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After Jiyo, it’s Patao ParsiAt a special meet organised later this month, prominent Parsis will advise bachelors in the community how to date, and ultimately marry, girls within the communityCalling Parsi boys ‘mama’s boys’ Dr Ashdin Turner, a dentist on the panel, said he will aim to advise them to let go of their mother’s apron strings. “Parsi boys are mollycoddled and are attached to their mothers. I will tell them to be courteous, and not be on the phone with their mothers, when they are on a date with a Parsi girl. Otherwise the date will be disaster. They should bring flowers for the girl without telling her that their Mama chose the colour of the flowers,” he said.Giving his own example, Dr Turner said that he got married when he was 29 years old and his wife 23. They now have two teenaged children. “Nowadays, we have boys and girls who are marrying very late. I will mentor some of the Parsi boys and get them to understand how to win the hearts of the Parsi girls before they get won over by a non-Parsi,” he said.Shahzad Davar, a fitness expert, will speak about the importance of physical fitness and exercise. “It ultimately trickles down to some level of attraction. I will give them tips on what they can do to be fit, including diet and exercise,” said Davar.Hormuz Ragina, India’s JAM master, who speaks for Just A Minute on a topic without stammering or stuttering is the third panellist, whose role will be to boost the confidence of Parsi boys. “A lot of boys in our community are shy while approaching women. I will guide them to channelise theirin the right direction,” said Ragina, who also wants youngsters to inculcate the habit of reading. Ragina added that he has some mantras to enhance their personality. “I will tell them to learn three new things in a year. Like learning a new language or an instrument. It is about expanding their intellect andand that is what will make them attractive,” he said.Pearl Tirandas from Jiyo Parsi Foundation said that the meet would be an interactive session where participants will have the opportunity to exchange thoughts, experiences and ideas with a panel of men who are successful in their personal and professional lives.A 40-year-old Parsi bachelor, who will be attending the session, told Mirror on condition of anonymity, “We are just looking to settle down as quickly as possible. Parsi girls are more educated than Parsi boys. So it is difficult to get a Parsi girl to marry at a young age. I am 40 years old and I have not found a bride yet. The session will be helpful for people like me.”The Jiyo Parsi scheme was a government initiative launched in 2013 to stem the decline of India’s Parsi population. The latest 2011 Census put the number of Indian Parsis at 57,264, a fall from 114,000 in 1941. By 2021, when the population of India will be 1.2 billion, the number of Parsis is expected to be 58,000.