Est. 1964 · Mumbai1964 – 2025 · every issue, digitised
Parsiana
The global Zoroastrian link medium
Menu
Events & Personalities

Musical melodies

By Roxan A. Driver · August 21, 2014
The fury of the monsoon rains was soon forgotten as a troupe of singers belted out devotional songs at the Sir J. J. School’s audio-visual hall on July 31, 2014.
The occasion was the launch of a CD titled Ame Chhaiye Parsi (We are Parsis) brought out by community chronicler Marzban Giara which contains 14 devotional songs in praise of Ahura Mazda, Zarathushtra, the holy fire and Srosh Yazad. Written by various writers the melodies were sung by Parizad Parakh and Manaz Nariman, with Parakh’s son Hanoz and Nariman’s brother Farzan providing vocal backups. So impressed was the evening’s chief guest solicitor Ervad Burjor Antia that he gave a personal donation of Rs 1,001 each to the two ladies and Rs 501 to the two youngsters. He also paid for 30 CDs to be distributed to any worthy organization or individual.
Clockwise from right: Manaz Nariman and Parizad Parakh with Hanosh Parakh (left)
and Farzan Nariman; Yazdi Desai; Khojeste Mistree; Mehraz Parakh;

Bapsy Giara; Anahita Desai; Ervad Burjor Antia and Marzban Giara

Addressing the audience, Giara cited three reasons for calling a "legal person" to be the chief guest at a launch function: The first song of the CD Jagat ma sauthi nyaro ché Asho Jarthosht Paigambar (Asho Zarathushtra is the best in the world) has been penned by the late Ervad Adi Mirza who was Antia’s classmate at the M. F. Cama Athornan Madressa; another song Parsionu Iran thi Bharatma Aavvu (Parsis coming from Iran to India) whose words have been provided by Kantilal Upadhyay, the Madressa’s Gujarati music teacher fondly called ‘Kantilal Master;’ and the last being that Antia is a trustee of the N. M. Wadia Charities which takes care of the N. M. Wadia Library of Music situated at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Introducing Giara as "kom parast ané dharam parast (community conscious and religion conscious)," Antia spoke about Giara’s enthusiasm despite advancing age. "At 71 years he works like a 17-year-old. He is an asset to the community. Aajé kom né éva manas ni jarur ché jé kai kari batavé (Today the community is in need of people who will earn a name)... We are infighting pointlessly and bringing our community down... It is such positive and constructive programs that make us happy," mentioned Antia while releasing the CD along with Anahita Desai, chief executive officer of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ).

Among those present were Bombay Parsi Punchayet and WAPIZ trustees Khojeste Mistree and Yazdi Desai, as well as Sam Choksey, trustee of the Cama Convalescent Home where Giara spent some time recouperating and where he found the inspiration to make this CD and write his books. Due to torrential rain lashing the city that day, many invitees like Dastur (Dr) Peshotan Mirza, Ervads Yezdi Aibara and Parvez Bajan (panthakies of the N. H. Karani and Mevawala Agiaries respectively), Bomi Hansotia, managing trustee of the Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary, and others could not attend.

For those who want to sing along, a booklet of lyrics in the CD jacket will be useful. Priced at Rs 150 the disc is available from Giara at 667, Dhunamae Bldg, Lady Jehangir Rd, Parsi Clny, Dadar, 400014; tel: 24166204; e-mail: marzbang@gmail.com

◆ ◆ ◆
← Behind the ban
Save the community →
From the archive