Parsi Khabar

Parsis and Yoga

arzan sam wadia — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:34:18 +0000

Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram over at Frashogard.com makes a compelling case about Parsis and Yoga. Today’s fast paced and chemical-laden life has brought, in addition to the comforts and conveniences of the modern age, new and varied illnesses and disorders that plague most of us. Physical wellness and being fit is high up on most persons’ [...]

The Sandalwood Controversey at Udwada Atash Behram

arzan sam wadia — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:21:59 +0000

A few years ago, our entire family was at Udwada to offer prayers after my wedding. Just as we were about to give the “sukhad” to the “boiwala” dasturji, he refused to take it saying that its not original. We were completely taken aback, both by the dasturji’s pronouncement and his harsh and rude tone. [...]

2010 Survey of Next Generation Zarathushtis

arzan sam wadia — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:22:07 +0000

Below is a request from good friend Jim Engineer over at NextGenNow. Please do take the survey. Dear friends, Nowruz Pirooz va har rooz Norooz! Navroze Mubarak! We hope this e-mail and upcoming new year weekend finds you well! We are pleased to launch our 2010 Survey of Next Generation Zarathushtis and we would really appreciate your participation. [...]

Ardashir Vakil: Having the write stuff

arzan sam wadia — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:08:00 +0000

You don’t become an award-winning author without having a flair for words, and London-based Ardashir Vakil is certainly a good example of that. His impeccable sentences, tinged with the lilting accent that reveals his Mumbai origins, sound like they are plucked from a book. Not surprising, as words and sentences are kind of an obsession [...]

The Zarathushtra Effect

arzan sam wadia — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:44:51 +0000

His admirers claim he was the first to teach monotheism, the existence of heaven and hell and the final triumph of good over evil. Plato and Aristotle revered his wisdom. Raphael included him among the world’s greatest philosophers in his The School of Athens fresco. Some scholars insist that he had more influence on Western [...]

Wadias: Gujarat’s philanthropic architects

arzan sam wadia — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Masterstrokes, an exhibition of models of the iconic works of Richard Meier, was held at the Sir J J College of Architecture. The college is a fine example of Parsi philanthropy by Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhai whose generosity extended to Gujarat as well. Published in TNN In Surat, the Sir J J School is one of them, [...]

Firuza Parikh: In Conversation

arzan sam wadia — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:48:00 +0000

As a devout Zoroastrian, I try to live by our prophet’s adage of ‘good thoughts, good words and good deeds.’ I have learnt the profound truth of this guiding principle. By Times News Service Good thoughts are important for filling ourselves with positive energy. Good words make our interactions with the world pleasant. Good actions [...]

Nanabhoy made mota-bhai Mumbai

arzan sam wadia — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Fleeing from tormentors in the Middle-East, this community first found refuge in Gujarat. They speak the Gujarati language and every chronicle of Mumbai’s history has them at the centrestage. By Ashish Vashi & Harit Mehta, TNN An important Gujarati export to Mumbai, Parsis fought wars, contributed to business development and built dockyards. This community, which first [...]

Tata is Everywhere in India

arzan sam wadia — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:44:51 +0000

Yesterday was another dull day on Wall Street. The Dow rose 2 points. Oil held at $81. Gold didn’t move enough for us to remember, one way or another. By Bill Bonner The recovery continues…or so says the mainstream financial press. But the economy is still losing jobs…and people are still getting poorer. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – The [...]

Steel frame of standards: Jamshedji N Tata

arzan sam wadia — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:12:05 +0000

Given the kind of factionalism that India is witnessing today, and the general air of intolerance that sweeps our land, there are very few things we can truly be proud of. One of them happens to be the fact that Tata Steel celebrated its 100th Founder’s Day on March 3 in Jamshedpur: a town where [...]

Diaspora: A Talk by Khojeste Mistree

arzan sam wadia — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:38:23 +0000

What the Diaspora can do for India and what India can do for the Diaspora A talk given by Khojeste P Mistree at the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress, Dubai on 31st December 2009 Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to give you a short presentation on a theme titled, “What the Diaspora can [...]

Saving Miss Pestonjee

arzan sam wadia — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:28:40 +0000

Pranab Babu’s pioneering budgetary allocation for threatened communities wasn’t met with the raising of a Parsi peg or gongs resounding from Mumbai’s fire temples. A community that controls enough trust funds to keep the country out of fuel price hikes doesn’t need the FM’s Rs 1 crore. By Times News Service A proud community that famously turned [...]

Is It Too Little Too Late

arzan sam wadia — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:32:09 +0000

Mahatma Gandhi once said of them, “In numbers Parsis are beneath contempt, but in contribution, beyond compare.” By Nauzer K Bharucha, TNN, Never has the contrast been starker. The community that’s given India some of its best lawyers, musicians, industrialists, philanthropists and bankers is at the crossroads today. Barely 70,000 are left in India — less [...]

Navroze Recognition by United Nations

arzan sam wadia — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:43:34 +0000

The UN has acknowledged the festival of Navroze as a Heritage of Humanity. The below is an email forwarde by Mickie Sorabjee. Dear All, You will be happy to know that finally, after some years of delay, this news of Navroze being awarded the UNESCO award as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity has come through officially. [...]

Indian Govt Budgets for Dwindling Parsi Population.

arzan sam wadia — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:04:36 +0000

Not much is known about what can be done to check the dwindling number of Parsis. There has been much concern, even heartburn, but solutions have proved elusive. But the Centre has decided to step in and address the issue agitating the small, but talented community by announcing a scheme dedicated to their welfare. This time [...]

Parsis storm Zoroastrian College to stop conversion of a Russian

arzan sam wadia — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:56:42 +0000

Bombay Parsi Punchayet chairman alleged the institute’s head Meher Master-Moos was indulging in ‘wrongful’ conversion, which is reserved for only sons of priests By Manoj R Nair and Ram Parmar / Mumbai Mirror A group of angry Parsis from Mumbai, including chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), stormed a religious institute near Sanjan on the Maharashtra-Gujarat [...]

The Life of Bai Jerbai Nusherwanji Wadia

arzan sam wadia — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:25:14 +0000

An ordinary lady with an extra-ordinary vision: Bai Jerbai Nusherwanji Wadia (1852-1926) This is a simple story of an ordinary Zarathushti lady, who possessed an extraordinary vision.. Born in 1852, she was reared in the, then, traditional fashion, into a Zarathushti way of life. She was well tutored in the art of knitting, stitching [...]

Parvin Jungalwala Escapes 17-year Confinement

arzan sam wadia — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:57:25 +0000

For 17 years, Parvin Jungalwala, 40, a Parsi widow, allegedly spent her life in home confinement. However, she decided to end her torture and the reason for this his is her daughter’s well-being, who will be appearing for her class X examination next month. Parvin, who got married soon after her class X exams, has [...]

Small Yet Significant

arzan sam wadia — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:52:52 +0000

The Parsi community in the city continues to play a vital role in the field of education and business Indian Express While the dictionary defines them as members of Zoroastrian origin who came to India from Pars or Persia – but the small yet fun loving community of Parsis are, in true sense, an important part of [...]

Life After Death: Concepts in Zoroastrianism

arzan sam wadia — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:59:41 +0000

The following is an article on “Life After Death as in Zoroastrianism” by Ervad Pervez D. Mithaiwala, revealed to us by Behesti Minocher N. Pundol Saheb as per teachings of Magav Sahebs of Demaavand Koh, Iran. The article although lengthy, vividly describes a Zerthosti Rawaan’s journey to this world from Hasti and its return to [...]