Quintessential Ogre
He was the quintessential ogre. To my 6-year-old eyes there did not exist a more ferocious giant than Keka. When I first saw the Bollywood movie ‘Sholay’ and Gabbar boasting about his notoriety and...
Zubin Mehta In COnversation with Al Jazeera
In the world of classical music, there are few conductors who are as well regarded as Zubin Mehta. He has led the world’s best orchestras, but he is most closely identified with the Israel...
Zubin Mehta’s ‘The Score of My Life’ launched on Saturday
India’s most celebrated music conductor, Zubin Mehta was in town to launch the paperback edition of his autobiography, The Score of My Life. Article by Lamya Karachiwala | DNA India Anil...
Pallavi Shroff: An Introduction in to Zoroastrianism
This video by Pallavi Shroff is an attempt to inform people about the basic customs, traditions and beliefs of one of the world religions – Zoroastrianism
Shireen Khushroo Kiash: India’s Most Versatile Sportsperson
What is common between C. Ramaswami, Sir Vivian Richards and Jonty Rhodes? They all represented their country in more than one sporting discipline. Closer home, three Indians are notable for their...
Zarathushtis of Los Angeles Break Ground for their new Atash Kadeh
The Zarathushtis of Los Angeles have broken ground on their Atash Kadeh in Orange County. This is truly a momentous occasion and a continuation of the trend of Zoroastrianism spreading and finding...
Family Qualities & Mental Health of Zoroastrian Young Adults: A Study
Family Qualities & Mental Health of Zoroastrian Young Adults is the title of a very detailed and interesting research exercise conducted by Farin Bakhtiari and and Scott Plunkett. ADOLESCENT AND...
The Z Factor Exhibition by Zerbanoo Gifford
The amazing Zerbanoo Gifford has put together the Z Factor exhibition and has kindly shared the panels with us. She writes The Z Factor Exhibition celebrates some amazing Zoroastrians. They are the...
Birds and Bees: Growing Up
The girl gang consisting of tweens was growing up fast. Every evening and earlier on holidays, we would meet, talk, play, cycle around, exchange school news and happily pass our time together. In...
Lord Karan Bilimoria: UK should welcome people from overseas
As a 19-year-old in India in 1981, Karan Bilimoria was unusual in wanting to study in the UK. Many of his contemporaries were headed for the US. He remembers them asking: “What are you doing going...
Results of 2015 Bombay Parsi Punchayet Trustee Elections
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet Trustee’s Election 2015 Results The Bombay Parsi Punchayet Trustee’s Election 2015 were held on 18-10-2015 at the following venues: Sir Shapoorji Bharucha...
Havas Worldwide’s Rayomand J. Patell: A Peek at his week
Of problems with IT heads, co-pilots and finding magic in each client And for my third Sunday at the office, a few stray thoughts and a few general observations and a few points of view (all my own...
Sharmine Panthaky To Head Orchard Advertising’s Mumbai Operations
Orchard Advertising has got in Sharmine Panthaky as vice president and branch head of its Mumbai office. Prior to this she was national head – retail and customer engagement at Interspace...
Kersi Dubash Brings Sari Exhibition to Islamabad
Indian trader, Kersi Dubash is in town once again with an exquisite collection of apparel dominated by timeless ‘saris’ that are sure to arrest the attention of Islamabad’s middle and elite classes....
Parsiana Magazine: A Window Into A Vanishing Culture
Sustaining Parsiana’s high-quality journalism is quite a task given the declining numbers of people interested in the Parsi way of life. “The Parsi community is such a marvel that it does not need...
Parsis skipped their Sunday dhansak to vote
Punchayet Elections Witness Lower-Than-Expected Turnout Article by Nergish Sunavala | Times of India Serpentine queues marked the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) elections on Sunday , but for once they...