Exodus of Parsis

At one time there were a large number of Parsi families living in Dalal Estate in Bombay Central. Slowly, these families began to leave and their place was taken by members of another powerful minority.

I live on Jamshedji Petit Street, Grant Road. Adjoining my street are the Mehlla Patel Agiary Street, Nusserwanji Petit Street and Dinbai Petit Street. A fairly large number of Parsi families lived in this locality, many of them for two or three generations. At first the ground floors of buildings inhabited by Parsi families began to make way for shops dealing in autorickshaw and scooter spare parts, creating a market for these products. Then the upper storeys began to be occupied by non-Parsis.

Will any of your readers please explain the reason for the great exodus of Parsi families from Dalal Estate and the Grant Road area?

BHIKHAJI M. ADENWALLA