10WZC
Community capers
Parsi sayings and illustrations
Published in 2013 by Good Books and 49/50 Books, 19, Kala Niketan, 47C, B. Desai Road, Bombay 4000026 and 33, Peacock Palace, 69, B. Desai Road, Bombay 400026. Pp: 160, Price: Rs 500.
Ghela ganda
Pranks
Rajajee nee juga ma derkajee
Frog sits on the king’s throne.
To usurp
Gudhero durakh chavee guyo
The donkey ate the grapes.
The fool got away with the important thing
Jetla motta tetla khotta
The bigger, the falser.
All that glitters is not gold
Vakee dokee na Veecajee
Crooked-necked Veecajee.
An oddball
Edya nee juher khubur jhevoo mohnoo
Face like an advertisement for castor oil.
Dour face
Nakh nee dandeeyeh
Just down your nose tip.
Very near
Behra neh behst
The deaf man is in heaven.
Ignorance is bliss
Bhens na seengra bhens neh bharee
The bullock’s horns are heavy for the bullock only.
The weight of your misdeeds in entirely on you
Authors Meher Marfatia (left) and Sooni Taraporewala at book launch
on December 20, 2013
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From the archive