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The Yezidis of Kurdistan
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Wadia Group: Two centuries and beyond
The group’s journey began in 1736 when Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia set up a marine construction company, which went on to build 355 ships including the first ships constructed for the British navy outside England. In 1879, the Wadias set up Bombay Dyeing, which went on to become the group’s most popular brand. Around 1913, the Wadia Group acquired BBTC. After independence, it entered businesses including chemicals, engineering services, lamination and precision springs. In 1952, Neville Wadia, the father of present-day chairman Nusli Wadia, joined the business after the demise of his father Ness Wadia. Twenty-five years later, in 1977, Nusli Wadia entered the business.
Click Here to read more
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Contribution of Parsis to Chennai
A seamless part of the fabric that is Madras
Deepa H. Ramakrishnan, The Hindu, August 21, 2014
Trade with the East India Company, government service and Partition brought people from various communities to the city of Madras.
This city received everybody with open arms, so much so that it is called vandharai vaazha vaikkum ooru (a city that helps visitors too to thrive).
“The first man to come to Madras was Beri Thimmappa, who was from Telugu-speaking country. He was the one who helped the British strike the deal with the Nayaks. The Telugu community has grown since then and presently, we have about 25 lakh Telugus in the city,” says historian Sriram V.
The many Sindhis and Punjabis who came here during Partition in 1947 (there were small numbers of both communities living in the city even before that), Parsis who came to Madras in the early 1800s, the Gujaratis who came here in the early 1700s along with the Marathas from Tanjore, Bengalis who came here to be part of government service, the Jains who came in the 1840s and lent money to the East India Company — all of them made Madras their home.
They learnt Tamil, built places of worship, schools and colleges, established businesses and gave gainful employment to locals.
The tiny Parsi community too contributed in building the Madras that is Chennai now.
Zarin Mistry, secretary, Madras Parsi Association, and daughter of M.M. Cooper, who was professor of anatomy at Madras Medical College, says, everybody — from J.H. Taraporewala, who was in the construction business, and D.B. Madan, a shipping magnate, to Clubwala Jadav, who founded the Guild of Service — has contributed to the city.
Those who came to the city also fell in love with this place as it grew and became cosmopolitan.
Just as the visitor in ‘The Madras Song’ — presented by Murugappa Group in association with The Hindu — Amandeep Singh Kandhari, a Punjabi who runs a tyre business, says that he too has his own favourite spots and loves the city.
“From a kulfi seller in Triplicane to a place that sells fantastic chaat in Sowcarpet, to theatres that I prefer to watch movies in, I have my favourites,” he says.
Ramesh Lamba, general secretary of Punjab Association, says that when refugees started coming to the city, the Punjabi families in Madras took care of them.
“The local people and the State government were very kind to us. About 30,000 people from Punjab and Sindh provinces had to be clothed and fed. But within a matter of 6-7 years, all of them set up businesses here and became a part of the State,” he says.
Amarlal G. Rohira, a Sindhi who has been in the city since the 60s, says that the very first thing the community did was to construct a temple.
“Our temple has images of all Hindu gods and goddesses. This is our way of mingling with the society that welcomed us,” he says.
The Malayalees, who have a strong 10 lakh population in the city, have been here for a long time too.
“The Malayalee Club in Chetpet is 117 years old, and one of the oldest Malayalee associations in the world. We try to organise programmes where Tamil culture is also included. The government of Kerala recently launched a programme where non-Malayalees are taught Malayalam,” M. Nanda Govind, president of the club.
Mr. Porus Wadia writes further………
Dear Editor,
The Hindu.
As Chennai celebrates its 375th anniversary, I wish to draw your attention to the connection Porbandar ( birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi ) and the Parsi community has with the city of Chennai.
The M&SM Railway building – now known as the Southern Railway Headquarters building was built of Porbandar stone by the Wadia family of Porbandar. It was my grandfather Rajaratna Mr. Manchershaw Wadia who bid for the contract to build this edifice and together with his brothers executed the project. I have a photo of the Porbandar building stone being tested in Madras for its tensile strength.
Following are the details –
H. H. Wadia & Bros, founded by Hormusji Hirjibhoy Wadia, were the pioneers in quarrying Porbandar stone and later played an important role in popularising its use in many parts of the country. When this small, unknown firm bid for the contract to construct the M&SM Railway building in faraway Madras (presently the Southern Railway Headquarters, Chennai) they must have surely faced ridicule. How they bagged the contract and successfully completed it, as also just escaped bankruptcy due to the innate fairplay of the British are tales by themselves.
Hormusji, the natural leader, and younger brother Manchershaw, a competent builder and meticulous organiser, camped in Madras for almost a decade from 1913 to 1922. They took along their team of skilled masons from Porbandar under the leadership of master mason Pitambar Hira.
The foundation stone was laid by Lord Pentland, Governor of Madras on 8th February, 1915, and the offices were formally inaugurated on 11th December,1922 by Lady Willingdon, wife of the Viceroy. The majestic edifice is constructed with Porbandar stone which was transported for 8 years via sea to Kerala and then by rail to Madras. The building stands as a living tribute to the entreprenaurial traits of our family.
Hormusji Wadia Manchershaw Wadia Southern Railway Headquarters
Regards.
Mr. Porus Wadia,
Parvandah, Wadia Road, Porbandar 360575
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Jamsetji Tata’s residence wins Unesco honour for restoration
Heritage Fort Building Restored Over 13 Years
Built in 1885, Esplanade House, the grand private residence of industrialist Jamsetji Tata, gradually fell to seed over the decades. However, its fortunes turned after a period of neglect. As funds streamed in over a period of 13 years, the crumbling three-storey edifice located in the Fort area was restored to its former grandeur.
It was reward enough for its owners, but the icing on the cake came on Tuesday . The restoration of Esplanade House won an Honourable Mention at the 2014 Unesco Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Located opposite Bombay Gymkhana, this listed heritage building now houses the headquarters of the RD Sethna Scholarship Fund which owns the building. The upper storeys have been leased out to private companies as office space.
Bella Jaisinghani
Mumbai:
Read the full story at
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M&SM Railway building by the Wadia Family of Porbandar.
The PALATIAL M&SM Railway building – now known as the Southern Railway Headquarters building was built of Porbandar stone by the Wadia Family of Porbandar.
As Madras celebrates its 375th anniversary, I wish to draw your attention to the connection Porbandar and the Parsi community has with the city of Madras.
The M&SM Railway building – now known as the Southern Railway Headquarters building was built of Porbandar stone by the Wadia family of Porbandar.
Mr. Manchershaw Wadia who bid for the contract to build this edifice and together with his brothers executed the project. I have a photo of the Porbandar building stone being tested in Madras for its tensile strength.
Following are the details –
- H. Wadia Bros, founded by Hormusji Hirjibhoy Wadia, were the pioneers in quarrying Porbandar stone and later played an important role in popularising its use in many parts of the country. When this small, unknown firm bid for the contract to construct the M&SM Railway building in faraway Madras (presently the Southern Railway Headquarters, at Madras) they must have surely faced an uphill task.
How they bagged the contract and successfully completed it, as also just escaped bankruptcy due to the innate fair-play of the British are tales by themselves.
Hormusji, the natural leader, and younger brother Manchershaw, a competent builder and meticulous organiser, camped in Madras for almost a decade from 1913 to 1922. They took along their team of skilled masons from Porbandar under the leadership of master mason Pitambar Hira.
The foundation stone was laid by Lord Pentland, Governor of Madras on 8th February, 1915, and the offices were formally inaugurated on 11th December,1922 by Lady Willingdon, wife of the Viceroy. The majestic edifice is constructed with Porbandar stone which was transported for 8 years via sea to Kerala and then by rail to Madras. The building stands as a living tribute to the entrepreneurial traits of the INDUSTRIOUS PARSIS OF THE PAST WHO WERE DEVOUT PARSIS AND PRACTICED OUR RELIGION AS PER THE LAWS OF OUR RELIGION .
![[Southern Railway headquarters, Chennai]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/m/Southern_Railway_HQ_m.jpg "Southern Railway headquarters, Chennai")
Southern Railway headquarters, Chennai
Hormusji Wadia Manchershaw Wadia Southern Railway Headquarters
Courtesy : Hushang Vakil
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Marzban Colony in Agripada, south Mumbai, gets a new lease on life
The story of ‘The Lal Chimney Compound’ begins in the 19th century, with Mancherji Marzban, who was a many-splendoured man. In 1892, he was elected to become an Executive Engineer of the Bombay Municipal Corporation over many competitors, including a European—quite a victory for a ‘native’ at the time! He sprang to many glories, including receiving the stately title of Khan Bahadur.
Marzban helped build many significant civic buildings in his lifetime. But what has gotten us talking today is his charitable work for the Parsis, particularly the Garib Zarthosti Rehethan Fund (Poor Zoroastrian Building Fund) that he created. From this fund were built two of south Mumbai’s lesser-known Parsi colonies, both called Marzban Colony—one in Gilder Lane, off Lamington Road and the other one in Agripada. Sadly, the former has unravelled with the vagaries of time. But the Marzban Colony in Agripada has had better luck.
Click Here for more
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Ashem Vohu
This ninth- or 10th-century Sogdian manuscript from Dunhuang, China, contains a version of one of the holiest Zoroastrian prayers: the Ashem Vohu, composed originally in the Avestan (old Iranian) language.
Enlarged image Zoomable high-resolution image
Zoroastrian prayer, the Ashem Vohu
British Library Or. 8212/84 (Ch.00289)
Copyright © The British Library Board
What is Zoroastrianism?
Zoroastrianism, the religion of the ancient Iranians, is named after Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek sources) whose songs (Gathas) are thought to have been composed 1500-1000 BC. Zoroastrianism teaches the importance of good thoughts, words, and actions, in a world where the forces of the all-knowing lord, Ahura Mazda, are constantly opposed by those of the evil spirit, Angra Mainyu.
What are the Avesta?
Zoroastrianism in Central Asia
Who were the Sogdians?
Why is this manuscript so important?
How was the manuscript discovered?
What does this fragment show?
Click Here for the answers from the British Library
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War Memorial
The year 2014 is being celebrated as the Centenary year of the commencement of WW I and towards this end the British HC in India along with MEA, represented by the United Services Institution, New Delhi, is planning to digitalise as much information that they can on the contribution made by Indians in this war effort.
They were surprised when I informed them that the OLDEST (1926) and the ONLY War Memorial (other than the one at India Gate, New Delhi) established by the civilians, is the one built by the Parsis, inscribed with the 46 names of those of their community who sacrificed their lives in WW I. This cenatoph stands at the Khareghat Colony, Hughes Road, Mumbai. Please see the attached photograph. Next to the main structure stands a smaller memorial built later by the BPP in memory of those who lost their lives in WW II & the subsequent Indo-Pak wars.
The very next day a crew from their production department was sent to Mumbai to photograph the monument & get more information on it. They are very interested in collecting and collating more information on the involvement of Parsis in WW I.
Through this mail I request you and all addressees to send me as much information that you may have on this count, by way of letters, pictures, medals etc, etc, which I can pass on to the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research or you may send it directly to cafhr@gmail.com with a cc to me.
Incidently, every year on All-Souls Day as per our Zoroastrian calender (Farvedin Month & Fervadin Day) which was on 5th Sep this year 2014, a wreath laying ceremony is held with a bugler in attendance playing the Last Post & the Reveille. A photograph taken at the venue this year is also attached.
Fond regards,
Commodore Medioma Bhada
E mail: mrbhada@gmail.com
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How Tata gave India its first airline
Decades before the mudflats of Juhu were in the news for housing Bollywood celebrities, they made history with the landing of India’s first commercial airline—Tata Airlines. It was on 15 October 1932 that the enterprising 29-year-old Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (JRD), landed his de Havilland DH 80A Puss Moth aircraft there, on the inaugural flight of India’s first scheduled air-mail service from Karachi to Bombay.
The plane had been shipped from England to South Bombay’s Alexandra Docks. There, JRD’s friend, industrialist Nusserwanjee Guzder, had the dismantled airplane transported to the Juhu Flying Club, where it was painstakingly reassembled.
Tata’s landing that day was the culmination of a schoolboy fixation with flying that began in France. He spent his formative years at his father Ratanji’s seaside cottage in Normandy. A little along the beach lived the dashing French pilot Louis Blériot—the first man to fly across the English Channel. Blériot’s daredevil adventures captivated the young JRD; from that point on, all he wanted to do was fly.
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Review of Parsi Zoroastrians: From Persia to Akbar’s Court
This exhibit is a journey through Zoroastrian history from its origins to present day. Dr. Shernaz Cama and Vanshika Singh, the site creators, put a great deal of thought into its content and design. The white text and black background presents material in a polished, easy to read manner. The contrasts of bright colors against the black along with the unique topic are what attracted me to it.
The main aspect I love about this display is how it engages multiple senses keeping the viewer curious to learn more. From a visual standpoint, the featured stained glass window is stunning. All of the images selected support the informative, yet succinct narrative. The photographs are a mix of people, artwork, historical sites, and items that link past and present very effectively. Sound clips and videos further immerse one into the Zoroastrian world. The folk song and prayers performed by a variety of people bond the subject and audience through the timeless language of music.
I am a proponent of needing to share history in a relatable fashion. This prevents it from becoming boring or a distant thing that happened long ago. The careful construction of the collection content does a great job of connecting with the broad Internet audience invited to view it. While educating on the unique practices and story of Zoroastrians, cultural bridges are built through things like oral traditions of sharing origins and myths, angels, celebrations, and man’s endless spiritual struggle with good and evil. A postage stamp featuring the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient bill of rights, is an ingenious artifact used to show how certain ideas are universal and eternal. The selection of pieces including fire, a recognizable emblem for many faiths, joins the lesser-known religion with more mainstream ones. Lore and etiological myths[1] are artfully intertwined through the narrative. These are just a few examples that really stood out to me as successful ways to help people gain a greater understanding of Zoroastrianism based on personal experiences and knowledge possessed before exploring the site.
Overall, this exhibit provides an educational and entertaining way to learn the story of a religion not frequently highlighted in Western curricula.
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The Steamer commissioned by Ludvig Noble was named “ZOROASTER”
These days Alfred Noble is in news. You probably did not know that the world’s first Bessemer steel ship was named “ZOROASTER”.
Zoroaster was the world’s first Bessemer steel ship and got its name from the fire worshippers’ prophet Zarathustra, which also became the Branobel’s company symbol.
The article provides very interesting information. Some of ships built were named Buddha, Brahma, Mohammed, Sokrates, Darwin, etc.
The steamer was christened, Zoroaster, after the fire worshippers’ prophet, Zarathustra, who was also to become Branobel’s company symbol.
The religion of the Zoroasters was fashionable and many Europeans were interested in it.
Interesting article.
The transport of oil on the waterways from Baku to the market in Europe required fresh ideas. With his experiences of building tankers for the Russian navy, Ludvig Nobel became the first person to design and order a tanker built of steel. In 1877, an order was placed at Motala works’ shipyards in Norrköping. The vessel was named Zoroaster, after the Iranian philosopher, Zarathustra, whose theses were very popular among Europeans of the time.
Framroze K Patel
Certified Public Accountant
Chartered Global Management Accountant (UK)
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The traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid
Traditional healing
This article studies the heritage of the traditional hadvaid in the Parsi-Zoroastrian community and shows how this tradition pre-dates what the world today knows as chiropractic. The article concludes with some interesting, first-hand anecdotes and a background on two of the famed and perhaps the greatest exponents of the Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid tradition.
The traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid – a historical perspective
Dr. Kayomarz Patel
NAMAH | Volume 21 | Issue 3 | 15th October 2013
http://www.namahjournal.com/doc/Actual/Hadvaid-a-historical-perspective-vol-21-issu-2.html.
Parsi community
Introduction
“In numbers, Parsis are beneath contempt, but in contribution, beyond compare … (1)”
The traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid is a shining example of this immortal quote with reference to the minuscule Parsi Zoroastrian community, made by none other than Mahatma Gandhi in one of his speeches, way back in 1924.
Very similar to a chiropractor, the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaidis a chiropractic healer who is gifted or skilled in the art and science of manipulative therapy to treat disorders pertaining to the bones and nerves in the human body. It would be safe to say that a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid is a non-DC (Doctor of Chiropractic)-designated chiropractor.
Tracing the hadvaid tradition right from the pre-Gāthic1 times of the Prophet, Spitaman Asho Zarathushtra who propounded Zoroastrianism in ancient Persia or what’s today’s Iran and parts of Russia, the article explains how this tradition evolved since the early/late 19th century in India in the minuscule Parsi-Zoroastrian community.
In trying to provide a historical perspective on the same, the author also tries to trace the origin of the term hadvaid and bring out many of the similarities between the traditional hadvaid and the professionally qualified DC of today.
Perhaps the earliest known record of the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrianhadvaid may well have been the founder of Zoroastrianism, the Prophet, Asho Zarathushtra. Legend has it that it was only Asho Zarathushtra who, through the power of manthravani or prayer and touch, was able to miraculously cure the favourite horse of King Vishtaspa of some mysterious illness that had caused it to simply collapse.
Hadvaid
Literally translated from Gujarati, the mother-tongue of the Parsi-Zoroastrians in India, it means a “bone-doctor” (Had = bone and vaid = ‘doctor’). Another anglicised name by which the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid is also known is ‘bonesetter’.
A hadvaid is primarily a ‘gifted’ chiropractic healer, skilled in the ‘art’ of bone-setting, who through his highly evolved sense of touch, is able to diagnose and cure disorders pertaining to the bones and the nerves of a human body without surgery, very much how a classical chiropractor does. Like a chiropractor, a hadvaid too sets, adjusts or manipulates the joints or the vertebrae in the spine to set right a disorder, using his hands or his foot (for spinal manipulations).
The traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid relies on a highly developed sense of touch. Relying on the evidence of his ‘touch’ and ‘feel’, thehadvaid palpates the muscles and ligaments of the patient to understand the problem and uses manipulation to set bones into position or heal fractures. In the case of some hadvaids, this may be followed by massage therapy where indicated or even anti-inflammatory applications of poultices or laeps as is the case with some hadvaidss even today.
Earlier, hadvaidss did not depend too much on oral medicines. But as they evolved, some began to supplement their treatment with time-tested oils, balms and homeopathic or AAyurvedic medicines.
Depending on individual circumstances, a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrianhadvaid may treat patients afflicted with spinal disorders such as back pain, lumbago, sciatica, spondolysis, slipped disc, etc. or conditions like rheumatism, arthritis or maybe even some types of dislocations / fractures and in rare cases, even paralysis or polio. The hadvaid’s’s success rate — as many of the beneficiaries of a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid’s’s services would testify — is rather high.
So, to put the work of the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid in proper perspective in the 21st century, he is essentially what the world today knows as a chiropractor.
What is chiropractic?
In 2005, The World Health Organisation (WHO), in its Guidelines on Chiropractic,(2) defined it as:
D.D. Palmer
“A health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. There is an emphasis on manual techniques, including joint-adjustment and/or manipulation with a particular focus on subluxations.”
Before the WHO came up with this definition for chiropractic, the dictionary definition of chiropractic, approved by the assembly of theWorld Federation of Chiropractic (3), the Chiropractic profession’s global governing body convened at Auckland, New Zealand on May 19, 1999 defined chiropractic as follows:
“A health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal manipulation or adjustment.”
Thus it will be seen from the above definitions of modern-day chiropractic, that ‘manual adjustment’ or manipulation of the joints or the spine form the crux of chiropractic which is essentially what a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid does.
Therefore, it would not be incorrect to state that the practice of a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid, in many ways closely resembles that of a chiropractor in that both use similar techniques of manual adjustment/manipulation to treat specific disorders of the bones/nerves of the human body.
History of chiropractic
Modern-day chiropractic originated in 1895 in the USA. The term ‘chiropractic’ was coined by D.D. Palmer, who was born in Canada and who later migrated to the US. He is widely regarded as the founder of modern chiropractic. The adjustments which he called ‘hand treatments’ led him to derive the term ‘chiropractic’- from the Greek words, cheiros= ‘hand‘ and practic = ‘the practice or operation of‘.
Today’s chiropractors, especially in developed countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe, are designated as DC or Doctor of Chiropractic after ‘studying’ to become a chiropractor at accredited chiropractic college.
However, it is interesting and important to note that the founder of chiropractic was himself not a DC.
So in that sense, while a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid is, like Palmer, a chiropractor, he need not necessarily be a DC. Similarly, a duly trained, traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid is also skilled at performing manual adjustments or manipulations of the joints, just like a DC.
“The practice of chiropractic includes a moral obligation and a religious duty”,
wrote Palmer (4) in his book, The Chiropractor. This shows the nobility of the profession as envisaged by its founder, traces of which are still evident in the practice of the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid.
But since its inception in 1895, over the last century and more, chiropractic, as envisaged by Palmer and as it exists today with all its advancements and regulations, has undergone a sea-change with commercial consideration and regulation of the profession becoming the cornerstones of a chiropractic practice whereas the practice of the traditional Parsi Zoroastrian hadvaid by virtue of its simplicity, its charitable outlook, its competence and safety may be described as being more aligned to Palmer’s philosophy of chiropractic.
Following the period of apprenticeship that a hadvaid goes through (which in most cases would be the equivalent of or perhaps even more than the chiropractic degree courses in many chiropractic colleges) means that he would, in most cases, be as skilled as – if not more – than a qualified DC. To clarify, this is not to suggest that a traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid might, in any way, be superior to a DC or vice-versa. Both have an important and unique role to play. Both do wonderful work in relieving patients of pain without surgery. Like the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid, there are several instances of DCs too giving of their time and effort to serve society at large.
It is about time the recently formed Indian Association of Chiropractic Doctors, which does not have a single indigenous chiropractor as its member (their current membership comprises mainly foreigners or foreign-educated Indian DCs), recognised the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaidss as the first chiropractors in India and admited them as members. Thus, at least in an Indian context, the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid and the chiropractor would be treated at par and be able to work in a unified manner.
Indian chiropractic
History of hadvaid
Unfortunately, no documented records exist for the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid in India. The tradition has continued by way of a teacher training his disciple by word, action and life. But it would be correct to assume that the tradition of the Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaidwould pre-date 1895, i.e. the year recorded in history as the beginning of chiropractic. And the legend of Asho Zarathushtra would only serve to add to its credibility.
A study of the evolution of the hadvaid tradition within the rapidly declining micro-minority Parsi community (its global population is estimated to be well under 100,000) conducted over the past few years as part of the PARZOR (PAR = Parsi; ZOR = Zoroastrian) Research Project funded by the UNESCO has yielded some interesting insights (5).
There are some unique characteristics of the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid tracing back to the mid-20th Century that bear mentioning. One is that almost all of them originated from or around south Gujarat, i.e. the region between Valsad (earlier Bulsar) and Ahmedabad. Secondly and perhaps the more important features of the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaidss are their efficacy, affordability of the treatment and the success-rate.
By and large, the aspect of charity or community service is in some ways intertwined with the practice of some of the traditional Parsi Zoroastrian hadvaidss – more in line with Palmer’s philosophy of chiropractic.
The ‘kick’ that cures
Before orthopaedists and physiotherapists became a part of the routine medical dictionary, the Parsi-Zoroastrians relied, along with many others, on the ‘kick’ that cured for ailments of the spine.
The kick is a method of performing a spinal adjustment or manipulation where, instead of hands/fingers, the hadvaid uses his foot. This method is almost an art form and is a unique and distinct feature of the Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid tradition. Today, there is only one – yes, just one – Parsi Zoroastrian chiropractic healer in the world who practises chiropractic in a purely honorary capacity and uses this highly efficacious method to perform a spinal manipulation with his leg.
The technique of the ‘kick’ employed by the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrianhadvaid may find comparison in chiropractic in the term,
“long-lever, high-velocity spinal manipulation (6)”.
Ailments of the spine
The kick is based on the principles of leverage and ‘range-of-motion’.
It may be described as a method of spinal manipulation in which the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid places his foot on or around the hip of the patient lying down on the floor, on each side at a time to stretch or loosen several vertebrae with a forceful, high-velocity thrust that stretches the spinal column beyond its normal range of movement in order to increase its mobility. This form of spinal manipulation is usually accompanied by an audible sound like a pop or a click or a series of similar-sounding pops and clicks. The whole procedure lasts for less than 30–45 seconds, with the actual act of ‘kicking’, less than 5 seconds each.
While ‘kicking’ a patient, the skill of the traditional Parsi-Zoroastrian hadvaid lies in correctly applying the principle of leverage, placing his foot and judging the right degree of force in the thrust. Even the decision on whether or not a particular patient is suitable to be administered the kick is a critical one. For, at times, success may lie in declining to kick the patient.
While the whole process of kicking the patient appears to be deceptively simple — it is not. In fact, it requires huge skill and calls for intense concentration and an extremely high degree of precision and accuracy on the part of the hadvaid every time he kicks a patient.
Generally a kick is not repeated on the same side of the patient once it has been delivered. So it is important for the patient and the hadvaidto be in sync with each other and for the patient to have faith in thehadvaid. Remember that the hadvaid has just one go. So it is important that he gets it right the first time round itself. There is simply no margin for error.
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List and detailed biography of great women of ancient Persia
Dear Friends, 
If you have not seen this before, here is a very impressive site detailing the lives and achievements of great women of ancient Zoroastrian Persia. A must read. While there you may look at the entire Website called MANI, for I am sure all Zoroastrians will find it a very interesting website
http://www.persepolis.nu/queens.htm
Rusi Sorabji
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Qissa-e-Parsi: The Parsi Story
Qissa-e-Parsi: The Parsi Story.
FYI … A film by Ketatun’s nephew Zal Cowasji’s daughter Divya ….
A high-res link to Divya and her colleague, Shilpi’s film on the Parsis, commissioned by the Ministry of External Affairs, and produced by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust of India (PSBT), is now available at
For those of you interested in watching it, hope you enjoy it.
Courtesy : Tehemton B Adenwalla
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Shahnameh in pop-up book form
Parsees will love this ! The Shahnameh retold in pop-up book form. It is the first time any Iranian story will be told in this way.
With a desire to introduce the children and grandchildren of Iranian’s to their rich cultural heritage, Rahmanian has teamed up with the award-winning paper engineerSimon Arizpe, a senior paper engineer at Robert Sabuda Studio and founding member of The American Design Club, to create the first in what will hopefully be a series of stories, starting off with Zahhak: The Legend of the Serpent King.
Courtesy : Tusna Park
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Kavasji Jamshedji Petigara: An Extraordinary Policeman
The life size marble statue of Ex. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Khan Bahadur Kavasji Jamshedji Petigara, C.I.E., O.B.E., I.S.O., J.P. I.P. is located near the Framji 
Cowasji Institute at Dhobi Talao in Mumbai. The statue was unveiled by Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyer, Dewan of Travancore near Faramji Cowasji Institute, Dhobitalao, Bombnay, on 8th June 1940, when an Armed Police Contingent, presented A Guard of Honour. The Viceroy of India, & The Governor of Bombay, praised his wisdom, popularity & eagerness to do his duty & his Gallantry, and Meritorious Services rendered by him for many years fighting Crime at Bombay.
Then Commissioner of Police of Bombay spoke about, and recorded his utmost Loyalty & Dedication towards his Senior Officers.
He was given The Title of Khan Saheb in 1912. In 1916 he was bestowed the Title of Khan Bahadur for his highest acts of bravery. He also earned, I.S.O. Imperial service Order in 1926, O.B.E. Order of The British Empire, in 1931, C.I.E. in 1933, and KING’S POLICE MEDAL, IN 1934.
He was a True Parsi in every sense of the word, was very religious and was a regular worshiper at our Parsi Fire Temples and our Atesh Behrams. Though he was Tough by nature but he was very kind hearted and took Great Care of the Officers and the Sepoys (street cops) that served under him. He was well known for his personal charities to the poor and the needy, and to the families of the crime victims. So today let us Salute this Great Soul, who has made our Parsi Community Proud, as it is time to celebrate his Birth Anniversary on November 24th.
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We must recognise the contributions of our minorities
A sense of belonging: ‘We must recognise the contributions of our minorities’
The Parsi community in Karachi has always been small, but it has gifted an unmistakable legacy to the city. They have left their mark on the metropolis, especially in its older parts, with their contributions ranging from education, with formidable establishments such as Mama Parsi Girls Secondary School, BVS Parsi School and NED University, to healthcare, encompassing institutions such as Lady Dufferin Hospital, Spencer Eye Hospital, the Goolbai maternity homes and the Dinshaw Dispensary. The Metropole Hotel, though past its day, has long been a Karachi reference point and the Jehangir Kothari Parade in Clifton is a distinctive landmark. Yet the community’s generosity often goes overlooked by the city’s inhabitants.
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The story of Udvada
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The first boat, led by their High Priest, landed in Sanjan after a terrible storm around 720 AD. During the storm at sea, the Persians vowed to build a fire temple which they consecrated from 16 different sources such as a brick-maker’s kiln, a goldsmith’s fire, a baker’s oven, a shepherd’s house, a king’s house and a bolt of lightening.
It took three years to purify this fire, and after that it was placed in the Sanjan Fire temple, where it burned for 669 years, till the Mughals under Sultan Mahmud attacked Sanjan in the 13th century. 1,400 Parsis fought with the King’s army but were defeated. The sacred fire was then taken to Barhot Caves in the mountains and hidden there for 12 years. It was also tended to in the jungles of Vansda for 14 years, then in Navsari for 313 years, 3 years in Surat, back in Navsari for 5 years, then in Valsad for 1 year, until it reached Udvada in 1742.
This fire burns brightly and continuously in the Iranshah in Udvada from then until the present day although now the Parsi number a little over 64,000. Most go back to the little village of Udvada almost every year, to give thanks to the Holy Fire in coastal Gujarat where it all started almost 1,300 years ago.
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2014-11-24/Udvada-Where-Parsi-faith-burns-brightest-117932 for more
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A blow that ended an international career
The incident happened 52 years before Phil Hughes was delivered a sickening blow on his helmet in Sydney on Tuesday.“We were all frightened and shocked,” said Chandu Borde, recalling the moment when Nari Contractor went down after ducking into a short-pitched delivery from West Indies’ Charlie Griffith.
The year was 1962 and India was taking on host Barbados in a practice game ahead of the third Test. The left-handed Contractor, the Indian captain, was struck a severe blow in the area close to his right ear.
“Those were days when there were no helmets, no restriction on the number of bouncers in an over and no restrictions on beamers either. The pitches were uncovered. But it was the same for everyone then and we were prepared for the challenge. No complaints,” said Contractor to The Hindu on Tuesday.
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Rustompura,Nanpura & Farampura
That’s how Rustompura,Nanpura & Farampura got created…
Courtesy : Jehangir Bisney
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