The Parsis of Jhansi
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This web site is dedicated to my |
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This site is to record the History of the Zoroastrians / Parsees in Jhansi
Jhansi, the town where we were bought up, holds a special charm that probably can only be felt, by those who have lived in Jhansi. We are a unique breed who is always ready for fun, laughter, a challenge, willing to assist anyone anytime & to enjoy life.
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Jhansi is situated almost in the middle of India. The area is close to Datia and Gwalior and other principalities like Orcha, Lalitpur, Banda, Bina & Shivpuri surrounding it. The landscape is rough and hard with very fertile land around, where the river tributaries have flown by. The vegetables and fruits grown here are very tasty & popular else where in India.
Jhansi is a growing metropolis, the area being called Bundelkhand, after the Bundella warrior kings that ruled here for long. If you look at the map it is the land mass protruding from modern Uttar Pradesh into Madhya Pradesh.
Historically it has been an important area, but overshadowed by the more popularly historically famous places like Agra, Gwalior & Delhi. Being on the crossroads of trade and commerce, Jhansi was home to skilled craftsmen & traders. Not much is recorded of this area in earlier times. Of course to everyone in India, the mention of the word Jhansi brings to mind, the line Oh Woh "Jhansi ki Rani" (Oh - that Queen of Jhansi ) the brave young woman who fought the mighty British army of the East India Company in 1857/58 & fought so valiantly & fiercely, that history and people even today, remember her fondly with pride, 150 + years later.
Entering the strata of what they call in the native Bundelkhandi dialect as "Missal" an example a lady of courage who fought for her adopted young son, her kingdom & her peoples rights, setting an example in raw courage, rarely observed in history and has made a name for herself, linking her Jhansi to it, for posterity.
There are many other people who have followed her and made Jhansi proud of them, people like Rashtriya kavi (National poet) Shree Mathlisharan Gupt, the 1940's hockey wizards Roop Chand & Dhan Chand and his son Ashok Kumar in the 1970's and many more.
Other little-known facts of Jhansi:
- Chandra Shekhar Azad the militant Indian revolutionary, (a close colleague of Sardar Bhagat Singh) in the 1940's when hiding from the British, intermingled with the populace of Jhansi, worked, as an assistant to a motor mechanic for months undercover, unnoticed & then left Jhansi.
- Historically the warrior like people resisted aggressors and people like Chatrasal, Durgavati, Raghunath Rao and in modern times the famous dacoit queen Phoolan Devi, later a politician are all from this area.
- Incidentally Jhansi is the place where the renowned famous British lady aviator Amy Johnson, landed during her solo flight on 11 May 1930. She was the first women aviator to fly solo from Britain to Australia departing from Croydon UK on 5 May 1930 flying all alone, without any navigational support to Darwin in Australia where she landed on 24 May 1930. She made landings in various cities on the way, before landing in Karachi, Pakistan (at that time a part of India) then on to Jhansi, where she landed on 11 May 1930.
- Not many people even know of this event in Jhansi & not one person in Jhansi has ever mentioned this to me, to date. She did not stay long, was probably only a fuel stop & short rest, as she landed in Calcutta on 12 May 1930, on way to Australia.
- Another connection is that Indias first technicolour movie produced in 1952 was Jhansi ki Rani. The maker; Sohrab Mody was a Parsee.
- Victoria Cross, the highest military award for exemplary bravery in the battlefield, under extreme duress & for demonstrating courage under fire, a great number of these were awarded for soldiers during the Battle of Jhansi, a battle that lasted just a few weeks, but was so ferocious & well managed the British General opposing the Ranee marvelled and exclaimed later the Ranee was the bravest man, of the Indian Rebels.
- People who remember the famous Indian historical movie Mughal E Azam may remember Raja Jai Singh (Role played by actor Ajit) who gives shelter to the young prince Jehangir (Played by actor Dilip Kumar) when Jehangir is defeated in battle against his father Akbar. Raja Jai Singh was from the Bundelkhand area. The Raja gave shelter and protection to the Prince and his consort of the time, Anarkali and later died protecting them from the invading Mughal army
- John Masters famous book- "Bhowani Junction", and later a popular movie may be based on Jhansi & the town mentioned as Bhowani supposedly could be Jhansi. The similarities are too uncanny to go unnoticed & the spy arousing the locals against the British and the Congress party of the time, could have been based on the real life character of Freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad, at that time hiding in Jhansi under the guise of a mechanics assistant.
But this is the story of the Parsis in Jhansi.
Let me clarify that this is not a scholarly historical text, just a record of what we have been researching, so some facts may be missing and if you come across something or some one who can add on to this site, it is most welcome. The site is to record and remember the stalwart Parsis of Jhansi and their deeds, their lives, their memories, records for future generations to remember. So kindly assist us to add more detailed information on your family and friends. Above all comes out the great spirit of Zoroastrianism in each one of us, so share your knowledge with others also.
Thank You
Our sincere thanks to all the countless people who have contributed to the development of this site, but especially to the following people:
- Mani Bhagat, my auant, Dimple, my niece & her father, Jimmy Bhagat(my cousin),
- Rony Dick, my cousin brother in law - who is also President of the Jhansi Anjuman,
- Farokh K Pestonji, my brother who lives in Jhansi,
- Katy Khambatta (nee Kolah) & her children Farzana & Arzan,
- Dhanji Anklesaria, Dhanji Billimoria & Behram Icchaporia in Jhansi,
- Arnaz Rustomji, Rosy Bhagats daughter for sending us huge data base of photos etc
- Phiroze (Filly) Boyce for his fine & detailed recollection of historical facts of Jhansi
- Behram Cooper in Perth who has assisted to develop the site for us and spend endless hours voluntarily.
- Mahrukh Pestonji, my wife and children Farzana, Arzan & Shazan who supported our Business, so I could spend time for this site,
- Farzana Pestonji, our daughter who has edited & formatted the work on this site
- And Above all - Thanks to our Beloved Ahura Mazda Khodai Jee for all His guidance & benevolence.
So read on, enjoy the time you spend here, and if you have a connection to Jhansi, you will definitely remember most of the people, we will meet here and their memories.
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For what is life But Memories & Feelings? Enjoy Life! Firoz Keki Pestonji |
COMMENTS
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From: Dimple Jimmy Bhagat (Daughter of Aban & Jimmy Bhagat), Mumbai, India, 18 April 2007. Dear Firoz, No need to thank me, its my pleasure as its for a good cause and as I said its a brilliant start. Work is in progress, will send info soon. We need to dig into old pictures so this weekend when i am at home, I shall help mom to find pictures and dad's already in the process of filling up missing faces names etc. This is indeed a terrific assignment!!!! Nobody could ever think of doing it, in our family & u did it...we have something to take pride in...Cheers!! Luv Dimple |
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From: Ferengez Latif (Daughter of Freny & Dhanji Anklesaria), New Delhi, India, - 21 April 2007. Hi Phil, So gud to have heard from you and even more exciting to know what you are doing! Would be pleased to help in the limited way that i can! i can quite believe that my dad would have been very happy to give whatever info he could! he loves Jhansi very dearly and is extremely proud to be a parsi as I am too. |
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From: Delna Hanoz Dadrewala (Daughter of Bakhtawar & Percy Dali Pestonji), Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 30 April 2007. Dear Feroze uncle and family, how are u? Let me first congratulate and thank u, congratulations for the lovely work on the Jhansi site. Its a great help for people like us who dont know much about Jhansi other than "Jhansi ni Rani". |
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From: Arnaz Jimmy Rustomji (Daughter of Rosy (Bhagat) & Jimmy Rustomji), New York, United States of America, - 11 May 2007. Hello Firoz Uncle! I did a heritage project back in 1997/1998 and got many pictures, as well as a family tree. I am a bit busy the next two weeks but when I come back from Jamaica I will scan in as much as I can and start sending it to you. I have the family tree that I will scan in, as well as my moms old pictures of her in her running days and some of Iran as well. |
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From: Zenobia Viraf Motivala (Nee Gheevala), Daughter of Nergish and late Pesi Gheevala, Mumbai, India - 21 April 2007. Great going Firoz! Fantastic idea, which no one ever thought of, in India or abroad, to come out with such a wonderful dedicated site. What the Mumbai Parsis could not do, a Jhansi "Bawa" has done it!! Awesome! One of its kind indeed. BINGO. This is straight from my heart, nothing flowery. |
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From: Farzana Pestonji (Daughter of Mahrukh & Firoz Pestonji), Perth, Western Australia- 19 June 2007. Great work! You have put in a lot of hard work and effort into this, well done! We are very proud of you for making this website - Thank you very much for writing down all the things you know - now we will always be able to look back and see where we have come to from family beginnings in Jhansi to so many overseas countries & Bombay, and now we can progress with strength into the future with the family knowledge, their love and support. Love Farzana |
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From: Gev J. Ogra, Florida USA- 26 May 2007. Hay Phiroze Great Job my friend in compiling the history of our wonderful community in Jhansi. I was on a brief vacation to Mumbai and had an opportunity to visit Jhansi. It looks just the same since we last left. I have settled in US since 2000 and have a small franchise business by the name of Successories in Gainesville -Florida. Hope life in Australia is great for you. Keep in touch. Gev |
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From: B.K. Agarwal, Engineer & Businessman, Kuwait 21 July 2007 Hi Firoz Your Web site about Jhansi is really wonderful and i am sure you must have put in very hard work. Your thought about creating web site about mother land, really makes me emotional, and at the same time encourage to do something creative. Very well done and keep it up. It is really appreciated. Many things to talk and I look forward to continue when we meet. Have lots of fun & with loads of love B.K. |
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From: Walter Gibbins, Adelaide Australia - 22 July 2007, (Ex Railway Workshop Manager Jhansi) Hello my friend Firoz, It was very nice talking to you on the phone; you are very warm and friendly. I must congratulate you on your web site, it brought back many memories. I have passed it on to all the members of my family, I am sure they will also enjoy it. Walter |
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From: FEROZE A. URSANI, Swansea, ILL, USA - 22 July 2007 Dear Mr Pestonji, I was browsing the web trying to pick up Pestonji links and careened onto your wonderful portal: The Jhansi Parsis'. Feroze |
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From: Frederick Lawson, Swansea, - 12/09/2007 Hi Firoz, Have just finished viewing your site on Jhansi, provided by my uncle Walter Gibbins, and must blame you for making me homesick. Yes, I was born in Jhansi and lived in the railway area, first on Garhia Road and then later in a house on Institute Square. My Dad served on the railways as a senior guard and Mum taught at St. Marks. I must congratulate you on doing such a fine job with your site. Best wishes to all your family, Frederick |
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From: Anand Ale, Dehli India - 10 October 2007 Wonderful piece of work, compiled very well, and the history of Jhansi (Ranee) is nothing less then the icing of the cake Good work Feroz Best wishes Anand |
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From: Rusi Sorabji, Campbell, California, U.S.A., 13 October 2007 Dear Mahrukh & Firoze, Congratulations on coming up with an excellent website, providing the Parsis worldwide and researchers world wide, with some sort of an 'ALTERNATE HISTORY' of this historical city and about the adventurous Zarathushtis who settled there in the last century. Tandroasti & Best wishes, Rusi Sorabji. |
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From: Sanjay Kohli, Kansas City - 10/12/2007 Dear Firoz, I am speechless to find you on Internet. I am so glad to know about you on web parsisofjhansi.com Please send me your phone number I will contact you soon. More on this later. Regards Sanjay Kohli |
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From: Ira Pestonji, 11 January 2008 Hi, My name is Ira Pestonji. I'm Parvez and Shachi's daughter from Mumbai (from the Gheewala family). Just wanted to say, "WOW" I was bored one day so was Google 'in my name and your site popped up and I was just amazed! I burst into tears reading about my grandparents on it. I was so proud to know where I came from. Like, for example, I didn't know that my granddad played hockey for the railways. It was pretty cool to know that. Wanted to say "great job" to update you on us, my grand mom, Nergish has been living with us since my granddad passed away. In case you know my dad, Parvez, which I guess you do since you know Zenobia fui, his contact details are&. Thank You. Ira Pestonji |
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From: Anil Newton, 13 January 2008 Dear Firoz, The net is an amazing place you never know who turns up....??!!!! Well being a lover of railways, am trying to trace the history & links of my grand dad. So if you have any inputs or contacts would really appreciate. By the way he was John L. Newton. He was Station Superintend Bombay Victoria Terminus, then SS Jhansi. Another thing as u know Dosu engineer passed away but Sweety aunty and his families are fine, by God's grace. Hope to hear from you soon. Regards to you family Anil Newton |
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From: Wibha Desai, 31 January 2008 Hi I wanted to read about Jhansi ki Rani and this was the best site I came across. Very informative, you have also done a great job of the families of Jhansi. Thank you Wibha Desai |