Mumbai-based model-actor plans to launch a dating and social connectivity app in association with a Pune tech firm exclusively for single Parsis to mingle; reformists ask why not for all

Article By Apoorva Puranik |Mid-Day

If the government’s $1.6 million programme to arrest the decline of numbers in the Parsi Zoroastrian community, by offering the best in IVF expertise, is to be a true blue success, bachelorhood can no longer be a Parsi mainstay.

Mumbai-based model, television actor and bachelor Viraf Patel understands this.

When his friends and family didn’t tire from coaxing him to “find a nice Parsi girl”, Patel began to seriously ponder on ways to meet and greet. “The best way to get to know someone is by communicating,” says Patel, who then struck on the idea of an app that would help community members connect.

In collaboration with Pune-based software development firm Extentia, Patel hopes to launch Aapro App in the next two months. The team is currently gathering data and feedback from young Zoroastrians, figuring features that they’d like to see and designing a user-friendly interface.

The Parsi Zoroastrian population in India is pegged at 69,000, of which 40,000 reside in Mumbai. By the end of last year, Jiyo Parsi had managed to add 22 new members to the community, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Najma Heptullah announced. The study that backed the campaign was carried out by Parzor Foundation and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Among reasons for dwindling numbers, late and non-marriage emerged top of the chart with fertility decline. One in five Parsi men from India over 50, and one of 10 Indian Parsi females are unmarried, it said.

Former chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, Dinshaw Mehta, had a straight forward take on the app. “As long as its use remains within the community, it will help us. The present situation is frightening, and any initiative to help numbers grow is welcome.”

For the moment, the app is being considered as a platform that’s by-Parsis-for-Parsis, says Extentia CEO Umeed Kothavala. A verification system is being worked on by the technology team to help keep out a whole universe that the Bawas simply refer to as ‘non-Parsis’.

Umeed Kothavala, app developer and Cyrus Broacha has promoted the app

“We could consider making it by-invite-only. We don’t wish to seem non-inclusive, and could look at allowing access to all communities in future, but for the moment let’s focus on helping single Parsis meet their ilk,” says Patel, adding that he would like it to gradually expand into a social and professional networking platform.

Although purists will hand Patel their vote, there is likely to be a section that could root for inclusiveness.

“Let it be about choice,” advises well known caterer, food historian and history enthusiast Kurush Dalal, who chose to marry a Bengali. “People are going to find people they like and love any which way. We need to move with the times is my point of view. We [Parsis] are colour-conscious and far from inclusive. Those who wish to be ‘Parsi-Parsi’, and endogamous, more glory to them.”

Former BPP trustee Dinshaw Tamboly, who is known for his reformist views, says that given the fact that that the app aims to be for Parsis-only, it is for the user to decide whether s/he wishes to be on it. “If someone wishes to meet people only from within the community, this app may be their best bet. Otherwise, there are so many other social networking sites where they can meet people from all walks of life. It really depends on what the app users wish to do and choose to do.”

Actor and TV host Parizaad Kolah Marshall finds the idea “hilarious and excellent”. Most Indian communaities, she says, have traditionally advocated intra-marriage, so also the Parsis. “For those wishing to meet or date within the community, it’s a great idea. Debates over non-inclusiveness can continue, but initiatives like these will bring us closer,” she thinks. Actor Boman Irani, television host Cyrus Broacha, event management firm Wizcraft’s Viraf Sarkari and industrialists Farhad Patel and Xerxes Dastoor are on an advisory committee that’s overlooking promotions.

The youth are already curious after a video by Broacha was uploaded on Facebook. “It looks interesting from the video. I might finally have my parents off my back over meeting Parsi boys,” says Bandra resident and MBA student Tanaz Cassad.

Broacha, who Patel calls an “advisory board member” for the Aapro App, with trademark wit, says, “It’s not Reliance or Tata! Tell Viraf to chill! I’m happy to just spread the word about a platform that already has youngsters’ curiosity going. The dating pool will get wider. For now, it is Parsi exclusive and people are going to have all sorts of opinion on it. Why not non-Parsis, the reformists will ask; traditional Bawas will question the need for an app in the first place. Let’s just say it’s like any other social network, with a Parsi twist.”

While hooking up coo-some twosomes is the primal plan, the larger goal is to create a platform for community engagement, with an added feature of dating. “Our main concern, therefore, is that the interface should be inviting,” Kothavala says. They hope that it finally ends up as an intra-community search engine, offering handy information on restaurants that serve Parsi bhonu, emergency numbers for hospitals that have wards for Parsis and contacts of philanthropic societies.

We are keen to discuss the app’s USP with Patel, and he certainly has the last word: “Given the unimpressive numbers of our community, this is one app that will never crash.”

The post Aapro App to be Launched Soon appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Cronulla couple Rutty Talati and Tristan Harley were married according to the rites of the Zoroastrian religion, one of the world’s rarest faiths.The multi-cultural aspects of the marriage included the wedding rite of a religion that was founded more than 3500 years ago and has gone from the world’s dominant faith to one of its rarest.

Article by John Mulcair | Cronulla News, Sydney Australia

Zoroastrianism eventually contracted to Persia – now Iran – before most of the remaining adherents moved to the Indian state of Gujarat.

Two Zoroastrian priests performed the faith’s wedding rite.

The bride and groom and many guests wore traditional garb, while the civil marriage celebrant wore the traditional dress of her native Uganda.

Zoroastrian ceremony important

Tristan said it was important for them to have a Zoroastrian ceremony.

“Rutty was brought up in the religion: this was a celebration of it,” he said.

Of the events of 10 years ago he said: “We’re not originally from Cronulla, but for outsiders its reputation preceded  it.

“Our experience of Cronulla is that is not like that at all.”

Knew of anniversary

Tristan said he and Rutty knew three months before their wedding of the planned riots’ 10th anniversary.

“We chose Cronulla and the date to celebrate diversity.

“From our position, we would have done it, no matter what.

“Love must overcome fear.”

Tristan Harley is a refugee lawyer; his wife Rutty is a paediatric doctor at St George Hospital.

The post Zarathushti Wedding Ceremony in Australia shows love must overcome fear appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Sitting inside helicopters, sea planes, and even commercial airliners with his camera at the ready, Travel and Lifestyle Photographer Rishad Daroowala has captured some truly stunning aerial views of everything from Manhattan to Glacier National Park.

Helicopter Photography: Top Tips and Stunning Photos by Rishad Daroowala

Rishad is an undeniably talented photographer in many regards—he’s shot portraiture, nature, urban exploration, commercial photography, even wildlife on occasion—and he’s got the massive social following to prove it. But it was his aerials that first caught our eye, and so we sat down with Rishad to ask him for some tips, and see if he would share his favorite aerial images with us (and you) here at ISO.

Whether or not you’re interested in shooting aerial images, we have a feeling you’ll enjoy the Q&A and photos below. So check em out and don’t forget to drop us a line in the comments when you’re done!

What draws you to aerial photography?

A unique perspective I think. I’ve always found it fascinating to look down on places I’ve visited or even lived all my life and see things from a totally different point of view from above ground.

Cities, lakes, and mountains can either look far bigger than they appear or much much smaller. The world looks much different from a bird’s eye view.

We noticed that a lot of your aerial shots are captured from helicopters. What are some things to consider when taking photos from a chopper?

There are few key things:

– The main thing to consider is speed. If you’re shooting out of a heli, you could be flying up to 150miles/hr—which can make focusing a challenge and shaky photos an unwanted final result. You’ll want to increase the shutter speed of your images to compensate and reduce blurry, shaky photos as much as possible.

– Time of Day. If you have control of when you’re flying—sunrise or towards dusk is the best time to shoot aerials in my opinion. Nothing is worse than shooting midday in harsh light and finding unwanted reflections over water or washed out skies.

– Timing is everything and switching lenses will usually mean a missed photo opportunity. Carry multiple camera bodies with a wide angle and zoom lens if you have it.

– If you’re shooting out of a helicopter, have the doors removed and get harnessed in. It’s much easier to move around and shoot at all angles unimpeded instead of through a small window or glass (shooting through glass also means unwanted reflections). Remember to dress warm if the doors are off because you will be cold!

What camera settings do you use?

I almost always shoot in ‘shutter priority mode’ (TV mode on Canon or S mode on Nikon) instead of Manual because you won’t have time to manually meter your images. If there’s adequate light, I’ll usually shoot at 1/300s or faster at around 400ISO to be safe.

I keep autofocus on and switch to Servo mode. This will track your subject automatically which is easier in the air. And I always suggest using Image Stabilization if you have it.

What must-have gear do you take with you when you shoot from the air?

If I could only carry one lens, I would recommend a wide angle to take in as much as possible. When shooting out of a plane I usually carry my Canon 16-35mm (on a full frame camera) which also has Image Stabilization. IS is also important, to reduce shake as much as possible.

Beyond a great wide angle lens, a good quality camera strap that extends around your body is key. You’ll want to keep your camera very secure if you have an open door…

And finally, keep extra memory cards close by. You’ll be surprised how quickly even a 64GB card fills up.

Can you walk us through your post processing workflow? Are there any special edits you use for aerials?

I have a few presets I’ve built over the years that serve as my base, or I’ll begin with a VSCO filter and adjust accordingly.

With aerial images, increase your sharpness if your images are slightly blurry and apply a grad filter to pull back on overexposed skies. Other than that, your workflow shouldn’t be too much different than any of your other photos.

Finally, what is your favorite helicopter ride you’ve taken thus far?

I would have to say over Glacier National Park in Montana. The glacial waters, pristine mountains, and snow-capped lakes were like nothing I’ve ever seen.

A huge thanks to Rishad for taking the time to answer our questions, share his favorite shots, and offer a few top tips! We hope you found this Q&A as enjoyable and helpful as we did.

To see more of his work, be sure to follow him on 500px, visit his website, check out his blog, and show him some love on Instagram.

The post Rishad Daroowala: Helicopter Photography appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Mullen Lowe Lintas group vice chairman Fali Vakeel calls it a day with a lot to cherish

“A lot has changed, hasn’t it?” we asked Fali Vakeel, as we settled into our bar stools at the Bombay Gymkhana. He was kind enough to meet us on 7 January 2016, a week after his ‘official’ last day at the Express Towers office of Lintas.

Article by By Gokul Krishnamoorthy | Campaign India

Now ‘Mullen  – Lowe – Lintas whatever’ quipped the outgoing vice chairman of the group.

He has every right to be mildly amused, given the number of changes in the agency’s name in the last 24 years – the length of his tenure. 

As the three cubes of ice in his first glass of Red Label clinked their ode to a special evening for us, the man billed as the ‘Last of the Mad Men in Indian advertising’ by his colleague and agency CEO Joseph George, opened up.

“A lot has not changed, also,” he explained. “Amirati, Lowe, Lowe Lintas, Lowe and Partners… my memory fails me. But the DNA of integrity, honesty, remains. No matter how sick you found rules (laughs), you obeyed them. And… the Lintas name has been so iconic in India. Even the taxi driver knew it and brought you (to the office). Much like JWT used to be in London,” added the spirited adlander, who started his career in an accountancy firm in London, and his advertising career at JWT in the same city. 

“But has some of the fun gone out of advertising? I think it has. The age of political correctness, of ‘be careful of what you say’, has taken the fun out of it,” he noted.

Vakeel has indeed seen interesting times in Indian advertising, after eight years in London, at JWT and McCann. While a look back at his career throws up several memorable milestones, there are some that shouldn’t go unchronicled. Among those, are the time a shoot went terribly wrong, and he almost quit Lintas – the only time he came close to doing something ‘so stupid’, he confesses. Better sense prevailed.

The man credited with retaining CEO Joseph George at the agency with a shift to Bengaluru, and hiring current chairman R Balki, observed that something else has remained constant at the Lintas clan: “We always had a certain sense of (good) subversiveness as an agency. Now, Balki, is a subversive f*****. He’s also one of the most big-hearted f****** on the planet.”

Terming Balki ‘the best client servicing guy’, Vakeel is, as always, quick to respond when asked how he rated himself as a ‘client servicing guy’. He said, “I may be one of the top three.”

Among other things, did ‘fun’ mean going out for a drink at 11 am? No, underlines Vakeel. He got to work at 8.30 am, he reminds us. There was hardly any use of technology, says the adlander who has stayed away from social media all these years. He added though, that “The place was full of glamour.”

Blast from the past…

Vakeel credits several of his colleagues for making his life at the agency what it was, but would like to thank two people in particular for making him the professional he is: Alyque Padamsee and Prem Mehta. He’s not sure if the word ‘mentor’ fits the context – perhaps it’s a little more than that, he muses.

When publishers like the Competition Success Review hosted parties at the Taj, adland was very happy to connect with adland, notes the veteran. They were ‘far removed’ from the ‘pompous affairs’ like the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards, he pointed out. He is also quick to note that the relationships between agencies and their leaders have changed. That’s not all.

“Nowhere in the world today can anyone say someone is ‘pretty’ and get away with it,” he rued.

We couldn’t argue with that on a day when Chris Gayle was in the news for off-field behaviour. The other thing, he pointed out, was that bottles were opened to celebrate professional success in office once, like in London in the ‘70s. Some of the ‘brightest and the best’ would have not chosen other fields, over advertising, ‘had the fun in advertising remained’, he observes.

“Even in the days when we were most desperate for people, for a slot that had to be filled, I remember rejecting uninspired and uninspiring people. I’m happy that throughout my career, I did. And I am happy that that there are people like Balki, and people in other agencies, that I brought on board. And I am really happy that we motivated them enough to retain them,” recounted Vakeel, immensely proud of what the HR team and leadership at Mullen Lowe Lintas is doing on the people front now.

There also came a turbulent time from a people standpoint: circa 2007, the ‘windfall’ that made headlines, and did not include some people as beneficiaries. It was addressed, emphasises Vakeel, adding that there was no cynicism in the payout – or its aftermath. 

“It was like a war breaking out. But what has ensued speaks for the solidity of the agency, and the eventual maturity of its leadership – it never affected our business, ever,” he underlined.

The Bangalore days

From 1990, nine years after joining the Mumbai office, Vakeel led the Bengaluru office for 15 years – with added responsibility for the South and East. His profile states that revenues increased eight-fold during this period. It was during this time, that the agency won the Titans and Britannias of the world, among others.

Vakeel recalls Ravi Deshpande saying it was probably the time when the agency had the best set of clients and people, in the business. He was also responsible for the Delhi operations from 2002 to 2004, before taking up all India operations except for Mumbai. He moved back to Mumbai, taking on the responsibility of COO, before being named vice chairman 20 years after he joined the agency.

From an industry perspective, and that included Lintas, he witnessed the power shifting from Bengaluru to Mumbai. Levers moved foods out. Compaq, which retained Lintas despite an international alignment, eventually moved – for no fault of the India operations. The dotcom boom went bust.

“Just as today, Bangalore is a huge powerhouse of startup brands, it was the case then,” reminded Vakeel. But it eventually gave way. On whether the game will change, again, he wouldn’t want to hazard a guess.

Much more to cherish than regret

When the agency re-launched a soft drink, Vakeel promptly fell in love with the model. But that wasn’t something he regrets.

The only regret he recalls is an instance, when he ‘gave far too much leeway to a bunch of completely incompetent, unattractive, opinionated jerks’. And then, it was ‘death by a thousand pin pricks’. What was the issue? He chose not to go further down that road. The lessons had been learnt.

The agency stands tall today, and if there was once an impression of being a ‘Levers’ agency, that has helped grow business well beyond the FMCG giant it is proud to partner, he adds. If there was ever an impression that it was an agency full of suits, the balance is been ‘perfectly addressed’ now, contends Vakeel.

The frequent visitor to the South of France went to the Cannes Lions fest only ‘three or four’ years ago. And he doesn’t regret not going there earlier. There’s more to life than awards, in his view.

When we called him on 18 January to ask if there’s a specific picture he’d like used alongside this piece, he said, “I hope it’s a kind article,” as cheerful as he was during the interview.

The man who doesn’t like to be called ‘Sir’ said he was waiting and had three minutes before leaving the office. It was indeed his last day ‘in’ office. If he was emotional, he tried not to let it show.

Vakeel carries with him fond memories. He leaves behind many more, with people whose lives he’s touched, in a career that officially ended on 31 December 2015. The agency will be taking 500 of its employees to Goa soon, for a farewell befitting its very own ‘Mad Man’.

So with a bit more time on his hands, will he consider getting onto social media? “I have no clue,” he said. He’s not averse to the idea, we guessed.

A brief walk outside and some female guests at the Gymkhana had already pulled him over for a chat. The single adlander who enlists fast cars, films and travel among (many) other things he loves, will have a busy life post retirement.

Of that we are sure.

(This article first appeared in the 22 January 2016 issue of Campaign India)

The post Fali Vakeel: ‘The last of the Mad Men’ bids adieu to Advertising appeared on Parsi Khabar.

The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America, in a recent website update informs:

FEZANA wishes a Happy NewYear 2016 to all Zarathustis globally in North America and around the world.

35 young adults sponsored by FEZANA participated in the 6th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand December 28, 2015 to January 2, 2016. Look out for write-ups from the participants in the upcoming issues of the FEZANA Bulletins & the FEZANA Journal.

FEZANA is also proud to announce that it will be the host organization for the next Youth Congress. The 7th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress shall be hosted in the United States by a FEZANA member organization in 2019.

In the video below you can see FEZANA Youth Diana Vania and Poruz Khambatta accepting the Torch on behalf of the Youth of North America.

Note: The NZ Congress host incorrectly mentions that the Congress will be hosted in New York. The venue and location of the congress has not been decided.

Requests for Proposal to host the 7WZYC 2019 will be going out soon to member associations.

The post 7th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress to be held in 2019 in United States appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Meher Mistry: Destiny’s child

Dadar girl Meher Mistry on how she turned princess for the lead role in Disney’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’

When Meher Mistry walks in for a chat at a cosy café in Mumbai’s Bandra area, great vintage hairdo and pashmina stole in place, it is hard not to be reminded of the captivating Belle, the Disney heroine in the Indian staging of Beauty And The Beast she played with such verisimilitude. To think the acting bug only bit her around six years back, when she was a stagehand waiting in the wings to make pre-show announcements (the only time her voice was heard), mopping and cleaning after the arc lights dimmed. This was at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California, where her uncle runs internship programmes for young actors to help them earn an Equity card—membership to an actors’ union, worth its weight in gold for anyone hoping to make it in show business.

Article by Vikram Phukan | Live Mint

In the wee hours, Mistry had the intimate theatre all to herself, looking out wistfully at the empty stalls from the stage to indulge the occasional delusion of grandeur. Later, she assisted through frenetic eight-week runs at eight shows a week of whatever marquee production was in vogue. It was a rigorous, year-long apprenticeship. “I was the weird kid who always thought she would be a teacher,” she says. “Yet this space created a real sense of belonging and peace.”

In 2009, injected with the adrenalin of live performance, Mistry returned to India. A Parsi girl who grew up in Dadar, she hadn’t watched any Indian plays, and was also insulated from the bustling local Marathi theatre scene. The universe of the Indian stage seemed nebulous and distant. Industry names like Quasar Padamsee and Shernaz Patel, extraordinarily approachable to newbies, told her to “watch as much as you can”. Well-regarded plays like Chaos Theory and Hamlet—The Crown Prince, made her optimistic about where she would find her niche.

“Hindi not being my strong suit, would I be restricted to only English theatre?” she pondered. She soon landed her first gig as a nun in Raell Padamsee’s Sound Of Music where she met the formidable soprano Marianne D’Cruz (cast as the Mother Abbess). D’Cruz was Mistry’s vocal coach when she became an understudy for the coveted part of Maria Von Trapp. The high point for Mistry was when she performed as Maria at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai for a single show, when leading lady Delna Mody wasn’t available. Mistry received a lot of attention for her vocals, “It was two hours of my life I’ll never forget.” Later, back in her habit as a nun, she wondered whether she would step into the shoes of a prima donna ever again.

Being one of two Parsi actors cast as Britishers in Sunil Shanbag’s Stories In A Song (the other being Jim Sarbh, who played recording pioneer Fred Gaisberg) was a symptom of the kind of typecasting she was growing to expect. Casting coordinators would contact her to act in television commercials with an upper-middle-class slant. Her peaches-and-cream complexion gave her a distinct advantage in the colour-conscious world of Indian advertising, even if her body shape saw her relegated to matronly parts (she is 27 years old).

In 2014, Mistry came full circle when she was called back to the B Street Theatre to act in an adaptation of the epic Persian poem, Conference Of The Birds, as an exotic Bird of Paradise. “All the birds were actors of different ethnicities, although most of them were of American stock. Ironically, once again, perhaps my exotic look aided in my casting.”

Auditions for Disney’s Broadway production for India, Beauty And The Beast, began last year. “I made it to one of the last auditions, and I botched up my monologue by forgetting my lines,” she laughs. Yet it was her strong rendition of the challenging ballad, On My Own from Les Misérables, that ostensibly brought her into the reckoning, although it took the producers two months of intense auditions to confirm her as Belle. “I (knew) I wanted it and I could do it, despite it being such a huge show.”

The quintessential Disney princess has evolved over the years, becoming feistier, more independent, much less acquiescing of the social mores that dictate our expectations of women. What has lingered though, almost anachronistically, are the unbelievable hourglass frames of the leading ladies, right from Belle and Ariel in The Little Mermaid, to Snow White, Cinderella and Pocahontas. When making the transition from animated celluloid to stage, the proverbial strings on a princess’ corset are, arguably, loosened somewhat to simply let an actor breathe, but she is still expected to remain an exemplar of feminine grace and lissomness. Mistry submitted to an intense exercise regime in order to play Belle to such hazy specifications, and the transformation has certainly been staggering. A movie star like Parineeti Chopra, who has reinvented herself as an aerobic goddess, has openly admitted to the inordinate self-loathing she felt during her “chubbier” phase, even if, as a rare actress with a “real body” and talent to boot, she was already a role model to many.

Conversely and refreshingly, Mistry has always been comfortable with her body: “Yes, I was plump, but it never really mattered to me. I never had body issues.” Her sangfroid was accommodated in an alternative theatre culture in which talent trumped one’s cosmetic virtues. For her, the physical change that Beauty And The Beast brought about has served a utilitarian purpose. “If you look at the sprawling sets and the amount of running and dancing I do from one end to the other, it requires a lot of energy. This was truly physical theatre. I’m thankful the team pushed me into becoming fitter. I did lose a lot of weight, but so did the men,” she says.

In a milieu populated with larger-than-life characters based on tried and tested fairy-tale archetypes, Belle was the only “real person” in the musical, Mistry feels. “She needed to be just like any other girl—identifiable and genuine.”

Mistry kept her own voice with its sing-song intonations, working hard to give it character, bounce and range. The manner in which she could carry a multi-crore stage extravaganza on her shoulders has done wonders for her confidence. Indeed, there are show-stopping production numbers, fabulous sets and great performances all around, but Mistry is a revelation. Her performance is certainly flawed, especially in the more despondent moments at her disposal, but at its crests, she draws us in with soaring vocals of world-class calibre as far as show tunes go.

In retrospect, the one line she sang as a nun in The Sound Of Music, “She waltzes on the way to Mass and whistles on the stairs,” now seems like an ode for Belle, with Mistry finally having learnt to hold a moonbeam in her hand.

Beauty And The Beast will have another run in Mumbai in April, but the dates have not been finalized.

The post Meher Mistry In Lead Role in Disney’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’ appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Construction tycoon Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, Architect Hafeez Contractor and founder of Gharda Chemicals, Dr. Keki Hormusji Gharda are the three Parsis who have been announced as awardees of the Padma Bhushan, the civilian awards bestowed by the Government of India.

More about Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry

More about Hafeez Contractor

More about Dr. Keki Hormusji Gharda

The post Three Parsis Awarded Padma Bhushan in 2016 appeared on Parsi Khabar.

“THE LEGEND”

A sculpture dedicated to the Mighty VIKRANT made from the original parts of the Legend itself. Inaugurated by Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, PVSM, AVSM , NM, ADC, Flag Officer Command-In -Chief, Western Naval Command & Mr. Ajoy Mehta, Municipal Commisioner MCGM on 25th January 2016.

Nearly 15 months after it was scrapped and faded into history, India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant came alive on Monday in the form of a permanent memorial here on the eve of India’s 67th Republic Day.

The memorial was unveiled by Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, and Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, at a traffic island opposite the Lion Gate near the Naval Dockyard in south Mumbai.

Commodore (retd) Medioma Bhada, who once piloted the ship, said the memorial was a sculpture created with pieces of metal recovered from the shipbreaking yard, designed and fracted by eminent metal sculptor Arzan Khambatta.

The memorial would a living testimony of the deep gratitude to the majestic ship which created a legacy as the pioneer of the Indian Navy’s aviation arm.

“The country’s first aircraft carrier laid a sound foundation of air operations for the Indian Navy. The valuable lessons learnt on her decks are enshrined in the organisation of Indian Navy, enabling it to fluently integrating the recently-inducted aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya,” Vice Admiral Cheema said.

INS Vikrant was commissioned in 1961 and after 36 years of action-packed service displaying India’s sea power, was decommissioned in 1997.

Originally built for the British Royal Navy as HMS Hercules in 1943 and which saw action during the India-Pakistan war in 1971, the ship was finally broken up in November 2014, ending a glorious history of 71 years.

The HMS Hercules, a Majestic-class light fleet aircraft carrier, was built on October 14, 1943, commissioned in the British Royal Navy in 1945 and bought by India in 1957.

At that time, it earned the distinction of being Asia’s first aircraft carrier.

The gigantic vessel with a displacement of 20,000 tonnes, was commissioned in the Indian Navy on February 16, 1959. It saw action during the 1971 India-Pakistan war and was finally decommissioned on January 31, 1997.

It served as a maritime museum till 2004 and since then, bitter legal battles were fought for saving INS Vikrant in the past decade, right up to the Supreme Court.

Many proposals, including converting it into a permanent museum for future generations, failed to materialise due to varied reasons, chiefly due to financial constraints.

Commodore Bhada of the Vikrant Memorial Forum and Mumbai Citizens Group expressed gratitude to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, the Western Naval Command and Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. for their support which finally helped the memorial to come up.

The post Arzan Khambatta Creates Memorial to Indian Naval Ship Vikrant appeared on Parsi Khabar.

The Indian Subcontinent is dominated by three religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. But just there are thousands of dialects, there are also many different religions. This week we bring to the show someone who grew up with Arjun on the mean streets or Palm Harbor, Florida: his close friend Freya Motafram. Freya is from one of the aforementioned undervalued religions of India: she is Zoroastrian. She blesses us this week with a general overview of a faith that has been relatively ignored in our community. She breaks down the basic tenants of the religion and the ways in which it is practiced. We then ask her how people treated her for practicing an “obscure” faith, and during that explanation she divulges the info that Arjun played with Barbies as a child…much to Akaash’s delight. Listen in to this fascinating episode that opens the curtain on a beautiful faith.

American Desis

The post American Desis: In conversation with Freya Motafram appeared on Parsi Khabar.

What: ‘Arresting Developments’ a photography exhibition by Parhad Goghavala on the windows of Bombay

When: 31st Jan –  Feb 20; 11 am to 7 pm.

Where: Gallery 7,

G3 Ground Floor, Oricon House,

12/14 Rampart Row, K Dubash Rd

Kalaghoda, Mumbai 400001

‘Arresting Developments’ by Parhad Goghavala

Arresting Developments is a collection of images of windows of Bombay by Mumbai born, international Indian photographer Parhad Goghavala.  The images express his love for this maximum and sometimes overwhelming metropolis, Mumbai. It is a voyeuristic view into the everyday lives of the people of Mumbai. Using beautiful facades of derelict buildings from the earlier part of the last century and their windows as a canvas. The artist sees each image as telling a different story in an almost poetic visual style which draws the viewer closer and thereby revealing fascinating details as the image is recited, as it were.

The artist would like you to experience the images without judging them. All the images have been captured at a precise time of day in order to capture as much detail, colour and texture of the subject as possible, resulting in the artist having to visit the same site several times in order to get that perfect shot. The collection has been shot over the period of two years 2008-09.

The images have been captured in the old neighbourhood of Byculla down to Crawford market towards the South of the city. As busy Mumbaiites we tend to focus on where we need to get to and never really look around, as the city can get quite overwhelming. This is an opportunity to experience the raw unfiltered beauty that Mumbai has to offer, it may even encourage you to look around at this great city a little more and find beauty everywhere, arresting you in your tracks…

About the Photographer

Parhad Goghavala was born in 1974 in Mumbai, India. He was sent to the prestigious Cathedral& John Connon School, where he was first introduced to the camera, dark room techniques and photography as an extra subject. Subsequently, he studied mathematics and physics and eventually graduated in subjects in which he had little or no interest. 

Parhad moved to London in 1996 in order to pursue another degree, Industrial Design at Brunel University, London. He also did several art and portfolio building courses at Central Saint Martins, London, strengthening his appreciation for colour, form and aesthetics.

After having dabbled with the camera on his travels and doing the basic course at the Photographic Society of India in 2001, Parhad decided to take what was a serious amateur pursuit and turn it into a professional one. He assisted commercial and fashion photographer Himanshu Seth before enrolling for the Mastercraftsman 2 year course at The Shari Academy of Photography and Digital Imaging where he learnt studio lighting techniques and how to ‘see light’.

Parhad had his first show “Images Inspired by the Art of Cocktail Making” in Association with The Bar Company in Dec 2006 at Henry Tham’s Lounge, Mumbai. The commercial success of the show encouraged him to further his passion for photography and image making.

Parhad is a member of the Photographers Guild of India (PGI) and has received an award from the guild for his image ‘Lasting Impressions’ at their annual exhibiton ‘EXHIBIT A’ in 2007. Keen to use the passion for his craft to give back to society, he organised an exhibition of his collection “Effloresce – Flowers of Breach Candy’ at the prestigious Breach Candy Swimming Bath Trust in December 2010, where he was able to raise a considerable amount, as a 100% of the sale of the images were donated to charity.

In 2012 he was commissioned by the Ador group of companies to cover the walls of their swanky, newly designed head office at Ador House in Kalaghoda, Mumbai with his signature style of aesthetically beautiful images of their industrial plants at work.

Parhad is also a commercial photographer and has shot for high end international Michelin starred restaurants such as Hakkasan and Yauatcha and exclusive publications such as Elle Decor. He is passionate about clicking Interiors, Food, Fashion and Fine Art.  Parhad returned to London in November 2012, where he zealously put together a vast, very impressive portfolio of fashion images shot in London till early 2014. (Parhadgoghavala.com/fashion)

Parhad is having his first serious Fine Art exhibition titled “Arresting Developments” shot in 2008 at Gallery 7, Kalaghoda, Mumbai this February 2016. The images express his love for this maximum and sometimes overwhelming metropolis. It is a voyeuristic view into the everyday lives of the people of Mumbai, using the beautiful facades of derelict buildings from the earlier part of the last century and their windows as a canvas.

Apart from shooting for well known personalities and publications in Mumbai, he is currently working on his first highly creative fashion calender for the year 2017. A truly international Indian photographer, he is the next big name to look out for in the Fashion and Fine Art Photography world. 

To check out some of his amazing images logon to his website parhadgoghavala.com.

The post Arresting Developments: A photography exhibition by Parhad Goghavala appeared on Parsi Khabar.

A recent work trip to Hong Kong gave me an opportunity to visit the famed Parsi Cemetery in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. This is one of three cemeteries that were founded by the The Incorporated Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hongkong, Canton and Macao. The other two are in Macau, and modern day Guangzhou, previously called Canton.

The Hong Kong Cemetery is in an area adjoining other cemeteries, and is nestled in the side of a big hill. In many ways it reminded me of our own Doongerwadi in Mumbai, India. Opened in 1852 it is the only functioning Parsi cemetery in this region. The other two have long ceased to be functional.

Over 150 graves are in the cemetery and some of them are innovative in shape. The cemetery also has a “Bungli” or Hall where the Paidust and other prayers are performed.

The cemetery is extremely well maintained and taken care of.

A short snippet of a longer text gives some history and background of the cemetery

India is the only place where Towers of Silence remain in use, and there are very few in number. The concentration of Parsis in a geographical area dictated the type of disposal. Very early on a decision was taken that burial in cemeteries – Aramghas – was acceptable in places where there were not enough Parsis to maintain a Tower of Silence; for instance Ajmer is the furthest north in India where there is a tower. In hill stations in India, a section of the Christian or Catholic cemetery was set-aside for Parsis.

The same applied to Parsis who died overseas, hence this beautifully maintained cemetery at Hong Kong. A Trust was formed in 1822 in Macao for the establishment of a Parsee cemetery there. The first Parsi association, known as the ‘China Canton Anjuman’, was formed in Canton in 1834. In1845. A wider Anjuman body covering Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao was created for establishing and maintaining burial grounds and having places of association. In Hong Kong, the first premises for use of the Zoroastrian community were rented in 1852. [ Link ]

A note of thanks to the Trustees of the Hong Kong Anjuman for allowing me the opportunity to have an extensive tour accompanied by Ervad Homyar Nasirabadwala, the officiating Dasturji in Hong Kong. And a big thank you to “aapra Dasturji Homyar” as the Hong Kong Parsis refer to him; for his detailed explanations and history of the place.

The post The Parsi Cemetery of Hong Kong appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Sooni Taraporevala, a fantastically talented photographer, screenwriter and film maker was featured in a list of the Top 10 Photographers of India.

“…….India has a legacy of cultural variety and deep-rooted artistic expression. Staying true to that history, the nation is fast producing a generation of photographers rooted in the diversity of the country and at the same time looking outwards, seeking inspiration from different sources. We present to you ten Indian photographers who have captured moments so evocative that they demand attention…..”

Sooni Taraporevala

Sooni Taraporevala has many feathers in her proverbial cap. Besides being an acclaimed photographer, she is also a filmmaker and a screenwriter. A Harvard graduate specialising in English Literature, Film and Photography, Taraporevala started her career as a still photographer. The centrepiece of her photographic career was a coffee table book of her photographs entitled ‘Parsis: the Zoroastrians of India – A Photographic Journey’. The project, a labour of love conceived over a time span of more than 20 years, offers a comprehensive glimpse into the Zoroastrian community within India, revealed only to Taraporevala’s trained eye. Photographs from this series have been exhibited at the gallery Chemould Prescott Road, Bombay; the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi and at the Tate Modern, London.

The post Sooni Taraporevala: India’s 10 Best Contemporary Photographers You Should Know appeared on Parsi Khabar.

When Hormuz Javat was 8 years old, he faced a pretty serious decision: did he want to begin training as a Zoroastrian priest?

He’d have to begin soon because the training took four years, building up to his ordination at age 12.

Hormuz is a Parsi, a follower of the Zoroastrian faith. His ancestors fled Persia after facing religious persecution and settled in the Indian subcontinent in the late six hundreds.

Today, there are about ten thousand Parsis living in Canada, but there aren’t enough Zoroastrian spiritual leaders to sustain the community.

It’s a familiar dilemma for faith groups all over the world. 

In her documentary Becoming My Mother’s Priest, Sujata Berry tells the story of how one family is keeping the tradition alive.

The post Hormuz Javat: 13-year-old Zoroastrian priest keeps tradition alive appeared on Parsi Khabar.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. This was a historic step taken be UN Member States in accelerating the global struggle and strive towards gender equality and the empowerment of women around the world.

March 14 to 24 2016 will witness the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

One of the unique groups that would be delivering a discussion at the UN CSW is a Zoroastrian UN-NGO by the name, The Federation Of Zoroastrian Associations Of North America (FEZANA).  FEZANA, since its inception in June 1987 has been an active contributor to society in several ways.

This year, the group will be presenting a panel discussion titled, “The Role of Women in Culture, Government Activity and the Economic Market in sustainable development.”

The NGO aims to get people thinking and acting on aspects that are playing a hindrance towards the active role of women in society. The key focus area will be on ontology. The change in ideology and representation of women within the Workforce, Government Institutions and most importantly Education is matter of high priority.
The group would not just focus on one region, but rather speak about the women in the developed world, the developing world as well as women in conflict zones.

The panel discussion details are:

Date: Monday, March 14th, 2016
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: CUNY Graduate Centre, Room 2, 365 5th Avenue, New York, NY

The philanthropic North American UN-NGO was placed on the Roster of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1997, and is now registered with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

“There Is No Tool For Development More Effective Than The Empowerment Of Women” – Kofi Annan

The post FEZANA And The 60th Commission On The Status Of Women (CSW) appeared on Parsi Khabar.

On a day when the old guards fell by the wayside, young Indian shooter Kynan Chenai stole the limelight by securing a quota place for the Rio Olympics in Men’s Trap on the second day of the Asian Shooting Qualifiers here on Thursday.

Chenai clinched could hardly have asked for any better gift on the eve of his 25th birthday as he won India their 10th quota place after finishing fourth in his event with a total of 120 points at the Karni Singh Range.

The Hyderabad lad warded off a strong challenge from his teammate Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Kazakhstan’s Maxim Kolomoyets and Andrey Mogilevskiy to bring some cheer on the faces of home fans after a rather disappointing day for Indian shooters.

Chenai, however, missed out on a bronze medal after he lost to Kuwait’s Talal Al Rashidi (here as an International Shooting participant) in the shoot-out by a single shot that ensued after both the shooters fail to make the final round. In the 15-round shootout, Chenai missed the clay target on the sixth and 14th shot, while Al Rashidi failed to hit the target on the 12th shot.

Chenai had already booked the quota place by the time the semifinal started, which featured only the top-four shooters in the 42-strong field. The Trap event offered four quota places which was taken up by Chenai, Al Rashidi, Kuwait’s Abdulrahman Al Faihan (gold) and Chinese Taipei’s Kun-Pi Yang (silver).

Sandhu finished a disappointing ninth with 118 points and couldn’t even qualify for the semifinals.

Chenai had shot a score of 47 out of 50 on Thursday and he shot 73 out of 75 to accumulate 120 points, which was enough to win a quota place. But, Chenai’s quota has not guaranteed him a berth at the Rio Games as he has to face a selection trial in Patiala from February 7-16 to decide who will represent the country in the Men’s Trap at Rio. Sandhu, who is India’s No. 1 men’s trap shooter, is ahead of Chenai in terms of rankings.

Chenai, however, would be in an advantageous position as his Olympic quota would boost his ranking as he is set to earn crucial points.

“I have done my job. Now it’s up to NRAI to decide who will travel to the Rio. I know about the selection trials and this performance would definitely boost my confidence,” Chenai said.

Chenai, who drew inspiration for shooting from his father, Darius – himself a national champion in trap event in 2008 and 2015 – said training in Italy in the second half of 2015 and making slight changes in his shooting style helped him to become a better shooter.

“In the first half of the year, I missed out on two World Cups after failing to make the Indian team. Then, I headed to Italy to fine tune my game as I was looking for this Olympic quota. The stint actually helped me as I returned a better shooter. What I have achieved today is the biggest day of my career. I can now proudly tell my father that your son has secured an Olympic quota which you failed to earn during your playing days,” he said.

Talking about Thursday’s performance, Chenai, who belongs to a prominent and reputed Parsi family of Hyderabad, said he followed one simple advice of his father. “Stay relaxed and just shut the pressure out. Don’t overburden yourself with expectations. It worked wonders.”

The post Kynan Chenai secures Spot for Rio De Janeiro Olympics 2016 appeared on Parsi Khabar.

STATEMENT FROM UDVADA SAMAST ANJUMAN  ON RECENTLY CONCLUDED IRANSHAH UDVADA UTSAV-2015

Udvada Samast Anjuman was proud to co-host the ‘Iranshah Udvada Utsav’ (IUU) with Foundation for Development of Udvada (FDU). Going by responses gathered from all over the world, IUU held on 25^th to 27^th December 2015, was undoubtedly a stupendous success.

Over the past few weeks, post the Iranshah Udvada Utsav, various write ups, comments and views, both positive as also negative, have appeared in various print & social media channels about hosting of the Utsav. Some have been very encouraging, heart warming, providing suggestions for improvement and some downright negative, discouraging and personally attacking and defaming the IUU, Udvada Anjuman and our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor.

It is a well known fact that the IUU has received adulation from most quarters, it has resulted in Udvada being poised for infrastructure development and progress that will be of immense benefit to all those who are fortunate to reside and visit Udvada. We shall provide some information on the benefits that shall accrue to Udvada later in this communiqué. However, before we enumerate these benefits, it is essential that we inform the community at large about negative politics that a few from our community have indulged in, post the conclusion of the IUU.

In all communities and societies, there are some individuals with holier than thou mindsets who perceive their word to be the final word on how others should conduct themselves in all walks of life. Our community too has its fair share of individuals who have narrow visions and revel in fomenting discord. These disgruntled elements see a hidden agenda in everything. Their efforts are always to foist their views on everything under the sun and should their views not be adhered to, they are at their vituperative best in criticising and maligning those who have not complied with their viewpoints.

Over the past many years, we have experienced a few individuals/groups, who have made it their mission to malign our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor in any and every positive initiative that he has taken for Iranshah & Udvada.

This same group of individuals, who have been ventilating their negative views about IUU in the media, both published and social, are well known to have a personal animus against our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor ever since the FDU was established around 2004. They misguided the community even then as they are doing now. We may add that the FDU has never sought to influence or interfere with the working of our Udvada Anjuman.

Lest such disgruntled individuals misconstrue our silence to be an acceptance of their misguided and mischievous statements, Udvada Samast Anjuman has decided to issue this one and only statement for the information of the community.

•  Our forefathers, members of the Nine Athornan Families, have over centuries and generations, often at a great sacrifice, have been willingly doing ‘khidmat’ of Shreeji Pak Iranshah with all the necessary ritualistic discipline, maintaining the sanctity and purity of the holy fire and the precinct of Iranshah, which has been continued by us of the present generation and we shall ensure the same will be continued by our future generations.
• We put to rest once and for all the controversy created by the speech given by Mr. Darius Khambata. It has already been stated that Mr. Khambata was expressing his personal views, with which our Anjuman & Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor are not in agreement. Neither our Anjuman nor our Dasturjis, Dasturji Khurshed & Dasturji Peshotan have ever encouraged conversion or mixed marriages in any form whatsoever.
• The canard spread by these disgruntled elements that other Dasturjis were not invited for the IUU is absolutely false. Dasturji JamaspAsa, Dasturji Kotwal & Dasturji Mirza were not present at the IUU due to their prior commitments (performing Navjote / Wedding ceremonies in Mumbai). It may be noted that Dasturji Kotwal & Dasturji Mirza have, along with Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor, willingly contributed learned and informative articles in the souvenir released at IUU. As regards to Dasturji Meherjirana of Navsari, keeping in mind his ill health, it was thought best not to inconvenience him with a visit to Udvada. It must also be mentioned that many members of the Nine Athornan Families of the Udvada Anjuman attended and participated on all the three days of the IUU, thus nailing the mischievous and misleading comments of those who were antagonistic to the holding of the IUU.
• It was amusing to read the frequent comments of Ervad Yazdi Unwalla deriding the IUU and Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor. Though being part of the Udvada Anjuman, he has not contributed an iota towards Iranshah nor Udvada and has the audacity and temerity to comment against our Anjuman and our Dasturji only displays his prejudice against the Anjuman and our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor.
• Er. Marzban Hathiram, has recently written an article ‘Sleepless Nights In Udvada’, in which he has mentioned that if a poll by secret ballot was conducted solely of members of the Anjuman, the result would serve as a jolt for both the Dasturjis. All that we can say about Er. Hathiram is that, he himself needs to first introspect before endeavouring to make sanctimonious statements about our Shreeji Pak Iranshah and our Anjuman or trying to drive a wedge between our Anjuman and both our Dasturjis by recalling and remembering what in the first place caused him to leave his Panthak at the Behram Baug Agyari, and come and settle in Udvada for which we do not even need to conduct a poll by secret ballot. Let the healer first heal himself before trying to heal others.
• It is unfortunate that Mr. Yazdi Desai, the present chairman of Bombay Parsi Punchayet, sought to issue a loose statement to the media without first verifying the details and facts with either the Anjuman or Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor. It would have been proper had he done so.
• Some individuals have commented that rather than organising a mega event such as IUU, the funds should have been more fruitfully utilised for the welfare of underprivileged Zoroastrians at Udvada. Those holding this view point will do well to note that our Anjuman takes good care of the welfare & medical aid of all their practising & retired Mobeds, Goranis, widows of late Mobeds, helpers at the Iranshah and those that carry out duties in other various capacities in the Udvada gaam
• We urge the 185 year old publication, Jam-e-Jamshed and our Parsi journalists reporting in the cosmopolitan media, to act more professional and responsible and to verify the facts either with our Anjuman or our Dasturjis before reporting inflammatory, fabricated and false propaganda just to sensationalise the issue at the cost of the dignity and reputation of our own community.

By holding the IUU at Udvada, we, the khidmatgars of Iranshah, did not find anything that was incorrect, harmful, amiss or detrimental to our Shreeji Pak Iranshah and its precincts.

In all the ridiculous noise and din created post the Utsav, the fact that hosting the Iranshah Udvada Utsav brought about a lot of POSITIVES for the community, in general and Udvada village in particular, has been lost sight of. We wish to take this opportunity to highlight the tangible benefits that have accrued and share them with the community at large.

The fact that around 4000 Parsi/Irani Zoroastrians from all over India and other parts of the world attended the IUU and participated with enthusiasm and vigour is illustrative of its success.

The below mentioned points are illustrative of the positive results achieved by the IUU: –

• It is the formation of FDU and the efforts of our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor that has been instrumental in getting funds allocated and disbursed to carry out infrastructure development in Udvada.

• There are now proper roads across Udvada village, more so around the Iranshah, to avoid congestion near its entrance.

• A parking lot has been assigned specifically for the devotees visiting the Iranshah.

• Regular supply of electricity is now available and CCTVs are being installed for the safety of our residents.

• A local police station is to be established and regular police patrolling to be done in the village.

• Refurbishment of the Zoroastrian Information Centre and Dasturji Kayoji Mirza Hall & Library will be undertaken from the funds sanctioned specifically for these purposes, as was announced by Mr. Saurabh Patel, Minister, Gujarat State, at the inauguration of the IUU.

• Construction of a Persian Gate, from funds sanctioned by the Government, will shortly be undertaken at the entrance of Udvada village (near Doongerwadi) as was also announced by Mr. Saurabh Patel, Minister, Gujarat State, at the inauguration of the IUU.

• Planning for the construction of a concrete wall structure to stop ingress of seawater into our village shores is being done.

• Most importantly, Udvada gaam and our Iranshah was saved from the clutches of some individuals who had planned to build an industrial-cum-residential zone on a large stretch of 160 acres of land close to the vicinity of Iranshah Atash Beheram, due to the timely intervention of Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor, who took up this matter with the concerned government officials at Gandhinagar and the then Chief Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.

• Instructions issued to the local authorities by Mr. Arun Jaitley, Union Minister, and Mr. Saurabh Patel, Minister, Gujarat State, to halt further construction of high-rise buildings in the vicinity of Iranshah will be invaluable to preserve the sanctity of Iranshah and Udvada.

We are confident that FDU & our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor shall continue to work with the concerned authorities to follow-up and get the above benefits officially documented and implemented.

Udvada Samast Anjuman takes the opportunity, to once again make it explicitly clear to one and all, that it has never interfered in the affairs of other Anjumans / Associations and in turn shall brook no interference in our affairs. It is the bounden duty of our Anjuman to protect and preserve the sanctity of Iranshah & Udvada, which we have done over the centuries and are perfectly capable and committed to do so, now and in future.

To our detractors, we reiterate that Udvaa Samast Anjuman and our Dasturjis are not answerable to any outside agencies or small pressure groups and shall not respond to any further communications with regards to our Anjuman or any of our Dasturjis.

Before concluding, the Udvada Samast Anjuman extends its whole-hearted gratitude to our Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor and Team IUU for the hard work put in by them to successfully organise the mega event and assures them of their continued support in future editions of IUU at Udvada that are intended to be held at regular intervals.

We conclude with a prayer and a hope that peace, good sense and serenity may prevail in our community!

Unanimously approved by all the committee members.

For & On Behalf Of Udvada Samast Anjuman,

Sd/-   Secretary

Copies of communiqué sent to:

• Parsi Times,
• Jame Jamshed,
• Parsiana,
• Fezana Journal,
• Hamazor,
• Parsi Khabar.

The post Statement from Udvada Samast Anjuman On IUU 2015 appeared on Parsi Khabar.

How safe is Mumbai’s heritage from wrecking?

How safe is Mumbai’s heritage from wrecking? A theft at Fort’s century-old BH Wadia clock tower throws up uncomfortable questions

Mumbai isn’t free from greed or irony. In an incident that occurred nearly six months ago, vandals have stolen the hands of a clock that sits within the BH Wadia clock tower at the bustling junction of Bazaar Gate Road and Nariman Perin Street in Fort. And they were able to access it, say observers, because of a scaffolding built around it for a much-need facelift meant to kick off next month.

By Apoorva Puranik |Mid-Day

The BH Clock tower, erected in 1882 to honour former sheriff and philanthropist Bomanjee Hormusjee Wadia, is a heritage structure with a magnificent façade that’s now crumbling. Years of neglect had left little of the clock except a stub at the centre and Roman numbering around a shattered clock face. The vandals took away a large chunk of the glass pane and the clock’s hands. “A few days ago, I had discovered an old gas light inside the tower, which I thought would make for a great piece of history. That too has disappeared,” said Kayomi Engineer, administrative director of the Kala Ghoda Association (KGA), a non-profit that works to maintain and preserve the heritage and art district of South Mumbai.

It is impossible, says conservation architect Vikas Dilawari, to replace these, but suitable substitutes will be made during the restoration which he will helm with backing from KGA.

When mid-day visited the site on Wednesday, the tower was sheathed in tin sheets to keep vandals out. “The stone structure needs a lot of work,” said Engineer, adding that Dilawari’s team will kick off in February in an effort that is expected to cost R65 lakh and be completed by early next year.

“The top portion of the tower is in terrible condition. Cracks have developed due to vegetation growth. The slab of the structure is susceptible to collapse. Strengthening it is going to be difficult since the wooden joist on which the slab rests has been destroyed due to rain and neglect,” Dilawari explained.

One of the objects that he is going to have to turn his attention to is a fading, marble plaque that stands at the entrance of the tower, carrying engraved inscriptions in the Pahlavi script, the written form of middle Iranian languages.]

Meherangiz Parvarish, 70, is a resident of the neighbourhood and member of the Zoroastrian community to which Wadia belonged. She claimed she wrote umpteen letters and made phone calls to officials in the heritage department of the BMC, drawing attention to the tower’s neglect. Part of a commemorative fountain, it incorporates elements of the Zoroastrian faith, including the flames that sit atop its pinnacle, considered holy by the community that believes fire is sacred.

“This structure is a landmark and a magnificent one. After incessant follow ups, all the corporation did was paint the tower a horrible yellow and orange,” she said, referring to a common gaffe that the civic department is known to make as previously seen in Fort landmark, Flora Fountain. Stone, conservationists say, needs to breathe. Painting it over, chokes it, reducing the life of the structure by years.

History

Bomanjee Hormusjee Wadia was the sheriff of Mumbai in 1859. He was also a philanthropist. Wadia died on July 3, 1862. The clock tower was a commemorative fountain erected in his honour in 1882, after his death. The structure has been built keeping in mind Wadia’s Zoroastrian roots. The tower is topped with a structure shaped like flames of fire, which Zoroastrians consider holy.

The post BH Wadia Clock Tower in Mumbai Vandalized appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Parsis need reservations in educational institutes: chairman, Bombay Parsi Punchayet chairman, Bombay Parsi Punchayet

Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) is the world’s largest Parsi-Zoroastrian institution. It administers affairs of the Parsi Irani Zoroastrian community. Geetanjali Minhas spoke to its newly elected chairman, Yazdi Desai, on the Jiyo Parsi Scheme and other matters that bother this unique community.

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme (JPS) seems to be bringing cheers to the community. Tell us about its impact.

So far, 100 couples have availed this scheme and 36 children are born, including two pairs of twins. This scheme is doing fine and achieving its objective. However, as against the allocated ’10 crore, only a few lakhs have been spent so far.  

Who all can take advantage of this scheme, given the strict marriage laws of Parsis?

The JPS follows the definition of Parsi as set by the BPP and the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrians Anjumans in India (FPZAI). A child whose father is a Parsi is considered a Parsi. In India, Parsis are concentrated in Gujarat and Mumbai but a Parsi living in any part of the country can avail this scheme. Workshops are being held for advocacy and to bring about a change in the mindset of Parsi population on helping themselves to reverse the trend of falling population. The community, as such, is forward thinking. We generously thank the government for helping us grow our numbers.

How many Parsi women are expecting at present? How does reimbursement work?

Approximately 10 are expecting their babies. Generally, a couple avails treatment at any fertility clinic – the reimbursement is paid either at the end of treatment or birth of the child. 

Couples are given reimbursement even if the treatment does not result in pregnancy. Besides, the BPP has a second and third child scheme whereby it offers ‘10,000 per month to a couple for producing a third child. The money is given till the child attains adulthood. Nearly 150 couples are availing this scheme at present.

As a community, what are the specific things that are leading to the near extinction of Parsis?

Late marriages, marrying outside the community, not marrying at all are the three main reasons for falling numbers. I think these problems are common in all educated civilisations where people want to be financially sound before getting married and having children. Especially if women of this community get educated they want to pursue a career, postponing marriage. By and large the more a woman is educated; she is more likely to produce fewer children. Some youngsters feel that marriage is an additional responsibility and a big change in one’s life.
Most of our girls and boys live with their parents, lead good lives, have financial support, domestic help and can pursue their careers. They wonder why they should get married. It is difficult to pursuade them to get married. The problem gets magnified because the Parsis are already a small community.

What are the historical and cultural factors for decline in population?

Migration over the years to countries like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Historically, many Parsis had migrated to the UK. Our children go for higher studies abroad and seldom return. 

Is India the world headquarters of Parsis?

Yes. There are about 71,000 Parsis in India and 45,000 live in  Mumbai. The world over there are 1,25,000 Parsis who mainly live in Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and India. All the Agiaries (fire temples), dakhmas (towers of silence), religious institutions, baugs and colonies are in India. There is no consecrated fire temple anywhere else in the world. Now, even in India we cannot consecrate a high status fire temple (Atash Behram) because we don’t have the priests with that level of ritual purity anymore.

How can the government help you more?

The government has been very kind to us with extreme tolerance and non-interference. One example of the government’s accommodating attitude is on the adoption. Parsis believe that one is a born Parsi and therefore we cannot have adoption. For us adoption would mean taking a child who is not a Parsi. When the adoption bill was introduced in parliament, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi kept Parsis out of its ambit. In India all Zoroastrians are Parsis. However, a Parsi may convert to Christianity, Hinduism, etc., yet as a race he remains a Parsi. A Christian or a Hindu (adopted child) cannot be a Parsi even if he follows Zoroastrianism. 

We also want the government to have reservations for Parsi community in educational institutions and colleges. Even when our boys and girls score 96% to 97% marks in the boards, they hardly make it to big institutions. If reservation is given to Parsis at least in the institutions founded and funded by the Parsis, our people will do better.

Why the community leaders like you are not even considering the idea of allowing Parsis to marry outside?

Parsis are a patriarchal society. Many of our trusts and colonies are for Parsis only. The trust deeds restrict the assets being used by anyone else. When a girl marries, she assumes her husband’s name. The moment we start accepting outsiders we will surely be increasing the population of Zoroastrians (religion) but not of Parsis (race). Here, religion is tied to the race. Unless you marry within the race or follow patriarchal lineage, the race will be wiped out. That is the way we want to preserve our  ethnic identity and purity. We feel that in India Parsis have been following Zoroastrian faith but the moment we allow conversion we will dilute our racial purity and in a couple of generations lose our identity. There are African Zoroastrians, Tajik Zoroastrians, etc., but in India there are only Parsi Zoroastrians. It is about the protection of ethnicity. However, we do accept boys marrying outside the race. 

– See more at: http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/parsis-need-reservations-in-educational-institutes-chairman-bombay-parsi-punchayet#sthash.pS2OI0iX.dpuf

The post BPP Chairman Yazdi Desai: In Conversation appeared on Parsi Khabar.

The World Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) met in Goa in December 2015 for its Annual Global Meeting. At the award function they launched a beautifully created promotional video, showcasing some of the pioneers who helped set up WZCC as well as some of the famous Zarathushti entrepreneurs out there today.

Have a look at the video below.

The post World Zoroastrian Chamber of Commerce Promo Video appeared on Parsi Khabar.

Over the past few days there has been a video that seems to have “broken the Internet in India”. “Hymn for the Weekend” by the band Coldplay also features Beyonce and the video for the most part is shot in Mumbai. Social media has been trending this video for variety of reasons. Some love it and some accuse it of having cultural appropriation.

This video however has a Parsi connection. The line producer for the entire Mumbai shoot is a young Parsi.  Soraabb Kumana. Soraab coordinated and orchestrated the entire shoot on location in Mumbai when Coldplay came down in 2015 to create the visuals. In conversation with Parsi Khabar, Soraabb spoke about some of the challenges in managing live locations in Mumbai that one sees in the video. Soraabb is no stranger to managing challenging production locations. Over the past decade he has worked with celebrity sportsmen, Bollywood actors, business tycoons and the like all over India, the Far East, Europe and United States. Majority of his work is in the advertising media world, but he has also line produced Bollywood movies, most notably English Vinglish; where he also plays a very brief cameo.

Soraabb is the younger brother of Parsi Khabar co-editor Shirin Kumaana-Wadia

The video is an artist’s representation of what they imagine India to be. It is meant for the global audience and shows Mumbai in a very refreshing way, a city full of joie de vivre. Those who see it (especially Indians in India) with a microscopic vision and dissects every frame miss the point that this is after all a music video and not a research documentary or commentary on Indian culture and society.

Sit back and enjoy the video and see Bombay/Mumbai in a refreshing light.

The post ColdPlay Beyonce and the Parsi Connection: Soraabb Kumana appeared on Parsi Khabar.