Milestones
Milestones
The age of Zoroastrian brides (as listed in this issue) ranged between 21 and 49 years, the arithmetic mean (the total number of individual ages divided by the total number of brides) being 33 years. The corresponding figures for the grooms were 28 and 54 years, averaging at 37 years.
Among the seven babies born in the latter half of September were a set of triplets! The Bombay marriage column features two interfaith marriages which we had inadvertently missed out and were subsequently brought to our notice. Of the 34 Zoroastrians who were consigned to Bombay’s Tower of Silence, 10 succumbed to diseases of the heart, three being over the age of 80. Six patients died due to hypertension and five due to pneumonia and lung related diseases. Septicemia took a toll of four lives and old age/general debility and cancer, two each. Alzheimer’s disease, kidney failure, dengue and brain disease felled one victim each. The eldest to breathe his last was a 91-year-old male, the youngest, a 44-year-old female. The Zoroastrian life expectancy at birth for September 16-30 in Bombay, was 73 years.
The data on births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from information supplied by various newsletters and anjumans in India and abroad, courts and hospitals. This information is not always complete or consistent: we are unable to carry data from areas where the anju-mans do not furnish the particulars; the birth figures for Bombay are supplied by two hospitals — births in suburban hospitals and private nursing homes are not included unless individuals send us information together with a copy of the birth certificate. There may be an inadvertent repetition of names in the marriage list when a civil marriage precedes a religious ceremony. In the breakup of deaths according to illnesses, especially of the elderly, death is often due to a combination of several diseases.
If readers have any births/marriages/deaths they would like published, some proof to ensure the veracity of the report would be required. We are sure our readers would appreciate this requirement and cooperate with us.
BARODA
born
A girl, Zenia, to Ferzin and Sarosh Vesuna on May 6, 2005
A son, Simon, to Nazneen and Neville Pagdiwalla; June 26
A boy, Urvaksh, to Nilufer
and Vispy Bhagwagar;
July 30
married
Jasmin Bavaadam, daughter of Bakhtawar and Firdosh, and Homiyar Anklesaria, son of Roshan and Yezdi; August 1
died
Dinyar Ardeshir Tadiwalla (78); June 27
Jamshedji Cawasji Gae (87); August 14

BOMBAY
born
A girl to Anuja and
Ashdeen Jamshedji;
September 18
A boy to Rukhshana and Behram Panthaky;
September 20
A girl to Sona and Zubin Daruwalla; September 21
Triplets (2 girls and a boy), Veera, Vahbiz and Behram,
to Khorshed and Khushro Bulsara; September 23
A girl, Delna, to Hufrish
and Marzban Variava,
sister to Arzan;
September 27
married
Arzanne Naushir Devitre
and Joachim Vesthaug; December 4, 2004
Rukshana Rusi Mahudawala and Alok Dilip Kapadia;
May 20, 2005
Mahafrin Adil Daruwalla and Aspi Peshotan Olpadwalla; September 18
Ruby Tehmtan Bhathena and Merwaan Jamshed Farog; September 25
Nilufer Dara Daruwalla and Rohinton Sawak Vadiwalla; September 25
Shiraz Jimmy Vania and Rashid Merwan Hamsayeh; September 29
died
Villoo Hoshi Batliwalla (54), residing at A/18, Rustom Baug, Victoria Rd, Byculla, 400027; September 16
Faredoon Maneckji Dalal (84), 5, Rajjab Mhl, 144, M. Karve
Rd, Churchgate, 400020; September 16
Temuras Ratansha Suraliwala (62), F/6-303, Salsette Parsi Clny, Jijamata Rd, Pump
Hse, Andheri (E), 400093; September 16
Jehanbux Darabshaw Thanawalla (66), 22/23, M/2, Merwanjee Cama Park, Cama Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; September 16
Khorsed Kaikhuru Mazagamwala (86), 1/A, Ambawadi Bglw, Matharpakadi, Mazgaon, 400010; September 17
Aloo Jamshed Banaji (77), Chothia Bldg, Zoroastrian Clny, Chikalwadi, Grant Rd, 400007; September 18
Pesi Dinshaw Colabawalla (70), B1/15F, Harbour Heights, N. A. Sawant Marg, Colaba, 400005; September 18
Jamshed Eruchshaw Hansotia (75), 4/C-204, Paras Ngr, Shankar Lane, Kandivali (W), 400067; September 18
Noshir Jehangirji Mehta (78), Star Bldg, Uranwala St, Grant Rd, 400007; September 18
Jesmine Rustom Irani (44), C/o 3/203, Behram Baug Parsi Clny, Oshiwara, Jogeshwari (W), 400102; September 20
Armaity Dhunjisha Sunavala (65), D, Harganga Mhl, Khodadad Circle, Dadar, 400014; September 20
Aloo Phiroze Batliwala (80), A/6, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 21
Dadi Hormasji Marker (84), 15/10, Sir Ratan Tata Clny, Tardeo, 400034; September 21
Mareban Behramshah Pardiwalla (91), Safoorbhai Manzil, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; September 21
Dinoo Dadi Sarkari (81), 35, Makani Manor, 16, Peddar
Rd, Opp JHRC, 400026; September 21
Noshir Rashid Irani (61),
203/A, Evershine City, Mangal Murthi EC 53, Gokhivare, Vasai (E), Dist Thana, 401201; September 22
Burjor Sorabji Mirza (70),
11/A, Sayaji Bldg, Balaram
St, Grant Rd, 400007; September 22
Rusi Sorabji Patel (82), 5, Manek Mans, M. M. Chotani Rd, Mahim, 400016;
September 22
Sheroo Minoo Shroff (81),
B/20, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 22
Sam Cawasji Daruwalla (65), 799, Minoo Mans, Jame Jamshed Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; September 23
Perin Homi Irani (83), N/3, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012; September 23
Rattan Burjorji Mody (89), Alpaiwalla Bldg, M. M. C.
Rd, Mahim, 400016;
September 23
Gool Manekshaw Shroff
(76), Soona Mhl, 143, Marine Drive, 400020; September 23
Najoo Framroze Bulsara (83), 26, Ahura Apts, Gunpowder Rd, Mazgaon, 400010; September 25
Alloo Minoo Wadia (88),
617/B, Cooper Bldg, Dhobitalao, 400002; September 25
Amy Pesi Sethna (64), 1,
Vijay Bhavan, St Sebastian
Rd, Bandra (W), 400050; September 26
Mehreu Rustomji Contractor (91), Ava Mans, J. Dadaji Dhakji Rd, 400007;
September 27
Phiroze Kaikhushru Panthaky
(86), 694/3, Dinshaw Master Rd,
Dadar, 400014; September 27
Pervin Dinyar Umrigar (51), 1, Phulwadi, Lalubhai Park Rd, Andheri (W), 400058; September 27
Mehroo Dali Daruwalla (59), 15, Mody Hse, 9, Padamjee
St, Grant Rd, 400007; September 28
Nawaz Peshotan Poonawalla (74), H/5, Nowroz Baug, Lalbaug, 400012;
September 28
Sabar Sorab Goveshni (63), Burjor Bldg, Wadia St, Tardeo, 400034; September 29
Khushru Hormuzd Mehta (73), 11/298 Bakul, New MIG
Clny, Bandra (E), 400051; September 30
Viraf Behram Popat (65),
G/17, Cusrow Baug, S. B. Rd, 400039; September 30

SECUNDERABAD
died
Jaloo Phiroze Driver (86), mother of Maharukh B. Gandhi, Khushroo and Sharukh; September 30
SURAT
died
Parvin Rohinton Anklesh-waria (49), Parsiwad, Gopipura, 395001;
September 28
Dina Maherwanji Tadiwala (75), Nandauvan Apt,
Anand Mhl Rd, Adajan; September 28
Jarbanu Minocher Singan-poria (86), Machhlipith
Cross Lane, 395003;
September 30
Compiled by Roxana A. Driver
Forged fabrication
In our issue of October 7, 2005 we had carried an interfaith marriage between Nandini Chandra Chopra and Nari Tehmurasp Bamji. We were subsequently informed by Bamji’s son-in-law Nauzer Bharucha and thereafter by Bamji himself that the alleged marriage under the Arya Samaj rites had never taken place and the marriage certificate and the covering letter in his mother’s name were forgeries.
Bharucha writes: "A person of dubious reputation out to harm my in-laws’ reputation has taken your magazine for a jolly good ride. I would have brushed it off as a sick joke had it not been my 60-year-old father-in-law, Nariman T. Bamji, whom your magazine has married off to a fictious Nandini Chandra Chopra.
"The lady who has sent you this fake Arya Samaj marriage certificate is a mentally unsound old woman who lives in Godrej Baug. For the past four years, she has been sending us derogatory, unsigned letters, and making blank telephone calls.
"We have lodged several non-cognisable complaints against her with the police, but there is not much we can do since she is old. But what has shocked us most is that how Parsiana fell for this. For the record, my father-in-law has been happily married for close to 40 years.”
Bamji, after meeting us, also sent us the following letter: "As explained to you, I was terribly pained to read the entry in your above issue pertaining to me.
"As is very evident, this person has obviously committed two criminal offences one of forging my mother’s signature and second of the fake certificate of Arya Samaj.
"Behind all this foul play and cheating, I suspect strongly a lady who I understand resides in Godrej Baug.”
We wrote to Bharucha on October 18 and to Bamji on October 20 the text of the two letters being more or less the same.
"Our sincere apologies for the erroneous marriage entry in our October 7, 2005 issue. The fake marriage certificate was sent along with a covering letter and a lady spoke to our editorial staff several times inquiring if the entry had appeared. The telephone number she gave also turned out to be fictitious.
"We receive information for our Milestones column from all over the world. It is impossible to verify each and every entry. We insist on a xerox copy of the concerned certificate to verify the accuracy of the entry.
"The data on Parsi marriages and registered civil marriages is obtained from the concerned authorities and the death list from the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. But for most other data we are dependent on local anjumans and individuals.
"If a person maliciously forges a signature and a marriage certificate, then uncovering the falsity is difficult.
"In the 17 years or so we have been publishing Milestones data this is the first time we have ever been confronted with such a situation.
We sincerely regret the inconvenience and embarrassment caused to you and your family.”
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From the archive
