Twin cities update

"There are about 454 Zoroastrian families and 1,230 Zoroastrian individuals in the twin cities...The Zoroastrians of Secunderabad and Hyderabad have for long felt the need to have an up-to-date directory... The Parsi Zoroastrian Anju-man of Secunderabad and Hyderabad (PZASH) took up this responsibility and have printed the Directory with the latest information available,” notes an introduction to the 2003 Directory jointly penned by PZASH president Gulbanoo Y. Chenoy and honorary secretary Noshir F. Nagarwala.

From the age listed against each entry we gather that 10 percent are below 14 years of age, 56 percent are in the 15-60 age-bracket, and around 33 percent are aged over 61. The sex ratio indicates that there are around 56 percent males versus 44 percent females. The families of 28 Zoroastrian males who have married out of the community are listed separately as are the families of nine outmarried Zoroastrians. The blood grouping of those in the 16-60 age-group indicates that the maximum number of Zoroastrians in the twin cities share the O positive blood group with B positive coming a close second. AB negative shows the fewest entries.

The Directory gives an insight into the working of several "Zoroastrian institutions of long standing repute” in the twin cities which have "stood the test of time in a vast cosmopolitan city.” Created in 1941, PZASH manages the Khan Bahadur Seth Edulji Sohrabji Chenai Anjuman Dar-e-Meher consecrated in 1920, a bungli in the agiary compound for performing the obsequial ceremonies, a dakhma, residential property to house 44 families in the Dar-e-Meher compound and 31 families at Bapoo Baug and a well stocked library. The Anjuman provides free hospital equipment facilities when required by community members and publishes regular newsletters. In addition to the two office bearers, the managing committee includes three other trustees — Dr P. N. Chenoy, Khorshed Chenai and Jehangir Bisney, with seven other members Cyrus Irani, P. A. Nalladaru, Keki Colah, Omim Debara, Aspi Debara, Kerfegar Antia and Mehernosh Chenoy.

Chenai Parsi Dharamshala (below) and Chenai Anjuman Dar-e-Meher in Secunderabad (right)

There are two other agiaries in the twin cities — Seth Viccaji and Seth Pestonji Meherji Agiary at Secunderabad and the Bai Maneckbai Nusserwanji Chenoy Agiary at Hyderabad. The second dakhma is managed by the Old Parsi Fire Temple Trust.

A welfare organization providing free clothes, grain and groceries, medical aid and supplements to the needy members of the community is the Zoroastrian Stree Mandal. At the cosmopolitan Bai Ratan-bai J. Chenoy Parsi High School which has a Zoroastrian headmistress and many Zoroastrian teachers, study 1,200 students some of whom are deserving Zoroastrians who are given free education. There are other private trusts too which assist underprivileged Zoroastrian families.

The Bai Pirojbai Chenai Parsi Dha-ramsala has nine well furnished rooms and provides excellent meals for the comfort of outstation Zoroastrians. With-in this complex are the Bai Piroj Bai Chenai Hall and the Jamshed S. Chenai Hall which cater to the needs of the local Zoroastrians of the twin cities. The Edulji S. Chenai Pavilion is frequently the venue of Zoroastrian public meetings, navjotes, gambhars and weddings. The Parsi Zoroastrian Club too has a vast hall plus facilities for indoor games like billiards, snooker and table tennis on payment of nominal fees.

A tourist map of Hyderabad and Secunderabad as also glimpses into the history of the twin cities, its architectural highlights and other tourist attractions with relevant visuals fill six pages of the Directory. Important telephone numbers of the PZASH committee members along with contacts of general services and facilities should assist the Anjuman members too. "The tremendous effort put in by all the volunteers in compiling and printing of this Directory,” complete with residence and office addresses and contacts as also the profession of those listed, was acknowledged by PZASH as was the financial contributio of the Bank of India and M/s Mahavir Motors.