Dadar data

Over 4,000 Zoroastrians residing in the Dadar-Matunga area have been included in the fifth edition of the Mancherji Joshi Colony Directory published in 2003 by The Dadar-Matunga Parsi Zoroastrian Association (DMPZA). "We have taken care to make this edition as comprehensive and informative as possible,” notes DMPZA president Rustom Chothia confident that "it will prove equally useful and popular as those published in the past.”

The alphabetic listing of the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and where available the e-mail contacts and blood groups has filled 131 pages of the 212-page Directory. Twenty-six pages of advertisements, plus write-ups with color photographs on the different community managed institutions in the locality, a separate telephone listing of the emergency services, medicos and health specialists, professionals and businesses take care of the remaining pages. If searching for a particular contact, it is best to go through the entire list for whilst Parsiana features among the institutions offering Zoroastrian books, cassettes, artefacts and literature on Parsi history, culture and religion, it does not among the Press.

The Directory was funded from the receipts of the advertisements and donations received specifically for compiling and printing. The DMPZA had methodically gathered the data. After distributing the data forms at every household, they placed collection boxes at some of the landmark Parsi institutions in their vicinity. A proof copy of the Directory was then kept on display at the J. N. Petit Reading Room and Library, Dadar for more than a month to allow residents to check whether their details had been entered correctly. The DMPZA was responsible thus far and no further for, as enunciated in their disclaimer cause, "Names appearing therein have been provided to the Association by residents themselves, but no proof of residence, ownership or tenancy has been asked for or verified...This Directory is not an official document for any formal, governmental, municipal or legal purpose such as establishing tenancy rights or ownership of any premises, etc, and cannot be produced as proof of the same in any court of law, government, municipal or other establishment.”

Mancherji Joshi’s legacy lives on

Nevertheless, "A well-informed directory regularly published by the DMPZA is an asset to the society and the same is of great help to (the) police,” declared deputy commissioner of police, Zone IV Mohan Rathod in his message carried in the Directory. "The Parsis (who) have always been very helpful to (the) police in maintenance of peace, communal harmony and national integration...are (an) example for the people of other areas in the city. I have high respect towards their virtues and decent behavior,” he added.

The deputy mayor of Bombay, Babu­bhai Bhawanji, whilst announcing his "great honor and happiness in representing you wonderful people,” gave credit to the "joint efforts of the residents for maintaining the cleanliness and greenery of this area...The Dadar Parsi Colony with its numerous trees and gardens is a rare natural spot in the midst of our over-crowded city.”

In addition to the DMPZA, the other prominent community institutions functioning in the vicinity are The Dadar Parsee Colony Gymkhana, Dadar Parsee Welfare Centre, The Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly headquartered at Perviz Hall, Mancherji Edalji Joshi Colony Residents’ Association, The Parsi Central Association Cooperative Housing Society Limited, Soh-rab Palamkote Hall and J. N. Petit Reading Room and Library, educational bodies like The Athornan Boarding Parsee Madressa, Bai Jaiji Katrak Training Classes for Parsi Women, Mancherji Joshi Memorial Education Fund, The Dadar Parsee Youths Assembly High School, The J. B. Vachha High School for Parsi Girls and the C. J. Primary and Infant School, and Homavazir’s 11th Central Mumbai Bharat Scout Group, religious shrines like the Seth Rustomji Nusserwanji Rustom Faramna Agiary and Seth Naoroji Cawasji Narielvala Agiary, and charitable trusts like The Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust, Dadar Jashan Trust, FKS Foundation, The Young Rathestars and The Senior Citizens of Five Gardens, Dadar, Wadala and Matunga.

Detailed maps of the Dadar-Matunga estate as also the Colony, citing plot numbers against different roads to explain the layout of the buildings would enable a visitor to get familiar with the area. Designed and produced by Aspi Vasania with photographs by Fareez Vasania, the Directory can be purchased for Rs 50 from Chothia (Jashan Committee Bldg, 757, Rd No. 7; Tel: 24148394).