Friday, December 16, 2011

Letter from Rustom Chothia - Let us not question the word of GOD

Date: 12/15/2011 7:23:17 PM
Subject: Zarathusti = Parsi
Dears ...

Reading your mails I have one comment to make.
We cannot keep tearing to pieces the translations and the extant Scriptures.
Firstly they were destroyed twice. What we have left today is just one nask
and some fragments of other nasks.
Disputing Sahib's word is nothing less than a sin.
His teachings are quite clear to any sensible person.
The controversies created are manmade.
They come from 2 sources:
1) a lack of Faith.
2) ignorance
Our prayers and His Teachings are divinely inspired.
So as the saying goes: IF YOU HAVE FAITH NO EXPLANATION IS
NECESSARY WHILE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE FAITH,
NO EXPLANATION IS POSSIBLE.
PRAYER AND LOVE FOR GOD EMANATE FROM THE HEART.
Some main controversies people harp upon are:
1. Conversion - Dasturji Mirza, and Pervin Mistry (To name only 2)have given
answers quoting scripture, chapter and verse.
2. Intermarriage - This is nothing but selective conversion which will wipe us off the
face of the earth in 3+ generations.
3. Dokhmenashini or other means of disposal. - There are no two ways about this.
The extant Scriptures are clear on this. No defiling nature.
4. Why people of other faiths cannot enter our Fire Temples.-
For the same reason no non-Muslim cannot enter the whole city of Mecca.
For the same reason no non Hindu cannot enter the Jagganath Temple in Orissa,
and some Temples in South India.
For the same reason that non Christians cannot enter certain coptic churches.
Let us all discard our egos and bow down in humility and pray from our heart
whatever is in our Scriptures.
Remember "A MAN CONVINCED AGAINST HIS WILL, IS OF THE SAME OPINION STILL"
Let us not question the word of GOD.
Rustom.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

FEED NEEDY OLD PARSIS in MUMBAI: APPEAL to all Zoroastrians Worldwide

FEED NEEDY OLD PARSIS in MUMBAI: APPEAL to all Zoroastrians Worldwide
by Rustom C. Chothia

THE DADAR-MATUNGA PARSI ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATION
(Registered under the Societies Registration Act., XXl of 1860)
(Registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act ,1950 under No. F -736
Bom.)
(Estd. May 1925)
PRESIDENT: RUSTOM C. CHOTHIA - 757, RD.NO. 7,
PARSI COLONY, DADAR, MUMBAI 400014.
TEL/FAX: +91 (India) -22 (Mumbai) -24148394
E-mail: chothia@vsnl.com

Dear Folks,

WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

I approach you on behalf of The Dadar Matunga Parsi Zoroastrian
Association, which is doing laudable work since the last 70 years by
helping old and needy people of our community. The segment of society
we assist are aged, infirm people, people who are mentally and
physically handicapped and people in need of medical help. Many of our
beneficiaries are widows and some are even bedridden. These are people
who cannot be rehabilitated as they are incapable of doing any sort of
work. Most of these people are under constant medical treatment though
they cannot even afford a square meal. We have today more than 200
such on our roles and there is a waiting list of fresh applicants. We extend cash assistance of Rs 100 per month which is inadequate in present inflationary times. It is our aim to raise this sum and also to help more people who are on our waiting
list. Our volunteers screen each applicant individually for
suitability (financial and health) before we accept them as
beneficiaries. You may find it difficult to believe but some of our
beneficiaries are even residing in slums.

We organize a GHAMBAR LUNCH every year at Sohrab Palamkot Hall and
feed over 500 poor people who come from all over Bombay to enjoy a
true LAGAN NU BHONU complete with side dish, eggs, chicken and pulav
followed with ice-cream.

We organize an EXHIBITION CUM SALE once a year with more than 100
tables where people bring all types of home made utility articles and
foodstuff and also bought out items for sale.

We purchase mulmul and get poor women to stitch sudras which are then
sold by our members.

We have brought out 4 editions of the Dadar Parsi Colony Directory
listing all Parsi residents with addresses, phone numbers and even
blood groups. It also lists emergency services, doctors etc and is
very popular with the people.

We hold social/cultural functions to raise money but still our funds
are limited and we depend on donations we receive from time to time
from charitable minded organizations and individuals. We look forward
to your support by way of a generous corpus donation which shall bring
relief to and blessings from the underprivileged of our community.
Today out of one billion Indians we are only around seventy thousand,
which works out to less than one Parsi per ten thousand Indians. The
other communities are not going to help our people. It is for us to
look after our poor.

If you are abroad, personal cheques can be sent in foreign currency to
the above address. Please make out the cheque payable to "Dadar Matunga Parsi Zoroastrian Association" and send it to the address. RUSTOM C. CHOTHIA - 757, RD.NO. 7, PARSI COLONY, DADAR, MUMBAI 400014 India.

Currently donations are quite low so the poor old Parsis need all the help they can get. Please ask your friends to donate too. You can send a local rupee cheque or you can also send a foreign currency cheque.

We do not qualify for income tax exemption as we are helping our own
community only.

Yours sincerely,

RUSTOM C. CHOTHIA. (President)
E-mail: chothia@vsnl.com
TEL/FAX: +91 (India) -22 (Mumbai) -24148394

USHTA AHMAI YAHMAI USHTA KAHMAICHIT
HAPPINESS TO HIM WHO MAKES OTHERS HAPPY
(PROPHET ASHO ZARATHUSTRA, HOLY GATHA YS. 43-1)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Ervad Hathiram writes to the Jame about the Dokhmenashini debate

The Editor
Jame-Jamshed
Mumbai.
 
Dear Sir,
 
I have been following with interest the ongoing debate about Dokhmenashini in your paper. As one who has done a little study on the subject, I feel it necessary and in public interest to share with your readers some basic facts about the Dokhmenashini system.
 
The system of Dokhmenashini has several facets. The least important of these is the speedy disposal of the physical body, with the minimal amount of pollution. It is pertinent to note that the Avesta refers to the system as "hvare-daresana", Pahlavi "khurshed nigarashni", i.e., exposure to the sun. The Vendidad does mention the agency of the "kaharkasas", i.e. meat eating bird [vulture], but only as secondary. The entire issue being raked up here is the paucity of birds - but these were never considered as an essential prerequisite for the efficient working of this system.
 
The larger issue, however, and one which has been consistently ignored by all and sundry is that the dokhma and Dokhmenashini is NOT merely a system for disposing off a dead body. Were it so then, theoretically, we should have no objection to a member of any other community desiring to consign his body in this manner. But it is not so.
 
It is pertinent to mention that the Avesta says that a human body is composed of nine parts: - three physical - tanu, gaetha and azde; three semi-physical - keherp, ushtan, tevishi; and three spiritual/immortal - ruvan, baodangh and fravashi. Any system of disposal of the dead has to ensure that ALL THESE NINE PARTS are efficiently dealt with - not only any one group.
 
The dokhma is first and foremost an alat, an instrumentality of the Zoroastrian religion, much as an Atash Behram or an agiary. The dokhma is an important part of a four part system that ensures that not only is the physical body disposed off, but also that the spiritual aspect of the soul's onward journey is facilitated in a most efficient manner. Thus the Dokhma is one of the four wheels of the car that drive the soul on its onward journey - remove a single wheel, and you can imagine what happens. The other three wheels of this car are:
    1. The sachkar ceremony
    2. The geh-sarna ceremony
    3. The dokhma
    4. The four days prayers for the departed soul.
 
Concentrating on the dokhma, it is apparent from its method of construction and consecration that it is not merely a receptacle for putting a dead body - were it that way then we could have used an open hill top too. I would request readers to go through the same Dr Jivanji Mody's book on Zoroastrian ceremonies to get an idea of the immense time and effort it takes to construct and consecrate a single dokhma. Without going into details [which are sufficient to merit a complete book in their own right], we can summarise:
 
1. The physical construction of the dokhma is such that it takes care of the physical aspect of the disposal of a body. - the tanu, gaetha and azda are dealt with
2. The ceremony of "tana" which is done prior to the construction of the dakhma, in its foundation pit, ensures that the semi-physical bodies are properly dealt with - keherp, ushtan and tevishi
3. The consecration ceremonies and the various bajs performed prior to opening the dakhma ensure the onward journey of the immortal parts - ruvan, baodangh and fravashi.
 
For a Zoroastrian, there is no alternative but to go the dokhma way - for his own good.
 
I would be only too glad were the Jame to give an opportunity to me to write in detail on this topic and end this controversy once and for all.
 
Regards,
 
Ervad Marzban Hathiram.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

An Appeal for Financial Aid for our Daughter Anahita Amrolia

An Appeal for Financial Aid for our Daughter Anahita Amrolia

This is a genuine request for help - I vouch for that. Anahita is a single parent of a 7 year old with retired parents. She was the sole breadwinner of the family before she was stricken with Encephalitis and has been suffering since around April this year. Her treatment costs have dried up all the savings of this family.
If anyone is interested in helping the family financially they may get in touch with Hormuz Avari at 98207655 hormuz.avari@gmail.com or directly with Sam / Behroze Amrolia in Mumbai (numbers given below).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 1st, 2012
Sub:Medical help required for my daughter who is suffering from Encephalitis
(Definition: is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, most often due to infections)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, Sam Amrolia retired service man write to you with great hope and request you to help me with financial aid for the medical expenses of my ailing daughter Anahita Amrolia age 35 years who was diagnosed and is being treated for Encephalitis at the Bhatia Hospital, Tardeo, Mumbai, India for the past 4.5 month. Now she is being treated for recovery from the damage she has suffered. The expenses we incurred during her treatment were INR 11.95 lakhs in hospitalization for which scanned bill has been attached. We have managed to go so far with help from friends, relatives and personal funds. On advice of the doctors we have brought her home as medical treatment at the hospital is completed and now she in to undergo medication & physiotherapy since she is partial paralyzed due to brain damage.
Anahita was the bread earner for the family and a single parent of 7 year old girl Mehernaz. I and my wife am retired serviceman of Central Bank of India since three years.We have been given enough hope from all medical experts that Anahita is and shall recover, but with no definite time frame for recovery specified.
The monthly expenses that we have been incurring since we have brought her home account for a sum of INR 58,890/- p.m. (expenses bifurcation attached herewith) which is a heavy sum for us now as we have exhausted all our liquidity during her treatment.
We would be greatly obliged towards your organization if we could receive due help for sustaining ourselves while taking care of our recovering child.
We wish to inform you that we have received donation from trust and family contribution of INR 673,000/- (Six Hundred Seventy Three Thousand Only) (Donations bifurcation attached herewith)
On request we will produce all the bills in original.
With this appeal I truly solicit your timely help and would be obliged to receive any help in anyway.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Sam N Amrolia
10/4, Sir C.J.Colony
Tardeo,
Mumbai - 400034
Mobile – 09821500481/09821500483
EXPENSES PER MONTH
Particulars
Remark
Monthly Expense
Rental Surgical Bed
INR 5000 p.m. rent
INR 5,000.00
Physiotherapist Charges
Rs. 600/- per hour Monday to Saturday
INR 15,600.00
Caretaker / Maid expenses
Rs. 300/- per day
INR 9,000.00
Tests
Various Tests including Blood tests, sodium level, Serum level, Carbamazepine Level and Potassium Level every 10 days. @ INR 5680 onetime
INR 17,040.00
Medication
INR 7,000.00
Diapers
As totally bed ridden
INR 5,250.00
Total Expenses
INR 58,890.00
Donations received from various Trust and other sources
Donation
Remarks
Amount (INR)
Bai MPB Jeejeebhoy Deed of Settlement fund
Trust Donation
198000
British Council
Employer Medical Assistance
250000
Lotus Trust
Trust Donation
50000
Mr. Jalnawalla
Personal Donation
50000
Relatives
100000
Other Well wishers
Personal Donation
25000
Total
673000
Regards
Behroze Amrolia


Sunday, October 2, 2011

Free Zoroastrian Match Making service by Mrs. ABAN VAZIR

This e-mail was forwarded to me by Mr.Shroff from Houston. Hope you find it useful

...Spread the good news!

Hi….Everyone,

Kindly forward this email to all Zarthustis around the world. Aban Vazir from Toronto, Canada is providing a wonderful FREE Service to the young youths of our community and within a short span of time:

· 30 Zarthushti couples have already got their life partners
· 45 Zarthushti couples have been engaged

She has a huge database of young (ages 17 – 59) Zarathushti boys and girls, seeking matrimony within our community.please do not hesitate to contact her directly.


Third Email:

Hi...Everyone,

This email has been sent on behalf of Mrs. Aban Vazir:

Please forward it to all your friends and relatives around the world.

Dear Kerman Katrak,

Just wanted to update you on the progress of the Free Matrimonial Service. Young Zarthushti girls and boys have approached me from Bombay, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA and from our own Canada.

With great care and respect I have been forwarding E-mails to suitable matches keeping it very confidential to honour the respected individual. Today with great pleasure and joy I would like to inform you that:· 10 couples have already got their life partners· 15 couples have been engaged.Besides this, they have found a lot of happiness and consolation in meeting new Zarthushti friends in all parts of the world.

Amazingly all of them have forwarded this match making E-mails to thousands of friends all over the world and the result is I keep getting at least 5 new E-mails per day as boys and girls are looking for their Life Partners.

I think this is the best way to approach a girl or a boy if you are shy. It becomes easier to get to know each other by E-mail. All the efforts that have been put into this, has resulted in finding their right partners in Life and many of them can be good friends forever.

The Community's strength is measured when family and friends join hands and stand together, in the common cause of our community.

I sincerely request people from all age groups to come forward and approach me or send me your Bio and I will send you E-mails of your choice.

May Ahura Mazda guide and bless our community.

With best regards,

Aban Vazir - Toronto , Canada .Tel: 416-622-6552
Second Email:

Hi...Everyone,

This email has been sent on behalf of Mrs. Aban Vazir:
Please forward it to all your friends and relatives around the world.

Dear Kerman Katrak,

I would like to update you on the progress of this FREE Matrimonial service: As it currently stands, I have:68 listings of boys43 listings of girlsAges varying from 17 to 59
Boys and Girls from Canada, USA, Europe, New Zealand , Australia, India & Pakistan.3 couples have been engaged.14 couples have been in serious matrimonial correspondence.

I still have a huge database of people and receive more and more eligible Zarthushtis on a regular basis.

I would ardently request you to kindly roll out this email once again and my humble request is for people to please come forward and contact me, who are looking for a match within our community.

This is absolutely a FREE Community Service, with utmost Confidentiality.

With Best Wishes,
Aban Vazir - Toronto , Canada .Tel: 416-622-6552

First Original Email:

Hi Everyone,

This email has been sent to you all on behalf of Aban Vazir: Please contact her directly.

Greetings to Everyone,

Since the past 30 to 40 years we Zarthushtis have settled in this beautiful Land worked hard and struggled to raise our kids in the best environment. We have tried to give them the best education and always wished they would settle well in their lives so after we leave this world they can stand up on their feet and be independent.

Every Zarthushti Parent's dream is that their son or daughter would marry and stay in our own community and preserve the values of our great religion which our great grandfathers have passed on to us. But how would anyone achieve this. We feel there is a strong need for a person who would help by trying to locate an appropriate friend or a partner and in turn keep the utmost confidentiality of each and every individual.

Hence I would ardently request each one of you to please come forward and contact me so that I can help you find the most suitable match and also assist you in every step of the way, by finding a life partner who will match your personality and compatibility.

I already have a list of girls and boys of all ages, who are looking out for a suitable match, within our community.

So please don't feel shy and kindly contact me as this is a free and purely community service for our friends and family and above all for our religion.

With best regards,Aban Vazir - Toronto , Canada .Tel: 416-622-6552
Email: aban_Vazir@yahoo.ca

Email: aban_vazir@yahoo.ca

Monday, September 12, 2011

Great Tale of Behram Yazad

MUSHKEL AASAN BEHRAM YAZAD NI PANAH!!

WE TAKE REFUGE IN THE GREAT BEHRAM YAZATA THE SOLVER OF ALL PROBLEMS!!

======================================================================

THE ANCIENT TALE OF THE WOODCUTTER MISHKIN AND HIS GREAT FORTUNE

(Original English Text by Dhun and Cyrus Madon, rewritten by Porus Homi Havewala.)

==============================================================================

There is a wonderful tale of tradition that is told when our Parsi-Irani Zarathushtri people are in great need or difficulty. In this tale, we tell the story of how a poor woodcutter Mishkin was helped and uplifted by the spiritual and heavenly help of Shah Behram Yazad, a great worshippable divinity in our religion who has the power to remove obstacles and ease all difficulties. This story happened many thousands of years ago in our sacred fatherland of Iran, and is repeated even today with devotion to call for divine help in the time of great difficulty and obstacles.

We pray to God Almighty, Dadar Ahura Mazda and thank Him for His Blessings, and bow to Him and His worshippable created being (Yazad) the mighty Shah Behram Yazad, asking for Divine protection and Blessings for our whole family. We praise Shah Behram Yazad and His Divine Power of easing all difficulties. We humbly offer to You these simple heart-felt offerings of Chana (grams) and Sweets, which please accept from us and bless us, Amin, Amin, Amin.

In the days of yore, in our sacred fatherland of Iran where the steps of our Prophet Zarathushtra fell more than 8000 years ago, there once lived Mishkin, a simple woodcutter along with his small family, a wife and daughter. He earned a meagre living by chopping wood in the forest and selling it in the market nearby. The small family lived a simple life, eating simple food and knowning no luxuries.

It was one of those days when Mishkin had gone to the forest, that his rich neighbours decided to cook a delicious liver dish in the Iranian style. In those days house doors were kept open so the wonderful aromas started to pour into Mishkin's house, where his young teenage daughter was knitting some garmets. The daughter was still like a child, and she was so wonderstruck by the fine aromas that she decided to visit the rich neighbour on an excuse, in the hope that they would then invite her in to share the delicious meal. She knocked on the neighbour's open door and asked for some embers to rekindle their household fire - since all Zoroastrian houses in those days maintained a Holy Fire inside their own house.

The neighbour gave her the embers, but made no mention of inviting the girl to share the meal.

Disappointed, Mishkin's daughter went back to her house, where she waited a while before trying again. This happened two more times, but by the third time, the neighbour was quite irritated and screeched at the little girl that she well knew why Mishkin's daughter kept coming back again and again, that it was a sin to estinguish the Holy Fire on purpose, and that she would never be invited to eat the dish. So saying, the selfish rich neighbour slammed the door on the young girl's face.

Devastated, Mishkin's daughter went crying to her house, where she sat in motionless depression until her father Mishkin came home. Shocked to see her in such a state, the father asked her:

"O Daughter!Why are you so sad today, what has happened?"

The young girl poured out her whole heart, and the father was immensely saddened. "My child, I realize we are poor compared with our neighbours and cannot afford the ingredients for delicious food. But I promise you, I will make an extra effort to earn more money tomorrow by chopping a lot more wood. When I sell this wood, I will use the extra money earned to buy all the ingredients necessary to cook this delicious dish you want. So my child, be happy once again and look forward to that". The daughter was happy when she heard the father's promise, and the whole family went to sleep dreaming of the nice meal that was to be cooked the next day.

In the morning, Mishkin made a very early start so that he would have more time to chop wood in the forest before the sun set. But when he reached the forest, he was aghast to see a forest fire that was spreading through the whole forest. He sat down at the edge of the forest and waited with great patience, but the fire raged on and on and he could not cut any wood on that day.

Deeply disappointed, Mishkin came home without any earnings, and the whole family had nothing to eat on that day, they went to bed quite hungry after filling their stomach with only water. This scenario continued the next day and the family was brought to the brink of starvation. On the third day, the starving Mishkin was filled with utter dispair when he saw that the forest fire was still raging. Breaking down totally, he sobbed like a child, hiding his face in his folded arms and crouching down beneath a large dark tree. He just could not bear to go home and face his starving family again, and tell them that he had nothing to give them to ease their hunger.

It was at that divine moment, that five Divine beings (Yazatas) from Heaven were passing through the luminous sky above the blazing forest. They were dressed in divine colours of white, green and yellow, and they were none other than Behram Yazad, Ardibehest Yazad, Meher Yazad, Bahman Yazad and Sarosh Yazad. Among these, Behram Yazad was the Yazad in charge of solving human problems.

When the Divine beings saw Mishkin crying by himself in a corner of the forest, they were filled with pity and stopped in their journey. They descended to the forest and asked Mishkin:

"Oh human being, what are you weeping for? Please tell us. We will surely try and help you out".

At first Mishkin refused to part with his problems but later opened up and explained the whole situation of how his family had to go without food for three days due to forest fires, and about his selfish rich neighbours who refused to share their food even when their poor neighbours were starving.

Touched by the sad story of the starving family, Shah Behram Yazad picked up three handfuls of sand from the ground and put it in Mishkin's lap and said "O Mishkin, keep this safely with you. If your situation improves with this, then whenever convenient narrate the whole story and offer some grams (nuts), flowers and sweets and remember us."

Now Mishkin was skeptical and thought to himself, "Actually, What good is this sand going to do for me? It is just sand. After they leave, I shall throw it away." The five Yazads disappeared into the air and immediately a mysterious voice came booming from the heavens above:

Oh Mishkin, look after this sand as you would look after your own life. You will prosper with it -- don't throw it away, otherwise you will face poverty all your life." Hearing the powerful voice from Heaven, Mishkin decided not to throw the gift of God away, even if it looked like sand and pebbles.

When Mishkin returned home, he placed the sand carefully in one corner of his room. The whole family went to sleep, again very hungry. Now in the wee hours next morning, when dawn was yet to break and it was the Holy time of HOSHBAM (when prayers are most effective), the neighbours saw a bright glowing light emanating from Mishkin's house. They were frightened and yelled out "There is a Fire in your house, Mishkin, wake up!!" Mishkin's daughter too came running to her father’s bed, and shook and woke up her father, screaming:

"Father, there is unusual brightness in the house. It could be a torch carried by a thief who has entered our home, to steal things. Please check, we are very frightened!!".

Mishkin replied, "Don t be silly my daughter, we have nothing in the house except a rope and axe for the thief to take. What can he steal? You have been starved for the last three days so you must be having visions. Don’t worry, go back to sleep and let me sleep too."

However, Mishkin couldn’t go back to sleep, since he was a little uneasy himself to notice this unusual brightness around the house. After a few minutes, he got up from the bed to check around the house. To his amazement, he found that the sand he had placed in a corner had all turned to precious jewellery, diamonds and jewels, and these were throwing a dazzling glittering light all over the house. This had happened in the Holy time of HOSHBAM.

When the sun arose, Mishkin thanked Almighty God with his morning GEH prayers. He then took a piece of jewellery out of his precious jewels to the market to sell it. The jeweller examined the piece, and was amazed to see that it was a perfect and dazzling jewel. He asked Mishkin if he could offer him 100,000 or 200,000 Gold pieces for the piece? Mishkin could not believe his ears – he thought the jeweller was jesting with him, so he went to another jeweller to get his jewels valued.

The second jeweller too was amazed to see the jewel, as in his lifetime he had never seen such a precious jewel. Surely it must have come from Heaven!

The second jeweller was also a honest man, so he made three bags full of money ready and asked Mishkin to toss his jewel and take away whichever bag it landed on. Almighty God would guide the throw! So Mishkin did, and sure enough, it landed on the biggest bag of money. Mishkin was now a very rich man. Remembering his promise to his young daughter, he immediately went shopping for provisions and bought some of the nicest ingredients to cook food, and got a labourer to carry it down to his house. On his way home, he distributed some grams, sweets and cardamom to whoever came his way, and narrated the story of how he had been helped by the Divine Forces of God.

When the food and goods arrived at his house, his wife and daughter refused to accept or empty the goods, thinking that it must belong to some rich family and has landed there in error. At that point, Mishkin reached his home. The daughter quizically asked the father:

"O Father! We are starved for every grain of food and we have no money, so how did you manage to bring all this? Did you steal, father?"

Mishkin replied, "No daughter, I have not stolen. It was Almighty God who bestowed this upon us all as a gift, and He has lifted us out of dire poverty with His Divine Grace. Blessed be His Name." So saying, he narrated the whole incident of how the Divine Yazads – the forces of God had given him the sand , and how the sand had turned into glittering jewels at the Holy time of HOSHBAM.

Soon after, the rich Mishkin built a house for himself which was more magnificent than even the King's palace, and this became the talk of the town where Mishkin lived. One day as the King of Iran himself was passing by Mishkin's house, he was astonished to see a house that was more magnificent than his own palace. Upon enquiring, he found out who the owner was and heard the incredible story.

The King decided to find out if the newly-rich Mishkin had become an arrogant man due to his new found wealth, so he sent the same high quality food that they ate to Mishkin's house to see how Mishkin would react to this gift from the King.

Mishkin and his family felt highly obligated when they saw the delicious food from the Royal kitchen, and they wondered how to repay the King's obligation. So Mishkin decived to give the King's young daughter a piece of jewel out of his precious jewellery.

The King and the Princess of Iran were totally amazed to see this beautiful piece of jewel. Surely it must have come from Heaven! The Princess had it set in a Golden necklace and wore the jewel proudly from then on.

Now Mishkin decided to go out of town on a pilgrimage to all the Holy sites of Iran, to offer thanks to all the Divine Forces of God. Before he left, he entrusted his daughter to say her weekly prayers to Shah Behram Yazad.

Having become rich, Mishkin's daughter now had made many new friends. One day the group of friends came to a pond where the King's daughter also came with her servants for a bath. Mishkin's daughter also came to the same place. She met the Royal Princess who liked the young girl, inviting her to the palace for a further meeting, and then lunch on a future date, which Mishkin’s daughter gladly accepted.

A deep friendship blossomed between the two young girls, however with all this new-found enjoyment and royal company, Mishkin's daughter soon forgot to say her prayers to Shah Behram Yazad.

One day the two young girls were passing by a lake and the King's daughter decided to go for a swim. Since Mishkin's daughter did not know how to swim, she stayed behind to look after the Princess clothes and diamond necklace.

When the Princess came out, she started to dress but found her precious necklace missing. She accused Mishkin's daughter of stealing it. A quarrel soon ensued between the two girls, with Mishkin’s daughter protesting her innocence. Why would she steal back a gift that her own father had made?

But the angry princess refused to listen and complained to her father the King of Iran, and got both mother and daughter arrested and put in jail.

On the other hand Mishkin got robbed by thieves on one of the lonely mountain roads. He returned home empty-handed. When he came to know that his wife and daughter were in jail, he went straight to the King and pleaded with him to release them and put him in jail instead. This was done immediately.

That same night, in jail, Mishkin was sleeping sadly. In the early hours of the morning, in the Holy time of Hoshbam, he had a dream in which he saw an Yazad who said, "O Mishkin, you were granted so much happiness in life and still you or your daughter could not say a prayer to Behram Yazad?"

Mishkin, in the dream, sincerely apologised for his daughter's mistake “Please forgive my daughter, she is very young and has innocently erred. I ask forgiveness on her behalf, Divine Yazad”.

The Yazad was pleased and nodded. "Never mind what has happened in the past, Mishkin. When the sun rises and you wake up, you will find some money under your pillow. Your chain will loosen up too. If you order some grams out of this money and pray to Shah Behram Yazad , ALL your difficulties will be resolved."

In the morning when Mishkin woke up, he found that his chain had become loose and he also found some money as promised by the Yazad in his dream. Mishkin went out of the prison. He stood on the road, and requested a young passerby who was riding on a horse to buy him some grams (nuts), so he could say the prayer to Shah Behram Yazad.

But the young passerby haughtily refused to do so saying, "I am in a hurry to pick up some wedding clothes and I do not have the time to bring you the grams". Soon after he left, the horse of the young passerby fell in quick sand and he broke his leg.

Just then another old man was passing by with a sad face. When Mishkin requested him, he agreed to bring the grams for Mishkin even though his son was on his death bed and counting his last moments. Mishkin was touched with humanity and requested him to sit with him while he narrated the story and acknowledge it by saying "Ha Ji (Yes Please)" to whatever he heard. The old man agreed to do so, and he listened to the story. Mishkin completed his story and wished well for everybody and offered the grams to the man by way of offerings.

When the old man went home, he was amazed when he saw that his son was fine and everyone in the family was rejoicing at his fast recovery. Seeing this, the old man was overjoyed, he established his faith in Shah Behram Yazad and began to pray with grams for Shah Behram Yazad every week or whenever possible.

On the other side, the King and Queen of Iran with their daughter were relaxing in a garden. Just then a gigantic bird flew over them and dropped the necklace into the soft lap of the Princesss. When they all looked up, they say it was the SIMURGH bird of ancient legend (the great bird who raised Zal, father of Rustom Pahelvan, the hero warrior of Iran). The King now admonished his daughter thus:

"O Daughter! Mishkin’s daughter was innocent. You have falsely accused an innocent family of theft and have made them suffer in prison, what are we to do now?" (Such were the ancient Kings, they could not bear to do injustice to their subjects).

The Princess was shame-faced and apologized sincerely for her false accusations. The King had Mishkin freed immediately and brought to him, and apologised publicly to Mishkin for his error of judgement.

Mishkin said sadly, "O King, we accept your apology for this injustice, but you have already degraded my family and spoilt our name by branding us as robbers, now who will marry my daughter?"

The King and his family, seeing the truth in what Mishkin was saying, wanted to make amends. So the King agreed to marry his own son to Mishkin's daughter, after consulting with his son – the Prince of Iran and the future King. Mishkin gladly accepted.

Thus the poor woodcutter Mishkin's family was raised to becoming a part of the royal family itself, by the Grace of Dadar Ahura Mazda and Shah Behram Yazad.

Being relatives, the two families now visited each other quite often. One day they were all together at Mishkin's house, and the Queen of Iran saw that Mishkin was peeling some grams and saying the story in his mind. The Queen jokingly asked him the reason for peeling grams - "O Mishkin, WHAT are you doing? And WHY are you doing this?"

Mishkin replied: "O Queen of Iran, these grams have made us all very happy by the Grace of Dadar Ahura Mazda and Shah Behram Yazad." He then told her the whole story.

The Queen said, "O Miskhin, if there is any truth in what you are saying, please hear me. I have lost my brothers since the last 7 years, when they travelled out of Iran. I fear for their safety since the outside world is not a safe place. I promise you that if my dear brothers come back to me, I will make your story world renowned."

So the Queen and Mishkin prayed the story together, and offered the grams and sweets to Shah Behram Yazad and asked for His Divine Help for the Queen’s lost brothers to return home safely.

And by the Grace of God, the brothers came back to Iran in 3 days time and met the Queen with great brotherly love and affection. The Queen was overjoyed to see her kin, and her faith in Dadar Ahura Mazda and Shah Behram Yazad grew a thousand-fold. So she fulfilled her promise and the story was made known to her subjects in Iran as well as the rest of the world, and it was recommended to pray to Shah Behram Yazad in times of severe difficulties.

O Shah Behram Yazad! When our Parsi forefathers along with their great Fire-Priests (Dasturjees) left Iran by ship to save our sacred religion, there was a huge sea storm and their ship was about to sink. Our ancestors prayed to you, and it is only with your Divine Help that our Sacred Fire (present Fire in our Udwada Atash Behram) was saved and our Atash Behram was established in Udwada/India. You have saved us refugees from Iran in our time of great need, and helped us get sanctuary in the benevolent and great land of India, where our religion has thrived in full peace and prosperity for more than a thousand years.

So, we pray,just as the Queen's wish was fulfilled, just as Mishkin and his wife and daughter’s desires were fulfilled, just as the old man's son miraculously came to life from his death bed, just as our Parsi forefathers were miraculously saved from the sea storm and sure extinction by Your Divine Grace, similarly may all our problems and difficulties be resolved and removed. Amin, Amin, Amin.

(Here ...... offer incense and wish well for all.)

May God Almighty make all our problems and difficulties resolved and removed. May Peace be on all of the World. Amin, Amin, Amin.

* It is highly recommended that this prayer be done when you are facing a problem with no possible human solution and in times of extreme difficulties. The Divine Godly Power of Shah Behram Yazad will work miracles. Amin, Amin, Amin.

Friday, September 2, 2011

WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN

From: armin motashaw
Date: Fri, Sep 2, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Subject: WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN

                                  WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN
 
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN ALL THAT OUR ANCESTORS DID, TO SAVE THE RELIGION
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT WE OWE THIS TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT THEY LEFT THEIR ALL, TO PROTECT THE " DEEN"
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN TO PRACTISE THE "DEEN" IN ITS PRISTINE FORM- CLEAN
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT RELIGIOUS-CONVERSION IS WHAT THEY FOUGHT
 
WHY HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THE "TOLA" THAT WENT TO GERMANY CANNOT BE SOUGHT
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN TO MARRY EARLY IN THE "COUM" & HAVE CHILDREN MORE
 
WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT BY CONVERTING, WE CANNOT INCREASE OUR SCORE
 
 
 
ARMIN DUTIA MOTASHAW 


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

IS MAZDAYASNI ZARATHUSHTRI RELIGION UNIVERSAL?

IS MAZDAYASNI ZARATHUSHTRI RELIGION UNIVERSAL?
Vada Dasturji Kaikhshroo N. Dastur Meherjirana, 2005, Parsi Pukar
DO YOU KNOW WHAT RELIGION IS AND WHY ARE THERE MORE THAN ONE RELIGIONS?
The questions which we have to address are:
1. What is religion? Is it really needed in the life of the humans?
2. Why are there more than one Religions amongst humanity?
3. How come, the holy Founders of all Religions like Jesus Christ, Mohammad, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Mahavir, Krishna, Zarathushtra, universally proclaim that They have been sent by God, that They are His Messengers, that They have dialogue with Him, that They are specially inspired by Him to teach the humans a way of life, a divine Path, which leads to Him?
4. Is it reasonable to say that only one of these Religions is the True Path and others not? And that only one of them is to be "chosen"?
5. Is Zarathushtra the only Prophet of Truth?
6. How come every Religion has its own formidable list of holy Saints, Sages, Seers, Fakirs, Olias, Sufis, Dervishes, Rabais, Bhikhoos, Sadhus, Rishis, Ashavans, Saheb Delaans, Pir-e-Magans? Were all of them except Zarathushtrians away from Truth?
7. What are the criteria of choice if anyone is to 'choose' a Prophet for himself out of so many?
8. What is the meaning of universality?
9. If all Religions emanate from God and all of them lead to Him, how can just one of them be universal? Are not all Religions equally universal when their beginning and end are the same?
10. Has the intellect of man any capability to "choose” a Prophet from amongst many?
Is it easy to answer these questions? Let us try.
"Why are there more than one Religions?" This was a question asked to the great Hindu saint of 19th century Ramkrishna Paramhans (18-2-1836 - 16-8-1886). His answer was to this effect: A mother has four children. One is an athlete; he has to be given a nonvegetarian diet and proteins. Another has diarrhea; he cannot be given milk and heavy food. The third is a weakling; he is to be given moderately substantial balanced food. The fourth is a gastric; he has to avoid potato and pulses. The mother has the responsibility of maintaining her children's health by serving different food to each. Let us have another analogy. Varied patients are collected in a hospital. One has T.B., other has malaria, another one has pneumonia, fourth has mad-cow disease and the fifth has a sophisticated HIV or HPS. Each patient is treated by a specialist doctor. Some of them meet in a common hall. The T. B. patient starts praising his doctor and tells the malaria patient that he must switch to his doctor. The Malaria patient insists that his doctor is the best for all. It should be realized that each doctor is a specialist in his own field of a particular disease and may not have adequate knowledge or expertise in any other form of disease. This is the reason why Lord Krishna in Gita 3-35 says:"One's own Dharma, though imperfect is better than the dharma of other well performed. Better death in one's own dharma; the dharma of other is full of fear." (...Svadharam nidhn shrae: Pardharmo Bhaivah)
The great saint Ramkrishna Paramhans elaborates on this aspect in his masterly style:
"A professional farmer does not lose courage and continues to cultivate even if there are terrible droughts for twelve long years. But a weaver who takes to tiling for a change of occupation gets disheartened if rain fails for just one season. A true devotee does not deviate from his Path of devotion…."
Look at Lord Krishna's above passage: “Death in other Dharma is full of fear.” Why does He say so? It is like a saying amongst us: “Gujarya pachi ravan rakhdi jashe.” This is not just a colloquial saying. There are scriptural evidences to show that the Ruvan does loiter in certain circumstances.
At about five places the Gatha refers to the word "Daenaao." This is the plural of "Daenaa." Daenaa means Religion - Dharma. Gatha: Yasna Ha 31-11 proclaims that different Religions are according to the Divine Plan of Mazda. They are ordained for different groups of humanity. The undercurrent is common, but the tarikats, tenets, devotions, doctrines are different. But that difference is not meant to discriminate each other. Because Ha 34-13 declares that the Daenaao - Religions are brought by Saoshyants i.e. Prophets and Avatars of Ahura and each Din can by itself lead man to Mukti, Salvation, Nirvaan, Mokhsha, Frashogard. This is proclaimed subject to man following the commands and tarikats of his own Religion. The word used in 34-13 is "Hookeyreyt" which conveys the meaning of sticking to the Din. It also indicates ‘center’ i.e. being at the center of one's own Din.s
Ha 46-6 declares that the Paths of all Dins are against the path of druj i.e. the evil. And Ha 49-9 says every Din is a gift from Ahura leading to the breaking of the bonds of evil.
Religion is not an intellectual and argumentative exercise. Religion is a way of life to be lived on every moment of our existence on earth. It is a way leading us on the Path of God. Each Religion is God-sent and a Path towards Him. Every religion has three main phases: Knowledge, Practice and Devotion.
Knowledge is the quest for truth, an investigative divine science, which is learnt from spiritual experience in the laboratory of life.
Practice is the practical way of dealing with ourselves and our surrounding creations: animals, vegetables, minerals and humans. The banner of this practice is Armaiti: i.e. dissolution of ego; humility, love and service towards all the four creations; renouncing of all hatred; truth on the tongue; sincere attempt to avoid goonah (sins); adoption of Kerfeh ( thoughts,words and deeds as ordained by the Din) and Patet ( repentance for sins).
Devotion means divine attraction towards Daadar, Yazats, Paigamber and the Din itself. And a burning desire to walk on the Path of God and to ultimately be in union with Him.
There are a hundred references in the extant Avesta emphasizing Asho Zarathushtra’s Yazatic stature. One full Haa with 11 passages and 243 words in the Gatha are devoted to Him and depicts who HE is. Farvardin Yasht has two passages of 211 + 38 words narrating how He discharged the Divine Duties assigned to Him by Ahura Mazda and will continue to do so till Frashogard and beyond. All Avesta sings this celestial song.
One of the Duties of Asho Zarathushtra was to prepare for the advent of other great Religions and their Divine Founders. All Religions work in a Divine Brotherhood. We got the living proof of these Truths when Baheramshah Shroff (1858-1927) enlightened the Parsis on IIm-e-Khshnoom, the Divine Science, Practice, Love and Devotion of our Din.
************************************
The reformists are dying of thirst sleeping on the bank of a cool sweet spring. This description of them is given by the great Sufi Poets Rumi and Hafez. It is they who require to be awakened and revived and not the Din.
Hum Mithra at - 7 a.m. every day for Peace.

Recite: 2 Yatha Ahu Vairyo, 1 Ashem Vohu.

"Let no harm come upon the Traditional Zoroastrian flag and its values which are so dear to us. Let the reformist agenda never succeed and their nefarious plans be upturned. Let no harm befall upon Pavmahal of India that is - our Iranshah of Udwada and all Atash Behram, Atash adaran and dagah of India. The things that we value most like Holy consecrated Fire(Pavmahal), Dokhmas, Sudreh Kusti which acts as a weapon to thwart evil, and let us protect our racial traits of Parsi panu through Boonak Pasbani by not marrying outside. That is how we will be able to maintain our true Zarathosti Khandani. Let the advent of Shah Behram Varjawand and his fore runners come soon and protect us from this mess. Let my Kusti Padiav and my Tarikats be helpful to nature to fight for the cause of Righteousness against the evil negative forces of Drujis, and may it protect us all Zarathustis and entire humanity who live by religion and its tenets"

Recite: 1 Yatha Ahu Vairyo, 2 Ashem Vohu.
__._,_.___
**************************************************

Friday, July 29, 2011

POEM


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: armin motashaw
Date: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Subject: POEM


JUST THINKING ALOUD ABOUT THE FEARS.... ON THE DANGEROUS GROUNDS WE ARE TREDING
 
WHERE WILL THIS LEAD US TO...........
 
 
                                          OBSESSION
 
OBSESSION TO CONVERT & ACCEPT CONVERTS IS THE LATEST ISSUE.
 
MAY BE, WE SHOULD RESEARCH IN GENETICS - ON CLONE - TISSUE
 
OR YET, SEND MISSIONARIES TO RE-CONVERT  MUSLIM-IRAN
 
MAY BE, THAT WAY WE CAN EVEN REGAIN OUR LOST TEHRAN
 
WOULD SOMEONE TRY TO RE-CONVERT PRIYANKA & RAHUL
 
PHIROZE'S GRANDCHILDREN ALSO INCLUDE PHIROZE-VARUN
 
THEN; VARIED WILL BE OUR PARSI NAMES AND SURNAMES
 
TO BE PARSIS; SINGH, IYER, NAMWANI, WILL ALL MAKE CLAIMS
 
SNUBBED-NOSED PARSIS THERE WILL BE -  WHITE, BLACK, BROWN
 
AT A DARK-STOCKY LOOKING PARSI, THEN NO BODY WILL EVER FROWN
 
THE RACE THAT STOOD OUT SO TALL, SO DISTINCTLY WILL BE NO MORE
 
ALAS OUR GREAT ANCESTORS WILL BE REMEMBERED IN A FOLK-LORE
 
 
ARMIN DUTIA MOTASHAW
 


POEM



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: armin motashaw
Date: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Subject: POEM


                                    SELF  ANNIHILATION
 
 
WHO CAN HELP US BUT OURSELVES....  NO ONE ELSE SURELY ! !
 
 BUT TO HELP OURSELVES, WE ARE PROGRESSING VERY POORLY.
 
SELF-ANNIHILATION, KAMIKAZE, SUICIDE IS WHAT WE ARE UP TO
 
IT IS NOT AS IF WE DO NOT KNOW, WHAT WE MUST QUICKLY DO
 
HAPPEN WHAT MAY; WHO CARES....IT IS ZARTHUSHTRA'S HEADACHE
 
WHY SHOULD I SACRIFICE FOR ZARTHUSHTRA'S  OR RELIGION'S SAKE
 
 
 
WHO CAN WAKE UP OUR SLEEPY COMMUNITY, THAT CARES V. LITTLE;
 
LIKE NERO- WHEN ROME WAS BURNING, WAS COOLLY PLAYING THE FIDDLE
 
WE DO NOT BELIEVE,  LEARN OR TEACH OUR CHILDREN, RELIGIOUS TENETS
 
WE WANT TO FIGHT, ARGUE, DISAGREE & FOR THIS, FORM CHAOTIC SENATES
 
NO MARRIAGES, LATE-MARRIAGES, LOW FERTILITY, INTERFAITH MARRIAGES, RUIN US
 
ANY DOUBTS ? ? ? ARE NOT WE FULLY READY FOR SELF - ANNIHILATION,  THUS.
 
 
 
ARMIN DUTIA MOTASHAW
 Reply Reply to all Forward

POEM



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: armin motashaw
Date: Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 7:24 PM
Subject: POEM


                                    SELF  ANNIHILATION
 
 
WHO CAN HELP US BUT OURSELVES....  NO ONE ELSE SURELY ! !
 
 BUT TO HELP OURSELVES, WE ARE PROGRESSING VERY POORLY.
 
SELF-ANNIHILATION, KAMIKAZE, SUICIDE IS WHAT WE ARE UP TO
 
IT IS NOT AS IF WE DO NOT KNOW, WHAT WE MUST QUICKLY DO
 
HAPPEN WHAT MAY; WHO CARES....IT IS ZARTHUSHTRA'S HEADACHE
 
WHY SHOULD I SACRIFICE FOR ZARTHUSHTRA'S  OR RELIGION'S SAKE
 
 
 
WHO CAN WAKE UP OUR SLEEPY COMMUNITY, THAT CARES V. LITTLE;
 
LIKE NERO- WHEN ROME WAS BURNING, WAS COOLLY PLAYING THE FIDDLE
 
WE DO NOT BELIEVE,  LEARN OR TEACH OUR CHILDREN, RELIGIOUS TENETS
 
WE WANT TO FIGHT, ARGUE, DISAGREE & FOR THIS, FORM CHAOTIC SENATES
 
NO MARRIAGES, LATE-MARRIAGES, LOW FERTILITY, INTERFAITH MARRIAGES, RUIN US
 
ANY DOUBTS ? ? ? ARE NOT WE FULLY READY FOR SELF - ANNIHILATION,  THUS.
 
 
 
ARMIN DUTIA MOTASHAW


Sunday, July 3, 2011

Process of Consigning to Doongerwadi , Mumbai , from Overseas

Baname Khuda.

                                  Process of Consigning to Doongerwadi , Mumbai , from Overseas

Why Dokhmenashini.?
Importance of Dokhmenashini: Ervad notes.
Please also refer to recording by Dr.Chiniwalla on Dokhmenashini   at BPP website, linked through Zoroastrian.net
Returning the deceased for his/her last rites requires proper pre planning and teamwork   
The project needs to be broken up in smaller parts and each part needs to be executed with precision.   It is not difficult if properly planned and coordinated.  Total costs thus far have been less/compatible to burial expenses, if one person/family member is accompanying  the corpse.
This full brief is based on various personal experiences on consigning to Mumbai  from California, USA, only, and is predicated on proper planning and back up support in Mumbai.  Hopefully with this initiative, volunteers from other countries will share their process. Requirements of each county/ state/province/country differ.  It also assumes death due to natural causes only, without contagious disease.  Before deciding to consign to Doongerwadi please refer to official website of BPP at www.bombayparsipanchayat.com/doongerwadi.html  to ensure procedure/eligibility etc.
The various parts of the project are:
  1. Most important-Tarikats (spiritual disciplines) to be followed. Ervad Marzban Hathiram has kindly volunteered to guide and advise on this matter. Please contact him at marzban.hathiram@gmail.com well in advance.    
  2. Arrangements to be made immediately upon death.
  3. Documents to prepare for a) Arrival in India and Doongerewadi b) Indian embassy c) Transportation.  Clearly all these documents have to comply with US Federal and state regulations.
  4. Arrangements  to be made prior arrival of the ruvaan at Mumbai
  5. Clearing the body in Mumbai and transporting to Doongerwadi  the same day  .


1. Pre planning :
A) Identify an experienced and established mortuary .  It is a great support system to advice on latest requirements , documents  procedures, shipment  , travel rates,   and relevant website  of Indian Embassy(keeps changing) .
B )Be in touch with your family members in Mumbai and start 4 days obsequies (except Geh Sarna ) immediately upon last breath,  with your family panthak in Mumbai.  In addition, you may also carry out the same obsequies (except Geh Sarna) at place of death, if you have an access to a mobed.  Ervad Hathiram has also compiled a detailed brief on the full 4 day obsequies to be carried out. Please refer to this article at:    (Ervad please enter the address.)
C) Plan on someone to personally hand carry required  documents (listed below in 3)  to be notarized by Indian embassy in USA. Proper contact needs to be established at the embassy to save time.  With advanced planning  notarization can be done in a day.  
D) It is important to bear in mind that corpses to India can  be cleared only if embalmed .Embalming consists of removing blood from the body and injecting  formaldehyde in its place to delay rigor mortis (decomposition). Embalming adds to transshipment weight. An elegant, light coffin is necessary to limit costs. White coffins are also available.  
2. Arrangements upon death :
A) Light a diva at deceased's head and have someone pray Ashem Vohu continuously
B) Arrange for the body to be transported to mortuary immediately
C) Start four day obsequies see 1 B) above.
D) Ask mortuary to prepare body for air shipment to Mumbai .Embalm the body as soon as possible
E) If possible, apply Taro to the deceased with help of family/humdeens.
F) Prepare relevant documents.(no.3 blow)
G) Alert family members in Mumbai   see 4 below.  Also alert volunteer team detailed in 4, 5 .
I) Always double check with Doongerwadi and volunteers in 4, about all  documents required prior shipping the body from overseas. Make sure all original sets for India and place of departure are prepared.
3. Documents
Death certificate ( stating cause of death-natural cause ),embalming certificate , a certificate stating that death was not due to any contagious disease, flight schedule on airline letter head.  All documents need to be notarized by Indian embassy.Prepare seven copies of each document ,including two originals.  In addition  a no objection certificate will have to be obtained on arrival Mumbai, .See 5) Clearing the body.
4. Arrangements prior to arrival In Mumbai :A) Inform family members who should coordinate with flight details to have  Doongerwadi Hearst ready upon arrival  ,notifying bungli etc.  All Doongerwadi details, phone numbers are available on BPP website, or they can be made  available through volunteers below. .   
B) Mr.,. Mehernosh Fitter  has kindly volunteered to help in this  process. His experience , connections can be very helpful for swift, seamless clearance . If you need to contact him he can be reached at Mumbai @ 2412 2999 OR CELL 98201 57534 FAX; 2416 2886   email:  meherdel@vsnl.net.   He has received  consigned bodies at Sahar airport in the past and helped clear them with family members.  
C) M/s Kashmira Rao has kindly consented to volunteer   to help out with the coordinating process .She can be reached at Mumbai cell 91- 9833199985 e-mail: ilg@vsnl.netu
5 Clearing the body :
Since volunteers have kindly consented to take care of this detail, please advise family members to contact and thoroughly  plan the procedure with them . It involves clearing the body with customs and health department, making statements at Sahar airport police station who may ask to open the coffin and site the corpse,  making a panchnama and obtaining a no objection certificate. Police, Customs , Health, Doongerwadi all need copies of relevant documents.    It must be stressed to  family members that planning saves a lot of time  to consign to Doongerwadi .
The whole process with proper planning and coordination  takes about six days from US .
Mrs. Silloo Mehta of California has always helped out in these matters . From  US you may contact her at
949-551-5252 .
You are also welcome to get in touch with sam.billimoria@gmail.com.
Please do not impose any financial requests/obligations to any of the volunteers above.


Sunday, June 26, 2011

Patuck Polytechnic Trust::Educational Institute

You might find this article interesting and informative. 
 
Please spread the word around to let other Zarathushtis know about it, and
avail themselves of the education opportunities. 
 
50% of the seats are allocated for Parsis...However, currently only 2 Parsi
students out of a total of 3,500 students are registered. 
 
Thanks,
 
Regards,
Sam M.Billimoria


Patuck Polytechnic Trust::Educational Institute 


How many of us Parsis know that there is a reputed school and college of commerce and management in Mumbai, which provides free education to Parsi students? As a minority community institution 50% seats are reserved for Parsis.  This article is written to make our community aware of the opportunities provided by Patuck Polytechnic Trust in the field of education.


History: Late Mr. Rustomji Hormusji Patuck was the founder and sole settler of Patuck Polytechnic Trust in 1932.  He was a Parsi businessman settled in Manchester, U.K.  He was a merchant prince turned technical educationist.  He was groomed at the Manchester College of Technology.  He became a philanthropist in the cause of vocational and professional education on his return to India.  He was born on 12th November 1860 and passed away on 20th October 1936.  Rustomba Patuck as he was popularly known to his close associates started Modern Industrial School in 1934 to impart technical and vocational training in weaving and carpentry.  He ran the school in Gujarati medium, in hired premises with eight students.  He himself was the founder principal, chief instructor and caretaker all rolled into one.  He established the Trust with a corpus of Rs. 9 lakhs for the running of the Institutions managed by the Trust.  He was the preceptor of the concept of work experience and vocationalisation of technical education at the secondary and higher secondary levels.  His credo was "Work is worship".

Patuck Complex is situated at Vakola, one km. away from Chhatrapati Shivaji Domestic Airport, Mumbai off the Western Express Highway.  The road adjoining the campus is named Rustomba Patuck Marg since 17th July 2004.  It consists of its own 4-acre plot and houses the campus under its Integrated Education system viz. K.G. to P.G. (Kindergarten to PostGraduate).  Its students feature in the merit list at S.S.C., H.S.C. exams and have won laurels in various fields.  The following institutes are conducted by the Trust catering to the educational needs of over 3500 students:

1. Patuck Play School

2. Patuck Pre-Primary School (1994)

3. Patuck Primary English School (1994)

4. Patuck Technical High School (1945) and Jr. College (Science - 1982), (Vocational - 1986), & Commerce

5. Patuck Gala College of Commerce & Management (2002)

6. Yeshwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University Study Centre for Diploma course in Engineering (1998)

7. Gala Infotech Centre (2000)

8. Patuck Industrial Training Centre (1981)


Patuck Gala College of Commerce & Management was started in 2002.  It is affiliated to the University of Mumbai for teaching Commerce (B. Com.) and Management (BMS – Bachelor of Management Studies).  Dr. C. M. Sankaran Kutty is the Principal.  The Trust is starting a Law College from June 2005, and also Master of Management Studies (M.M.S.) courses shortly.

Organising Board: Mr. Adil J. Patuck, grand nephew of the founder is the chairman. Professor Rustom Kaikhushroo Mody, former Principal and Secretary, VJTI is a director. Mr. J. J. Goiporia is the Honorary Secretary. Principal K. G. K. Kurup is the administrator. Postal address is 100, Nehru Road, Vakola Bridge, Santacruz (East), Mumbai 400 055. Tel. no. 26680939, 2668 3806.

Junior College -Science (1982)


Students desirous of going for higher studies in Engineering, Medicine or Para-Medical courses and other science faculties can opt for Jr. College-Science.

1. Pure Science

2. Science with information Technology

3. Science with Vocational Subject – Computer Science or Mechanical maintenance


Junior College – Vocational (1986)

Objectives:  Govt. of India in its National Education Policy contemplated Vocational Education at plus two stage (after SSC) having minimum competencies in various fields. On completion of these two-year courses as vocational technicians with NCERT certificate, the trainees directly enter the world of work. Patuck has several courses in which well-qualified teachers in its own well-equipped laboratories and workshops impart training.

Special Features:   (1) On the Job Training of six weeks compulsory.  (2) Computer Awareness is an added competency.  (3) Received National Award for School Industry Linkage in 1998 from NCERT, Govt. of India.


A. Accounting and Auditing

Subjects: English, Hindi, Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Auditing.

Job Opportunities: Accounts assistant, Cashier, Ledger clerk, Audit clerk, Audit assistant. Can render services independently on accounting activities as self employed in any of these jobs.

B. Auto Engineering Technician

Subjects: English, Hindi, Mechanical Technology, Auto and Diesel Cycle, Engineering Drawing, Garage Management & Motor Vehicle rules.

Job Opportunities: Auto mechanic, Service mechanic, Vehicle surveyor and loss assessor, driver, auto fitter.

C. Building Maintenance

Subjects: English, Hindi, Construction technology, Estimating and costing, Construction management and accounts, Building yard practice.

Job opportunities: Supervisor, contractor, plumber, consultant for maintenance, entrepreneurship.

D. Electronics Technology

Subjects: English, Hindi, Basic electricity materials, Basic electronics, Applied electronics, Electronic instrumentation, Consumer electronics, Industrial electronics & Line Communication.

Job opportunities: Maintenance and repair of electronic equipment, sales and service centre for electronic equipment, manufacture of electronic equipment, mobile service centre for sales and service in rural areas.

E. Maintenance and repair of electrical domestic appliances

Subjects: English, Hindi, Material and workshop practice, Domestic appliances, Elements of electrical technology.

Job opportunities: Manufacture, testing, repair, selling domestic appliances. Dealership / Agency, repair shop of electrical domestic appliances.

F. Mechanical technology

Subjects: English, Hindi, Mechanical technology, Engineering Drawing, Operation and Maintenance of machine tools, Engineering science.

Job opportunities: Skilled worker in turning, fitting, welding, chargeman supervisor, instructor.

G. Medical Laboratory Technician

Subjects: Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, clinical biochemistry, microbiology and parasitology, clinical pathology and haematology, Blood Bank, Histo technology, Laboratory management and ethics.

Job opportunities: Laboratory technician in colleges, hospitals, pharma labs, health centres. Self employment as distributor for lab chemicals, wares, equipment and spare parts.

H. Tourism and Travel Techniques

Subjects: Introduction to tourism, Heritage of India, Economics and geography of tourism, transport, hospitality industry and business communication, travel agency operations.

Job opportunities: Tour organiser, tour operator, travel counsellor, transporters, tourist cars, buses, Pilgrimage tour organisers.


At present only two Parsi students are availing of this golden opportunity. It is hoped that more and more Parsi students become aware and take advantage of this renowned institution.