Parsi Lady Falls To Her Death

In the early morning hours of 26th March, 2020, 42-year-old Zenobia Batliwala fell to her death from her third floor residence – Patel Chambers, in Fort area (South Mumbai). She was taken to St. George Hospital by the police who had been alerted by the locals around 7:00 am. She was declared dead at the hospital. Zenobia lived with her 90-year-old mother.  

The police has registered a case of ‘Accidental Death’. According to DCP Sangram Singh Nishandar, “All evidence points out that she jumped from her third-floor apartment. She has multiple injuries on her head, leg and ribs. Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide. There is no sexual assault.” The incident is under investigation. The police has also alleged that she was of unsound mind. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet confirmed that the funeral took place on 27th March, 2020 at Doongerwadi. The numbers were kept restricted because of ongoing Coronavirus provisos. 

She was associated with the 71st Zoroastrian Guide Company. A sad message on social media from the Girl Guides group read, “Zenobia Batliwalla our Flock Leader for many years has passed away under very unfortunate circumstances. For us Guiders and our children who were trained by her, it is a very unnerving news. Her smiling face is not leaving us at this moment. Please send a silent prayer for her and her ailing mother, whom she used to take care of.” (Flock leaders are in charge of the 6 to 10 age group).

Speaking to Parsi Times, long time neighbour, Pearl Dalal, shared, “I’m truly shocked to know this. She was a very reserved person but also a sweet, cordial and a soft-spoken person, who preferred to keep to herself. She was doing well in life and was at a senior position in an MNC too. The passing of her father last year seems to have taken a huge toll on her and made her more reticent and depressed. She wasn’t much in touch with her extended family. The last year also took a grave toll on her personality. When I first saw the pictures on social media, I wasn’t ready to believe it was Zenobia!” 

In other media reports, the deceased’s cousin, Noshir Batliwala shared his shock at the incident. He said she was well-placed and wasn’t aware of her being depressed. He said that she was very caring of her parents, calling her a “good soul”.

What has been most disconcerting and shameful about this very unfortunate incident is the unbridled and vile rumour mills on social media, going berserk with fictional and fabricated messages being blindly forwarded across whatsapp and other social media platforms. Instead of showing the much-warranted sensitivity and respect for the departed, the rumour mongers made it a free-for-all, with reprehensible and obnoxious fictional accounts of rape / sexual assault doing the rounds! It is beyond shameful that some community members tend to blindly forward even such extremely sensitive news, without bothering to verify its details first, or showing even the slightest consideration towards the unfortunate incident. Such blatant negligence has become the trademark of these ‘Whatsapp Wasters’ and ‘Facebook Frauds’.  

Even the popular Parsi eatery, ‘Ideal Corner’, was wrongly roped into this fake-news, simply because of its proximity to the incident. Speaking to Parsi Times, the owner of Ideal Corner, Parvez Patel, shares, “I want to set right the absolutely incorrect and negative social media messages circulated on WhatsApp and Facebook, linking Ideal Corner to this tragedy, by people with no connection to this incident. It is being said that this was a rape case and it occurred in or outside Ideal Corner. The truth is that our establishment has been closed since 21st March midnight due to the Covid 19 situation, and we have absolutely nothing to do with this incident. Since Ideal Corner has CCTV outside the restaurant, I offered to assist the police by checking the CCTV footage.  We could not find any information on that footage. My role in this incident ended here. Meanwhile, all sorts of rumours started circulating on social media, maligning Ideal Corner! It is very disturbing to me that these baseless and factually incorrect rumours, put on social media by irresponsible individuals, without any fact checking, are damaging the good image and reputation of our 35-year-old establishment which we have worked so hard to build.”

It is sincerely hoped, that in the future, community members will show some respect and restraint, towards such unfortunate incidents and take the effort to verify the authenticity of the news they receive from these unaccountable social media platforms, before they senselessly forward it to the rest of the world.