Why India’s Parsis are so OBSESSED with classic cars & bikes
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- The Parsi community in India is renowned not only for their love of automobiles but also for their commitment to sustainability - restoring their old classics rather than buying new models. Parsi-owned cars and motorcycles hold a special place in the second-hand market, commanding higher prices due to their reputed exceptional maintenance. To delve deeper into the Parsis' automotive fascination, REV embarked on a journey through Mumbai, Pune, and Udvada. Along the way, we encountered an array of iconic vehicles like Homai Vyarawalla's ‘Dalda 13’ Fiat Millecento, Anosh and Fram Dhondy's Fiat 1100 Elegant with 900,000km on the clock, Kooverji & Faridoon Gamadia's 1948 Invicta Black Prince, Marespand Dadachanji's cherished Morris 8, the Vintage Zorastrian Bikers of Bombay and their impressive fleet of vintage motorcycles and Adil Jal Darukhanawala's incredible scale model collection, that showcased the community's dedication to classic cars and motorbikes.
Story: Vaishali Dinakaran
Camera: Arjun Dhavale
Edit: Kirsten Jungclaus
00:00 The Automotive Legacy of the Parsi Community
01:20 Who are the Parsis?
02:06 Cars as ‘family members’?
06:50 ‘Dalda 13” - Famous 1955 Fiat Millecento
11:13 Nicki Garage - restoring old classics is hard work
15:20 Fram and Anosh Dhondy’s 1957 Fiat 1100 Elegant
17:08 900.000 kilometers and counting
19:12 VZBB - Mumbai’s classic bikes
24:11 1948 Invicta Black Prince - Car of a Maharaja
27:13 Adil Jal Darukhanawala's Incredible Scale Model Collection
29:58 Marespand Dadachanji - Parsi priest & classic-car restorer
33:26 The Fire of Udvada Atash Behram
34:16 Outro
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REV - The Global Auto and Mobility Show from Deutsche Welle
#DW #DWREV #parsis - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I found shelter during the Great Bombay Flood at Cyrus Dhabars' Home. His father, Behram Dhabhar was a senior colleague and friend. I had tread through chest deep sewer water at Matunga Circle to reach their home.
Before entering the house Behram said "Finally you can admire my Fiat."
"Behram, your Fiat is swaddled in 2 layers of rain covers. How can I admire it?"
"I will undo the ropes fastening the covers and you can feel the paint finish I have got on it by poking your hands under the covers" replied Behram.
So there we stood in the twilight, 2 grown men in a pouring rain storm groping a classic Fiat underneath it's covers in the darkness!
This is a story that you can store in your heirloom of memories !
কি সুন্দর লিখেছেন, আপনার তো লেখক হওয়া উচিত।😊
Cyrus Dhabar is a true car enthusiast.. bhalo lekhe
he is the reason why we have the MAHINDRA THAR !
Perverts......🤣
We the people of India respect Parsi community and huge respect to Sir Ratan Tata.
You should not.
They become rich only because british with a plan favoured them, if you research in detail you will start to dislike them
@@prakxyzlthough it's true, back then most Parsi were yes sir yes mam to British.
But we cannot blame the newer generation.
I am really interested if u have any study material about British favoring Parsis . I did read few but pretty sure there more available
@@prakxyzwell , they were not the only ones. What about most Rajas and Zamindara? All those who would give their right hand for a knighthood. Or even the title of a ' Rai Bahadur ' . And finally the biggest stooge of the British was a man called jawaharlal Nehru. And , get ready for this , the man behind Nehru. Mohandas Gandhi.
@@prakxyzwhat can you do the government were like that and Nehru was like that too go search it
One more classic that come from Indian Parsi community.. Freddie Mercury.
You're absolutely right! 🎤
The best Mr ratan Tata
Freddie wasn't proud of being Indian or being identified as one. Get your facts RIGHT.
@@AshishSawant-mt5bv wasn't proud does not change the fact he was one
@@AshishSawant-mt5bvMr.Sawant you are correct. Faredoon Balsara, ( Mercury) studied at Panchgani, went to East Africa, his aunt took him to England, then the buck toothed kid made his mark as a musician. To mix- in he absolved his Indianess, hardly looked after his kindly aunt, ....the rest is history.
One of the best minority community which contributes a lot to the society, taxation, business and economy 👌👌🎉
Parsis worked for dere SATANIC ILLUMINATI MASTERS ROTHSCHILDS.
Parsi community people have a great respect for their old customs and prefer to lead modest and non glamorous way of living.
😂 Read history They get rich because they were boot licker of British
Sadly decreasing and disappearing 😢
They are rich because they facilitated the British in looting India
Since nobody is mentioning this, so, here I go, please give a raise to the filmmaker/editor of this video. Absolutely amazing filmmaking, editing and color grading.
We shall let the entire production team know what you've said, with special mention to our cameraperson - Arjun Dhavale, and video editor - Kirsten Jungclaus. Thanks for watching! :-)
As a Texan this video was my first look into the Parsi and their culture of admiration and passion for old vehicles - and I thoroughly enjoyed their pragmatic approach of using everything they have until the very end of its life. Such a beautifully curated video gem.
Glad, that you enjoyed watching our content. 😊
These Parsis were and probably still are the best
Honorable men, the best accountants, lawyers, usually at the pinnacle of these professions,
They were pianists - one of them Zubin Mehta who had the courage to conduct Wagner for Israelis and they heard him . A wonderful man and in Vienna I stayed in a hotel and it was a great hotel but I was extra impressed to see them display in a glass case his signature across the guest book and his review
Oh an no description of Parsis can be complete without mention of JRD Tata a legionnaire an aviator and the pioneer of aviation in India
Story is he got out of his chauffeured car to push a woman’s stalled car …
Love to my Parsi brothers and sisters ! Truly an amazing community. Pioneers of India
Wow. 100,000 people, in a country of a billion. And there is still a distinct community and culture. That is absolutely incredible.
india is the only country on earth even we Indians get a culture shock.😂
There were many parsis in Pakistan.
But you know what happened to them!
Islam
That's why I say, ask Parsis or Jews as to how they're treated in India, they are the real minorities of India. Not Muslims. Muslims will always play the victim card.
These cars will live longer than the modern over-complicated plastic cars. Certainly the e cars will soon be scrapped in new condition because .... yes sir, the battery costs $ 20,000. And then the drama of the charring direct injection engines..... worthless to the owner. This often results in oil spills because everything gets charred, including the piston rings that get stuck. End the old cars can be repaired bij a normal garage for normal price (the reair of the modern car......special the e cars is very expensive and who can do it)
Used to be secular state, NOT ANYMORE.
Possibly the best documentation of our community in my memory. A subject handled with great sensitivity and empathy by your host and the camera work is simply stellar. A treat indeed to see many legends sharing their stories. Conspicuous by his absence is Mr. Cama, who daily drives one of his Vintage or Classic Cars to work every single day. Thank you for a lovely film, it’s really heartwarming to see Marespand talk about the note his dad left for him. That moment really gripped.
Thank you 🙌 Glad you enjoyed the video! Mr. Cama sounds like an interesting character as well.
One thing I do not understand is as per current regulations here in Kolkata they are not allowing old vehicles to get re-registered and thus ply on the roads. I have a 34 year old car bought by my father. I still have not sold it, but I cannot use it. How to use old cars?
The documentary is obviously very well made, very informative and my love and respect for the Parsis who love their old belongings. I also have many old belongings at our home- old gramaphone, century old things.
@@DWREV you also missed Hormazd Sorabjee of Auto Car India.
@@tiger10149 Which car is that?
Sell yours to a Parsi
In 1999, when skoda motors was looking for dealer in Ahmedabad, me and my brothers created a presentation for Rustom Cama of cama motors, which helped them acquire the Škoda dealership in ahmedabad. That’s the point we learned the deep rooted history of the Parsi family. I have always been impressed by their attitude towards things they own, their history and their attention to details.
I am lover of vintage car & still maintained ,my Dad's 1949 model Vauxhall Velox the S.India Vintage Rally Champion in immaculate condition in Thrissur, Kerala
This community is contrubting sooo much for our country much respect
"man of substantial proportions" i am out of words by the way he described maharjas personality 👏
Incredible how well they look after their machines. Beautiful documentary. Well done REV
Thanks!
So well done, DW! Excellent storytelling. When I think about the Parsi community, the metaphorical "sugar in milk" folklore comes to mind. This passion for automobiles and its preservation is yet another example of standing out without displacing. Like sugar mixed in a glassful of milk.
Excellent documentary. The camera work and story telling were top notch. Vaishali's love for cars really shines through and she amplifies it through her subjects in the film.
Glad you liked it!
@@DWREV Plz agar aap India m videos bana rahe ho to hindi m banao jisse hume pareshani n ho aur agar aapko English m chahiye to aap subtitle use kr lena wo zayada accha rahega 🙏🙏
Second this.. really well crafted video and I am glad we came to the conclusion that some times there are just no easy answer as to why humans do what they do.
It is well known even in Kenya that Indians keep their cars in pristine condition. I used to think it is an Indian thing, but now it is highly likely that they are Parsis. Thank you for this eye-opening piece.
But these Parsis are Indians.
Actually its not just Parsis, its Gujarati-Marwadi culture. They care of their stuff meticulously and typically keep they automobiles especially classics in prestine running condition and refrain from selling it.
Most Parsis landed on Gujarat and worked their way up from there. They absorbed this culture and took it to a next level.
You dont see this in Parsis in other countries (unless they were formerly from india)
@@jashsylde8136 Yeah, thanks for the correction. What I meant was I thought it is an Indian thing across all ethnic subcultures.
@@LarryNgetichPls do not take any offense, nor did I took any offense. India is very diverse, it's not homogeneous. Not all Indians take care of their stuff. Those who don't take care of their stuff will only incurr more loss. This a technique to improve standards while saving money. You can call it being efficient with what you have in possession.
And this behavior can be found across humans of different cultures or geography.
Preserving something is human trait. Many people in US, Europe, East Asia and middle East also like to preserve stuff.
We take care of our bikes, Im from South India
Parsis worked for dere SATANIC ILLUMINATI MASTERS ROTHSCHILDS.
Very interesting story about the parsi community. I have been so many times to India and also know a couple of racecar related Parsis. The story gives sweet insights into their crazy passion about their cars. DW and Vaishali please more content like this.
Glad you enjoyed the video! We have more content coming your way - stay tuned 👐
The car culture in India is going to its glory again specially with the old cars , I absolutely loved the way you documented it with the parsi community!❤
Thank you for watching!
32:32 The pause in the man's throat, the tears...the incredible love. That car is even beyond being a beloved "dikri" of his family now. He's keeping his father alive beyond just memories through keeping the car itself maintained and running. What a beautiful documentary of a prolific community's attachment to the machines we love. Incredible work, REV!
There used to be many well-known Parsi families in Pakistan. Religious intolerance in Pakistan has forced many to flee the country. They were pioneers in the education, maritime and industrial development of the country. What a loss for Pakistan.
Pakistan is an example of how not to use relegion in a country..... pakistan is basically getting destroyed in the name of relegion
Where persecution to parsis happebed in pakistan prove
@@factsofrealsandreels1911 forget about Parsis, talk about Hindus in Pakistan. You Pakistanis always deny historical facts
Pretty similar with what’s going on in India with their radical hindutva ideology and religious extremism
India and pakistan are two faces of the same coin, both failed states and both lack people who can think
Guys I'm from udvada I'm not parsi but I do also love cars n bike i have 23 years old Suzuki bike with me n i proud of her
I knew Parsis got distinct taste for things, care to preserve it. The level of affection, loyalty Parsis have for their machines shown in this episode is truly mind-boggling, inspiring.
I aspire to such levels of fastidiousness. Also, nicely done DW!
What a passion for cars and automobile at large . Parsis have contributed a lot this country from science to culture. My grandfather bought a 1948 austin A40 and we still have it with us . It is no less than a family member.
How lovely! If you'd like to tell us more about the family's favourite runabout please write to rev.community@dw.com. We'd be happy to see some photographs too. :-)
Excellent documentary! Learned so much of the Parsi community. They seem to have integrated well with the rest of India.
Most loveable most lovely most peaceful most down to earth community PARSI .
Lots of love to parsi community
I absolutely love your coverage of these otherwise obscure automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts! Keep making them, please 😊👍
More to come!
In Dhamal movie Baman's parsi father treats his vintage car better than his son Baman. Mharo Dhikro Mharo Dhikro 😂😂😂😂
It's great to see these beautiful cars being taken care and maintained in India.
I can connect to what they say they have a sentimental connection with the car.
My 51 Morris Minor was much the same.
I bought this car as young kid for $500 as a wreck and totally restored her over the years.
When I was dating my wife to be, I used to say I do have a 55 year old girlfriend, would you be ok to share home with her.
Boy what a first reaction I got, until I told my wife to be about my passion for these old cars.
Since then, I have bought two more with my wife and restoring them together.😅
It's the people who maintain it, endia has nothing to offer except religious hatred.
Lol, the whole topic fondly reminds me of the Parsi Father (Played by legendary acting sensation Asrani), his son, and their old vintage car which gets stolen in the movie!!. From one of my all-time fav Bollywood comedy adventure flicks - 'Dhamaal'. 😜😎
Not just about cars, but an attitude/ethos about life. Superb.
Absolutely superb video DW.
I remember about 10 years ago I went to meet my friend who has Parsi neighbours, and one of the Parsis was restoring a 1930s Bentley. I asked him where he gets parts and he replied that he makes them!
A few weeks later the Bentley was gone, in its place was a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG :P
Obsessed with Parsi culture of South Bombay, glad DW bring it up. Lovely documentary.
What a fantastic voyage into India and Parsi and the car culture I never realised existed. The reality of course is that under the British Raj Indian had extraordinary wealth and they bought or had made the finest cars in the world. Like the silver Daimler! With Perdu glass .
Fabulous video. Love the interviews with all the enthusiasts. Car's contain family memories and classic cars and motorcycles like these were beautifully made and had real durable quality.
Much of what is made today won't last and is ephemeral.
Superb
Excellent Community, Excellent Machines and Excellent Documentary, camera work and story telling. Thank You for the Efforts and bringing our beloved Parsi Indian Community close to our heart by knowing them through Cars....
Thanks for watching!
Zoroastrik way of life....preserve and honor the tradition.... congratulations...
Regards from Athens Greece...
Brilliantly documented - I am glad I stumbled upon this video!! Although I am not a Parsi, watching this made me feel there is a little bit of a Parsi in me. Washing the motorcyle in the rain, removing pebbles and stones from the tyre treads were goosebumps moments.
I love old cars. I salute you all.
Me not a Parsi but being from Jamshedpur, feel understand them. Parsis love for nature or all those nearby them be they beings or non beings gets extended to automobiles too!
Yes Sir, we Parsis love animals, especially dogs. They have a sixth sense to a a ' decent' being.
Respect to Parsi community 👏.
I am happy to see people in India keep there cars in top shape. In America we call these people car 🚗 freaks or hot rodder people.
I am one of the lucky person to work under a Parsi boss.
Loved that 83 old Refrigerator 😮 Amazing community. I did 11th-12th grade in south Mumbai and it was amazing experience watching some vintage cars on road during early 2000
The way I take care of my bikes and cars I really wish my grandchildren or their children will too take care of and love them as these Parsis are doing today.
So glad to see you guys make this video! So many familiar faces from Mumbai's classic car scene and so well done! Great job as always ❤
Glad you liked it!!
It was so well-made and very interesting documentation of Parsi community.
Thanks. Maybe you like to subscribe our channel 😏
31:20 "maro dikro/dikri"... 😂 These are the people that Asrani's character in the movie Dhamaal (2007) is based on!
There's gasoline running rich through these veins. Looking forward to Part 2 and 3. There are so many more Bawa stories that need to be told.
Thanks to Hindu majority who let them flourish without any risk, also protected them whenever needed.
they never recognize that , they will never let a hindu boy or girl marry in their family this is how they return our favor !
@@zuboy4272 it's ok, they are already minority. Inter religious marriages will dissolve their culture. But some of them are radicals
@@zuboy4272 My brother, if we did let Hindus marry into our community you'd accuse us of proselytization/conversion. When we don't, you say we're ungrateful. Parsis love Hindus. They are our neighbors, friends, and teachers. We love all Indians. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise :)
lots of respect for the smallest minority communty of india tha have contributed so much to the development of the country...........such passionate and grounded people.....lots of love and respect to the entire community of motorheads...with such strong and rooted values....keep at it .Lots to learn from such rooted human beings. Thank you!.
Kudos to the journalist - the subject was handled well, and her language skills were excellent - a credit to her profession.
Thanks a lot! Stay tuned for more content!
I appreciate the practicality of utilizing something until it is capable of fulfilling its purpose.
Even in Karachi, Parsis are used to riding on vintage vehicles with immaculate conditions. I love them.
Not anymore?
Wonder why?🤔
Great storytelling! Not often I send around a 35 minute video but looks like that’s what I’ll be doing
Thank you and thanks for sharing!
Irrespective of the owner's background we should appreciate the effort put in by them to preserve these machines for generations. Warm regards from Sri Lanka🌹🌹🌹
Another jewel of India moment by the Parsi community. Love cars love Parsis
You know what.. I actually became a fan of most of those beautiful machines, in particular Dadachan's green Morris sportster. Thanks Vaishali and DW for the well researched ride down automotive memory lane as well as a interesting little history on our Parsi folks. Ofcourse the Indian translation here would mostly be 'Kanjoosi' but never the less these people are truly pragmatic and respect their machines in every sense of the word.
Truly Amazing... Especially The Book Log. Enjoyed From The Caribbean 🇻🇨
Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, the log shows true dedication 🙌
Excellent video. I know many parsi gentlemen who not only love vintage cars and bikes but also love old mechanical clocks, which I service and repair.
Beautifully articulated by the reporter HUGE PROPS to her
must be a dream to be an Indian Parsis with those lovely classics, it’s clear they take care of the cars
Beautifully done Vaishali. The tears in the end felt sweet....
What a wonderful video, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the lovely old cars and bikes!
Although I am not a parsi, I used to be like them, but in recent years I realised not to fall for materials, instead of these things, one should give time and love to family, and be peaceful
you're completely crazy ! I love it ! Especially when "the bain" comes off .......riding a 1972 Airmacchi-Harley-Davidson SS 350...starting riding 50 yrs ago on Jawa 175, later 350
This gave me so much pleasure. Thanks for doing this!!
I'm glad that the CZcams algorithm served up this story to me. And thank you for putting it together. I had a smile on my face the whole time. Great job!
Mine is Mustang Shelby 1969. It's designed for sleekness and sophistication and I love that. I want to own one in my lifetime and I understand the obsession Parsees have with these retro/vintage cars. Just protect this community like they protect their cars. Gem
Thanks for watching, and happy motoring in your Mustang Shelby!
A really super, brief documentary video. Thank you very much. It really is very impressive to see how just much love and devotion is given by this section of the Parsi community to looking after these splendid old cars and motorcycles. Simply wonderful! 🌴👍👀🥊
Parsis are Love ❤
So sad that they're decreasing in population 😢
They have contributed a lot for india
Bless them for their dedication to the simple beauty of Brit classics. Once you are bitten by the bug - it never goes away.
Lovely to see that the Parsis have managed to maintain a distinct identity while still integrating into Indian society. Look forward to them setting an example of hard work, integrity, and wisdom for generations to come.
What an excellent coverage. Thank you for highlighting these people and our community
We need parsi community to grow,what is parsi women doing comeon we need healthy competition with hindus and muslims lol😂😂😂,guys need to look at ur population, we really care about parsi,such a lovely people.
Such a beautiful documentary 😊
What a beautiful documentary! Thank you so much! ❤
Absolutely loved this documentary! A story well filmed!
Wonderfully documented.
thanks!
amazing work, truly commendable, would love to see more of such content
Wow! Really loved this episode. It's the stories and emotions behind these machines that make them more than just a machine, but a family member. Loved it!
This video is documenting and journalism at it's finest. Not because of the coverage, but because you could easily feel the sheer reverence the Parsi community has for their automobiles - all while sharing the respect, endearment, and joy. It was such a perspective of an excited and welcome guest - where you felt greeted by open arms.
i hope this vintage auto culture lasts long and thrives in their community!
Parsis , pride of India. Really fortunate to have such patriotic fellow countrymen.
Truly one of the best researched and articulated video on Parsis aka what the world calls BAWAS.
Great effort and a superb job done by the team of DW REV. Thanks for creating such a wonderful documentary and I am sure it will motivate more Bawas to preserve what they have.
Parsi Community Also Own India's Biggest Automobile Company. They're the REAL Minority we are Proud Of.....
I love Parsis
i thought i will watch it later but i ended up watching the entire video. just love to see people who care about their bikes and cars and are so positive about it. i guess i need to find parsi friends now so i can have at least some friends to talk about bikes and cars
One of the best videos on cars and the people behind them that I've ever seen. Keep it up!
Fantastic video! Really appreciate the great content
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very nice collection of scale models too
There will be a seperate report on this
Great documentary and some beautiful vehicles.
This was a fantastic episode on the famous parsi bawas on india and their love for their " dikri " CARS & BIKES ....;)absolutely loved it!!!!
Thanks for watching!
The best documentary i have watched. Beautifully executed ❤
we were having Premier Padmini passing number MJF3636; I just relived those old great days
Not just parsis, anyone with common sense will like their automotive or mamal motive be it a horse or a donkey or a merc. It's my transportation and I like it. period...
Beautiful video
Now onward I change my mind towards the old vehicle,,, thank you mam
Wow!!!!! I love you people who cared about classic cars and bikes
Wow , inspired by this video ❤ Epic👌👌👌
Superbly made video. Well done
Wow, Mumbai looks so beautiful in this video
Very well filmed 😊❤