Contacts

 

Mahrukh, Firoz Pestonji & Family

138 A Murray Street, PERTH
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6000
Phone: +61 08 9221 2400
Email: holiday@aussieperthtours.com.au

Your Comments

 

1

From: Dimple Jimmy Bhagat (Daughter of Aban & Jimmy Bhagat), Mumbai, India, 18 April 2007.

Dear Firoz,
No need to thank me, it’s my pleasure as it’s for a good cause and as I said it’s 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
3

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".
6

From: Arnaz Jimmy Rustomji (Daughter of Rosy (Bhagat) & Jimmy Rustomji), New York, United States of America, - 11 May 2007.

Hello Firoz Uncle!
Good hearing from you and I was hooked on your website last night when Mom sent me the link. You did an incredible job it was so great to read all the history and look through the pictures you have. I can definitely add more to your website and I think it is such a great idea you did this to have a central location of all the history and heritage of our wonderful family.
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.
7

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.
In the departed souls, I was shocked to see that there are graves as old as 1800s - after the Mutiny of 1857!!! Lot of Parsi Mail Drivers passed away at the age of 34 and 42.
Hats off to you, for doing so much research, and creating a wonderful website on Parsis of Jhansi. Felt very nostalgic. In the latest Parsi families, I am amazed that there are still so many families; some names don't ring a bell though.
More, some other time. Keep up the good work.
9

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
11

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

13

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.
15

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
17

From: Frederick Lawson, Swansea, South Australia- 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.
Now coming to parsi friend,I had Baji Kolah and Percy Pestonji in my class. There was also Hoshi and Harvesh Jehangir though my memory of them are not as clear. What happened to these guys?
I made a trip back to India some years ago and everything had changed, though Jhansi still retains the old magic. Wish I could buy my old railway house and spend half the year there!
Keep up the good work and get in touch when you can.
Best wishes to all your family,
Frederick Lawson.
19

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.
21

From: Sanjay Kohli, Kansas City USA- 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
23

Ravinder Malhotra- Delhi - India

Hi Firoz,
I have just been forwarded a message from a old friend from Jhansi who has along with his family settled in Adelaide.
I am Ravinder Malhotra & I studied in St. Mark's High School, Jhansi till my Senior Cambridge in 1965.The Principal during our time was Mr T E Allan and our English teacher was one Mr. V C Francis, unpopular with the children but to who I owe my eminence. I am a poet, and have been conferred the title of "The Living Treasure of Delhi". I have also dedicated my first book of poetry, "Life's echo" to him. (Read memories also)
25

From: Mrs. Roda Farokh Dholoo - UK

Dear Jhansi Parsees,
I came across this site and noted the name of Parsees of Jhansi, but was surprised to find no mention of the BALAPORIA family. My mother (Putly) was from there and my mamaiji's and masi's graves are there too. Their names were Late Mrs. Khorshed Sorobji Balaporia and Miss Jhini Sorabji Balaporia.
My Mama iji's maiden surname was also Balaporia as she had married her first cousin Late Sorabji Shapoorji Balaporia. They all were in the railways and my late mums cousins were great classical singers from Gwalior Gharana. I am also interested in knowing the condition of the graves also.
Looking forward to an early reply, thanking you in anticipation
27

From: Shirin Mistry, Melbourne Australia

Thank you Burjorji!
I have just read almost every line - and am thrilled to think that the guy behind it all is a truly good and decent Bawa who has stood by me/us throughout - whereas others in Perth, have been there only IF and when it suited them!
Hi Fi!
Truly a labour of love! Glad you've taken all the trouble and you'll surely reap the rewards for it!
Gudonya and may all the gaps get filled in with some truly great stuff!
A wonderful site and high time others too started on their own family histories
29

From: Jasmine Jasavala - Toronto Canada, 16 July 2008

Hi Firoz and Mahrukh Pestonji,
I was doing some research on the history of Jhansi and came upon your website. My grandmother, maiden name Cooverbai Kolah was born in Jhansi in 1910. She is currently in a nursing home in Toronto and is convinced that there are cousins of hers still alive in Jhansi.
Her father was a “behdin” Kolah and her mother Alamai Mirza was of the dastur Mirza family. Though her memory is failing, she does remember some of her youth. I was wondering if you could shed some light on this matter.

Thanks
Jasmine Jasavala
Toronto, Canada
PS her nephew Farokh Kolah lives in your part of the world and has a flower exporting business. (ED: F Kolah is in New Zealand)

From: jjasavala (Sent: Monday, 4 August 2008 6:41 AM)

Hi Firoz,Hope things are well in Aussieland.... got some more info from granny. Her parents: Pirozshah Sorabji Kolah and Alami Pirozshah Kolah Her paternal grandparents: Sorabji Kolah who came to Jhansi as a guard on the railway. Her maternal grandparents: Hormazji Mirza and Hirabai Mirza. she lived in a place called "Sipri Bazaar" spelling is questionable and the family left for Bombay when granny was 8 after her navjote.

so long for now.

Jasmine

31

From: Bommie Wadia, Sydney, Australia

Hi Phiroze, Mahrukh & kids,
Sorry for the delay in sending you the photograph we clicked at your office. I just managed to download them yesterday. I would once again wish to congratulate you on the excellent web-site you have created about "Parsis in Jhansi. I will most certainly try to visit it this weekend.
Do keep in touch and our regards to you all.
Kind Regards ------------ Bommie
stephani

From: STEPHANIE NEE STEFFIE DICK, 1 September 2009

I TRULY WANT TO TELL U THAT I APPRECIATE ALL THAT U HAVE DONE WITH THE SITE AND THE MANY LEISURE HOURS THAT YOU COULD HAVE HAD TO YOURSELF BUT CHOSE TO BRING ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL PLACE FOR ALL TO MEET..

YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE GIVEN UNSTINGINGLY OF YOUR PRECIOUS TIME.

I SALUTE ALL OF YOU ON CREATING A HAVEN ON THE WEB WHERE THOSE WHO LOVE ALL THAT WAS PRECIOUS TO THEM CAN COME AND FIND A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS- A GOLDEN SLICE OF THE PAST.. A COMMUNITY THAT BURNS BRIGHT AND A FLAME THAT REFUSES TO BE PUT OUT

- VIVA LA PARSEES OF JHANSI

TRULY A LABOUR OF LOVE.

HATS OFF TO YOU

LOVE AND LIGHT

I WISH YOU ENOUGH

STEPHANIE NEE STEFFIE DICK
039

From: Perveez Aggarwa

Dear Mr. Pestonji,
I have read your letter in Parsiana dated August 21, 2007 regarding Parsis of Jhansi.
We have a vague recollection of our great grandfather dying in Bombay during the plague epidemic and his 3 orphan sons were brought up by an uncle who worked in the Railways, with his home in Jhansi. All three of the young men Framroze, Cavas, Jamshed Broacha were the first Master of Art students to graduate from Agra University. Later, my grandfather was a Sessions Judge presiding over courts in Kamptee, Amravati and Nagpur, the other brothers were appointed as Dewans of Bikaner and Jawra royal states.
My father was a lawyer of the Supreme Court based in Nagpur, my uncle Khushro Rustamji was decorated by the Indian Government with the Padma Vibhushan award in recognition of his being a Founder of Indian Border Security Force.
My husband and I are former owners of the Diners Club Credit Card in India and presently owners of a network of business centers (Serviced Offices) in all major cities of India. We also have a small IATA licensed travel agency, DBS WORLD TRAVEL.
I would be interested to know any information about our family’s antecedents in Jhansi. Sincerely,
Perveez Aggarwal
((Readers we would really appreciated if anyone can assist Perveez, thanks)
24 septt 2008

035

 

From: RUMI GODREJ ROOWALA, ex JHANSI NOW MUMBAI INDIA

Dear Firoz,
Thank you for developing www.parsisinjhansi.com. One can hardly imagine of the hard work you have put in to make something so wonderful and without any commercial interest. God bless you and your family and all those who have been your inspiration or help for this project.
I am Rumi Godrej Roowalla. My dad, Godrej Manchersha Roowalla, was born and brought up in Jhansi. He was a railway driver, who spent most of his life out of Jhansi. My grandfather Manchersha Kavasji Roowalla was a railway employee too. His grave (number 255) is in Jhansi, so our part always remains in Jhansi. You have done a great job in refreshing the memories of all those who are associated with Jhansi. I am sure our family must have been close to each other in the old days, I remember my dad speaking about Mr. Jimmy Dick, who was his dear friend. Now that my dad has passed away, I can rely on this web site to tell me all those stories, and all because of you.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Regards,
Rumi Godrej Roowalla.

From: SHARON JIMMY DICK – EX JHANSI NOW COVENTRY UK

"Firoz & Phil hi....I am still going thru your website....its amazing the work & reseach you have put in. Congrats for all your efforts to bring us together. I promise I'll collect whatever material I have here in England & send you. Will also tell Steff to do the same as she is closer to home. Have also been passing my messages thru Anshu who has been emailing you regularly the past couple of days.....The reason of inviting you to FB were if you'd choose to add your website as a group on FB like a group All the Zoroastrians on Facebook…. of course I do remember you 2 brothers Firoz & Fakku living behind my bapphai’s house – Dhanbai. You take care mate and I’ll be back! Shaz"
Hi Firoz,
Your website is absolutely fantastic. I'm kinda related to Jhansi as I'm married to Mr Jimmy Dick's no 2 daughter Sharon. My wife is absolutely thrilled as this brings back a lot of memories for her. I appreciate your efforts to put all this together on the net. Wish more people could do the same for their community and city.
Thanks once again,
Anshuman Goswami
Coventry UK
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Ira Pestonji, USA - 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

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Anand Ale, Delhi 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

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Alka David

Dear Mr Firoz K Pestonji.
I came across your site accidently. But I am glad. I saw many Parsis families of Jhansi. Your site is fantastic. I am looking for Dinaz Bhagat. We studied together in 11th & 12th std. My name is Alka David. My father was a guard in railways in Jhansi. I would be very grateful if you could please give me Dinaz's e-mail id.
Regards
Alka David
Dear Mr Firoz K Pestonji.
I am extremly grateful to you for connecting me to Dinaz. I am so happy to have found my precious friend through you. You have done a good deed. May the good Lord bless you & give you success in your work. Thanks once again
Regards Alka.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Shiv Mohan Shrivastav – Hyderabad - India

Message for Mr. Firoz Pestonji
Respected , Casually I saw a site " Persians in Jhansi " .I was happy to see the site. I belong to DATIA [M.P.] 28 k.m. from JHANSI . Since my early age I was going to Jhansi and for some time I was at Jhansi . I will be happy to know all about you. Since when u r In Australia and what are u doing there? On what interval u visit Jhansi . When I was very young my father was always telling about Pestonji of Jhansi . I do not know in detail but, may be the same Pestonji whom u r related. Any way, I am happy 2 know about u . Regards,
SHIV MOHAN LAL SHRIVASTAV
Hyderabad, India

Back to Top

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Zubin Dotivala – Amravati -India

Dear Firoz
Hope this finds you in the best of health and cheer.
Pray let me begin by introducing myself. I am Zubin Dotivala based in Amravati Maharashtra India. I am into cotton processing ie ginning and pressing of cotton. Railways, photography and browsing the web are a few of my hobbies. I just came across your website today and was overjoyed to go through it, rather am still going through it. Many or most of your ancestors seem to be railway engine drivers. I too love locomotives and its my hobby to study and if possible drive them too. Do you too have a likening for railways? More latter.
Regards.
Zubin.
Z. J. Dotivala
Edulji Framji Dotivala
Ginning & Pressing Factories Pvt. Ltd.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Nadir Karanjia, Mumbai - India 4 November 2008

Hello
I am Nadir Karanjia from Bombay.
The website is wonderful, its a labour of love and I do wish there were many more such sites around, illuminating our Parsi history
Excellent work indeed
Cheers
Nadir
(Incidentally we found out Nadirs Uncle & Aunt live in Perth ie Dinsu & Jeroo Todd)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Derrick Roach, 11 September 2008

Hello,
We came across your web site when looking around for our ancestors who are linked to Railways in Jhansi. I am the grandson of Joseph Roach who was in the railways in Jhansi. I was wondering if you have any information of any Roach member in Jhansi. I am building my family tree and I am keen on getting any information on my family members. We liked your site a lot. Keep up the good job.
Thanks,
Derrick.
Derrick Roach [roachd@roachville.com]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Burjor Bharucha - Mmbai India

I just happened to stumble upon this site which I feel would be found very interesting for surviving Parsi families originating from North India, specially Jhansi which had quite a good number in the 18s and 19s. Most family heads served the Railways which was and still is a big important junction.
Delphi, Nelly, Firdosh, Ruzbeh pl. makes your Moms read it. It would bring back nostalgic fond memories to the extent of bringing tears to their eyes. Manek your cousins would definitely find it very interesting. For the rest it is an interesting history of the early adventurous Parsis who venture into distant lands during the East India and British era. If it gets boring you know which button to press.
Burjor Bharucha.
EX Gm Bombay Dyeing Bombay & Ex Jhansi wala

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Christopher Lincoln, UK

Hello,
Enjoyed your Jhansi website.
My family lived in Jhansi from about 1926-54.My grandfather worked on the railways and lived with his wife and family at no. 300, Stores Rd ( in the railway quarters district, near Overbridge Rd)
My Grandfather, Claude Lincoln, was also a railway guard and a keen sportsman...........it is more than likely that he and your father knew each other.
My problem is finding Stores Rd on a current street map of Jhansi. Do you have any idea of the location of this Rd...........maybe it has been renamed?
Regards
Christopher Lincoln Bath, UK

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Simon Darvill

Dear Firoz
I am writing to you after coming across your website about Parsis in Jhansi. The reason I came across it is because I have spent the last 20 years or so researching the history of industrial railways in India and the other south Asian countries (see www.ilsa.org.in which is the fruits of my research) and I was goggling the Abbot Brothers of Jhansi. They had a 2'0" gauge steam loco delivered to them in 1915 and I was seeing if I could find anything out about them (its something I do every few months as there are often new things that turn up on the web.). Well tonight Google turned up your page. It’s interesting to find out that the Abbot Brothers were responsible for building parts of Jhansi. Do you have any details as to what they built when, especially when the Abbot Dam was commenced? I am particularly interested in finding out what they may have been building around 1915.
I have to say that I had never considered the history of Parsis in Jhansi (as I am sure you have never considered the history of industrial railways in India!) but that is one of the great things about researching things and using the internet I suppose.
Any information that you may be able to add would be gratefully received. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours
Simon Darvill
London, UK

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Prasoon Kumar – Mumbai, India

Dear Phil, 

Good to hear from you. You can include on your site. I am fond of Parsees and love their zest for life and excelling in all their facets of life. 

Actually, I went to your site looking for Jhansi and John Masters. Very interesting, went thru it in some details and picked fond memories of Jhansi. I was in Jhansi for four years in the cantonment during the army days. I quit army in 1988 and now I live in Mumbai publishing the local newspaper for Powai (www.planetpowai.com) and run a call centre from Navi Mumbai.

Have a great day! 

Prasoon Kumar

+91 98200 01918 mobile

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: ANAND ALEA - ex JHANSI, now Delhi, India

Hello Firoz ji,

Thanks for your reply, I was not looking at anything specific on web just browsing through the website which had anything to do about Jhansi.
I am based in Delhi and I am a telecom engineer running my own call centre catering to clients in the US.
My father is a first generation settler in Jhansi and he is respectable businessman of Jhansi.
I did my schooling in Jhansi (Christ The King College) and we own a small part of Delude Boyce compound ( a Parsi connection ) and Neville Maneckjee was my classmate and a school time friend.
My parents are still in Jhansi and I soon plan to visit them on this Diwali
I saw your family pictures in the contact section of your internet billboard but none was pictured in Jhansi ( its an stupid observation but its a fact when your site is dedicated to the Parsis in jhansi )
Rest you be in touch, its always a pleasure to know anyone who has roots in Jhansi
Wonderful piece of work, compiled very well, and the history of Jhansi(Ranee) is nothing less then the icing of the cake

Good work Feeroz
Best wishes
Anand

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: FEROZE A. URSANI

Dear Mr Pestonji,

I was browsing the web trying to pick up Pestonji links and careened onto your wonderful portal: The Jhansi Parsis', and am tempted to ask you a favour!

My mom (Shirin nee' Sylla, Pestonji 1923-2005) was a Pestonji. My maternal grandfather was Khan Bahadur Rustamji Pestonji, and he was in the Indian Railways.

Can you refer me to any web site where I can try to get any information on my great Parsi ancestary, I will be grateful.

FEROZE A. URSANI

Swansea, ILL, USA

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Simon Darvill

24 septt 2008

Dear Firoz

I am writing to you after coming across your website about Parsis in Jhansi. The reason I came across it is because I have spent the last 20 years or so researching the history of industrial railways in India and the other south Asian countries (see www.ilsa.org.in which is the fruits of my research) and I was googling the Abbot Brothers of Jhansi. They had a 2'0" gauge steam loco delivered to them in 1915 and I was seeing if I could find anything out about them (its something I do every few months as there are often new things that turn up on the web.). Well tonight Google turned up your page. Its interesting to find out that the Abbot brothers were responsible for building parts of Jhansi. Do you have any details as to what they built when, especially when the Abbot dam was commenced? I am particularly interested in finding out what they may have been building around 1915.

I have to say that I had never considered the history of Parsis in Jhansi (as I am sure you have never considered the history of industrial railways in India!) but that is one of the great things about researching things and using the internet I suppose.

Any information that you may be able to add would be gratefully received. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours

Simon Darvill

London, UK

Back to Top