My name is Behram. I was born in the town of Surat in the then Bombay State (now Gujarat) in India.
I have made this simple website to tell you a few things about myself and my family. I hope you will enjoy the narration.
My Dad Nariman was a Medical Officer in the Western Railways. Mum Negish kept home. And so, as a youngster, I have roamed throughout the Western Railway, skipping from town to town and changing five schools before I passed my SSC from Fatima Convent High School in Bhavnagar.
As a kid, I was rather mischievious and hence never the teacher's pet. I was very average in studies, utterly lousy at sport, but good at dramatics, especially comedy. OK, let's not mince words here. I was a clown. I took part in school plays and got a few prizes too.
I am also a good Boy Scout (once a scout, always a scout). I took part in the 1962 Allahabad All India Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Jamboree 1964, as a member of the contingent that represented Gujarat State.
After passing SSC, I enrolled myself into the KC College in Mumbai (previously Bombay) for a degree in Science. Sucked at that too. So the degree never came my way.
There is an old addage that says: "The dog of the family goes out to sea." So I joined the Shipping Corporation of India as a Officer Deck Cadet in 1970.
Ultimately, I became Master (Ship's Captain) in 1981. During my sea-career, I have served on dry cargo vessels, oil tankers and also super tankers. Overall, it was a very exciting and educational experience.
I have visited many countries, met so many types of interesting people and made so many friends. I also got attacked by pirates (with actual guns) in South America. So all was not 'roses' - so to speak.
In 1992, I migrated with my family, to the beautiful country of Australia. My wife Shernavaz and son Hormuzd immediately took to the lifestyle and environment and as of now, we have spent a good and happy life in this land. No wonder Australia is often refered to as "God's Country".
After migration to Australia, I took up work as a Marine Consultant with a firm called C.R.Cox & Associates (Australia). I have now completed 17 gruelling years of service in that firm.
Here you see myself (the ugly one on the left) with my beautiful wife of 32 years (to date) Shernavaz. All our married life she has looked after me and given me years of happiness for which I am grateful.
While I go to work inspecting ships and cargo, Shernavaz keeps house and manages domestic finances. She is also an extra-ordinary cook, which gives her a chance to do small-time catering from home, purely on a hobby basis.
My lovely daughter-in-law Cassandra and son Hormuzd, (with the twinkle in his eye, and the silly grin) live in Sydney. Every once in a while, either they come over, or we go there.
Hormuzd is a Computer Engineer working for Cootes, while Cassie works for Centrelink. Both are happy. God Bless them.
I am a member of the Zoroastrian Community. We are in excess of 200 individuals living in the glorious city of Perth in Western Australia. I follow the Zoroastrian religion. This religion originated in ancient Persia (Iran). Some reckon 3000 years ago, some more. But scholars do agree that Zoroastrianism is the very first monotheistic religion in the world. It is founded on three simple principles 'Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds'. Can it be simpler than that?
We have formed an association in Western Australia. It is called the Zoroastrian Association of Western Australia Inc. I urge you to visit our website. It is quite interesting. Time to time, we have religious and social activities. We have a great time, and have guests over from other communities as well.
My Dad Nariman Erachshsh Cooper, was an avid photographer. Armed with his bellows-type German make camera, he took many an intereting shot on black & white film. Then, on weekends, he would colour them in with special water colours he had brought back from Japan where he was part of The British India Occupational Forces, after WW-II.
Here you see Mum Nergish and Dad around their wedding date sometime in 1942. Dad was a Medical Officer in the Railways. He was loaned to the Army. Then back to the Western Railway. He retired in 1973.
Dad passed away in 2001 and Mum in 2005. Both had a long happy life and took good care of myself and my brother Mehernosh.
So that's where I got the bug too. Film photography was quite expensive. So I was a bit cautious with my Pentax SLR. But when digital cameras took over the market, I went crazy. Over the years, Shernavaz and myself have been to many interesting and scenic locations. Here are some links to my digipics:
Years ago, when the Internet was just being introduced in Australia, Hormuzd and myself went for a demonstration given by iinet, at The University of Notre Dame in Fremantle. Here is this guy getting us information from all over the world right on to the screen. And my first reaction was: "How cool is that?"
And after a few days to subscribing to an Internet account, I said to myself: "If it is so cool to look at webpages, how nice it would be for me to create some." So I armed myself with an 'Idiot's Guide' and started making web pages.
I keep my designs simple. Mainly text driven to reduce loading time. Here are some links to websites I have created:
Contact me for your graphics and web design requirements, just to say "Hello" or to give me feedback on my website.
