They were few, but far ahead of their time. In a country still grappling with child marriage and female illiteracy,...
Blog Articles
Now reopened, the Parsi Museum in Mumbai offers a compelling insight into Zoroastrianism
Pheroza Godrej, co-curator of the Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum, gives AD a special tour of the Parsi Museum in...
Shahnameh The Persian Book of Kings: Q&A with British author Elizabeth Laird
Peyvand Khorsandi interviews Elizabeth Laird about her recent book SHAHNAMEH: THE PERSIAN BOOK OF KINGS What do you get the little people in the family for Norouz or as Indian Parsis call it Navroj?...
Zia Mody: One of Asia’s 50 Power Businesswomen
Zia Mody, the founding partner at AZB & Partners is featured as one of the top 50 Asian Businesswomen by the Forbes Magazine. This Cambridge and Harvard Law School grad is one of India's leading...
The Irani Café : A gastronomic experience heading towards extinction
The two videos below are created by “indiandocumentaries” and are posted on youtube. Reader Dara Acidwalla also informs us of an article: The Quivering Café – The Touch of Iran in Mumbai compiled by...
Parsi Vicissitudes: Of vision and hard work
Amongst the communities whose study has suffered an eclipse are the Parsis. The reason lies in the decline of business studies, but also in the decline of Parsis as a business community. Parsi...
Jamshedi Navruz: A Detailed Explanation of the Calendars
Jamshedi Navruz, March 21st and thereabouts: Zarathushtis have been celebrating Navruz, which falls around March 21st since time immemorial, since our Peshdad King Jamshed celebrated it first and...
Britannia & Co. : Parsi eatery in 30th year of serving iconic berry pulao
"There is one secret that even the American security forces will not be able to decode," said Boman Kohinoor, 90, owner of Britannia and Company Restaurant at Ballard Estate. By Reetika...
Minoo Driver Wins £250,000 payout from Air India
A FORMER catering manager has won a long-running battle against ex-employers Air India after the Supreme Court refused to grant the airline an appeal. By Salina Patel | Skyport Heathrow Air India...
A poor Parsi: One who doesn’t earn Rs 50,000 per month
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet on Friday told the Bombay High Court that it considers a Parsi who earns under Rs 50,000 a month to be "poor" and hence eligible for allotment of a flat at subsidised...
What is the origin of Parsi marriage and who is a Parsi?: The Legal Angle
The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act were passed in 1865. The Parsi Central Associations took up the question of law relating to marriage and divorce in 1923 and appointed a subcommittee to suggest...
Zareer Masani: When personal meets political
London-based historian Zareer Masani’s new book, And All is Said — a memoir on the breakdown of his parent’s marriage — is no ordinary tale. Article by Aarefa Johari, Hindustan Times His Parsi...
Cyrus Todiwala’s Café Spice Namaste Featured in the New York Times
In London, Flavors of India Without the Fuss Article by Mark Bittman | NYTimes MORE than 15 years ago, the first “upscale” Indian restaurants began appearing in London, including the now-famous...
My Father Was Manmohan Singh’s Inspiration: Zareer Masani
Charismatic politician Minoo Masani, founder-leader of the pro-Western, free-market Swatantra Party, is acknowledged by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as his ideological inspiration rather than...
The Khada Parsi: Mumbai’s oldest Parsi set for makeover
Four years after promising to restore the city's heritage fountains, BMC will commence work on the Khada Parsi fountain at the onset of this financial year; work on Flora Fountain will also begin...
Highlights of FPZAI Meeting in Mumbai in February 2012
Below is a report of the recent Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India meeting held in Mumbai on February 11 and 12, 2012. This report is written by Mr. Marzban Giara and was sent out via...
Parsi Phrases: What we have all grown up hearing.
All of us at different times in life have heard our grandparents or parents using very typical Parsi Gujarati phrases that cut to the chase and explain exactly what they have in mind, without using...
Homi Battiwala to head cola marketing at PepsiCo India
He takes over as Executive Vice President – Colas, Hydration & Mango Based Beverages. He will head the marketing responsibilities for Pepsi and Diet Pepsi which were hitherto handled by Sandeep...
Noshir Rusi Mehta Wins BMC Elections Seat from D Ward in Mumbai
Residents of the stretch from Navjivan Society to Bellasis Road have once again put their faith in the Mehta family, which has been representing their ward for the last 45 years. Congress candidate...
Naqsh-E-Rustom: The Tombs of the Emperors of Persia
The world over, the name Persepolis evokes the might and grandeur of Persian architecture, and indeed of the Persian Empire. However just north of it lies Naqsh-E-Rustom, the incredible reliefs and...
Nina Godiwalla Speaks at TEDxHouston
Nina Godiwalla is the bestselling author of Suits: A Woman on Wall Street, which The New York Times describes as the Devil Wears Prada of investment banking. It's an insider's perspective on her...
Dasturji Khurshed Dastur on the Udvada Land Issue
Dinyar Patel at Yazdegard.net has published an interview with Dasturji Khurshed Dastur, addressing the Udvada Land issue. What can Parsis do to help the Udvada Samast Anjuman? Parsis need to...
PARZOR Exhibition in Mumbai: Hand Embroidered Products at the Women’s Week Festivities
Information forwarded to Parsi Khabar by regular reader and good friend Dr. Arnavaz Havewala.
Dady Adenwalla: RWITC official falls to death from balcony on 4th floor
Dady Adenwalla (81), a member of the Board of Appeals of Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), died on Monday after falling off the balcony of his fourth-floor flat in south Mumbai. Ruling out foul...
2600 years of history in one object: The Cyrus Cylinder
A clay cylinder covered in Akkadian cuneiform script, damaged and broken, the Cyrus Cylinder is a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and multi-culturalism. In this enthralling talk Neil...
The curious case of vanishing Parsis in Hubli-Dharwad
A greatly civilised clan, which has made valuable contributions to the socio-economic growth of the twin cities, has seen such a sharp drop in its population that demographic experts fear the...
Mehrab Kaizad Bhaya Wins NCC Honour
The Maharashtra National Cadet Corps (NCC) has bagged the Prime Minister's Banner Trophy as Champion Directorate for the 15th time in 21 years. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presented the trophy to...
Faramerz Dabhoiwala: The Origins of Sex
Faramerz Dabhoiwala is a Parsi boy made good — in fact, his new book on sex has very quickly become just about the hottest property in the literary world. When an online article on The Origins of...
Fereshte Sethna: Vodafone’s Lawyer and Her Take on the Tax Case
Fereshte Sethna was part of the legal team that represented Vodafone Group Plc during its successful appeal in the Indian Supreme Court of a government tax demand. The apex court’s ruling in favor...
Jumjoji: Parsi Restaurant in Bandra, Mumbai
In addition to their lineage, customs and community achievements, Parsis are fiercely proud about their food. Not surprisingly, the walls of Jumjoji, a week-old upscale Parsi diner in Bandra...
British Consul General on Parsi Weddings, Global Businesses and the Influence on Mumbai
I was fortunate recently to attend my first ever Parsi wedding. Two of the 40 or so Parsi staff in the Deputy High Commission in Mumbai, Nazneen (our press officer) and Burzin ( a member of the UKBA...
When the epochal fire lit
A peek inside Delhi’s fire temple Dar-e-Mehr at the Delhi Parsi Anjuman is the only fire temple in the entire Northern belt of India. Its fire was consecrated on 31 December 1961. The history of...
Vispi Kasad Enters Guinness Book of World Records
Vispi Kasad an academician and educator and a martial arts expert has entered the Guinness Book of World Records. As per the Guinness Book website Most layered bed of nails sandwich (1 inch)...
Judge appointed to resolve Parsi Punchayet dispute
Justice (retired) BN Shrikrishna was appointed by the Bombay high court as mediator for the resolution of a dispute between the Parsi Punchayet Trust and Properties and some members of the community...
Keeping the Flame: The hearty delights of Parsi food
An article that deals with Parsi food must, in all fairness, open with a statutory warning: this cuisine is injurious to the mental health of vegetarians. For very often the only herbivorous item...
Koolar & Co. : Brun Maska in the Land of Idli
In the hotbed of eateries serving some of the city's best piping hot dosas, sambars and tasty chutney that is Matunga, lies an equally popular if unlikely restaurant -- an Irani one. What is it...
Homi Khusrokhan to head Bombay Natural History Society
Former corporate executive Homi Khusrokhan, who is also a keen environmentalist, will be the new president of the prestigious Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a BNHS official said here Monday....
Jimmy Engineer’s search for ‘Al-Musawwir’
Media launching of the 612-page epic volume ‘In Search of My Master’ illustrating Jimmy Engineer’s work carried out during the last four decades by means of 500 pictures was held here at...
Jinnah Award: For Ardeshir Cowasjee, recognition of a lifetime of wit, fight and philanthropy
The Jinnah Society has presented its 11th Jinnah Award to columnist and philanthropist Ardeshir Cowasjee in recognition of his outstanding and dedicated services to the country. The ceremony was...
Three Parsis Amongst List of 129 Padma Awardees for 2012
The Indian Government announced the 2012 list of awardees for the highest civilian awards that the country bestows upon individuals. Dr. Noshir H. Wadia Padma Bhushan An eminent Neurologist from...
Growing up Parsi and gay in Bombay
Ten years of a Parsi Purgatory. But that still did not prepare me for the American ‘Paradise’. In 1958, in the proverbial sexual encounters of Bombay’s fast trains, I came to know about sex. We...
Mhow and Dahanu Agiaries Celebrate their Salgreh
Today is Adar Roj nd Sherevar Mahino, YZ 1381. Tuesday, 24th Jan 2010. The agiaries of Mhow, Madhya Pradesh and Dahanu, Maharashtra celebrate their Salgrehs. Mhow (Indore) Agiary : The Mhow Anjuman...
Khurshid Mistry Wins the Mumbai Half Marathon in the Veteran’s category.
Yazdi Tantra at Zoroastrians.net informs Ms Khurshid Mistry has won Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012- Half Marathon under the Veteran Category which was held on January 15, 2012. Ms...
Nowrojee & Son’s, McLeodganj’s 152-year-old Nostalgia Shop
For most Indians, colonial British India exists only in movies or Kipling's novels. But in a 152-year-old shop in this Dharamsala suburb the British Raj continues to live on. Located in the heart of...
Remembering Homai: Dinyar Patel Reminisces about Vyarawalla
Dinyar Patel, editor at Yazdgerd and good friend of Parsi Khabar has penned a personal note on the passing away of Homai Vyarawalla. "Homai Vyarawalla, India’s first woman photojournalist,...
First Indian Woman Photo-Journalist Homai Vyarawalla Dies
First Post: India’s first woman photo-journalist, Vyarawala captured a nation in transition A picture of Jawaharlal Nehru, smoking and helping Ms Simon— wife of then British High Commissioner to...
Contractor, Engineer call for fresh faces in team
Former Indian captain Nari Contractor and India stumper Farokh Engineer believe the current Indian batting line-up is ageing and that it is time to look ahead with young new faces. By V.V....
New tricks from the Todiwalas in London
Arguably the industry's most iconic Indian chef, Cyrus Todiwala has won more awards than Jamie Oliver has opened restaurants. He has published three cookbooks, advised Government and cooked for...
Gara Magic
Parsi garas, characterised by intricate needle work on them, date back to the 1800’s. By Homai Sagar | Deccan Herald According to research findings, three brothers of the Kaikhushroo Joshi family of...
Mumbai Road Named After Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej
The Godrej family was out in full strength on Sunday morning at a function to name a road after the founder of the Godrej empire, Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej, at Napean Sea Road. The road leading to...
Nosh Nalavala and MediaGlobal Receive U.N. Award
At a glittering event here Dec. 14, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon awarded the Silver Medal in the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation/UNCA Global Prize to MediaGlobal News, a...
Parsi Research Assistants Needed In Mumbai
Dear Parsi community My name is Håkon Tandberg, and I’m a Ph.D. researcher from Norway studying Zoroastrianism. I’ve earlier enjoyed a research visit among the Parsis in Mumbai (2008), and will now...