Milestones
Bombay: The Telling Figures for 2003
Except for intercommunity marriages which rose by 15 in 2003 over the previous year’s total of 95, births, Parsi marriages and deaths in the community in Bombay recorded a decline.
As compared to 46 males who opted for non-Parsi spouses in 2002, there were 62 in 2003. The number of out-married females declined by one in 2003 over the preceding year’s total of 49. Thus, of those married out in 2003, 56 percent were males and 44 percent were females. It was the same ratio in 2001. In 2002, 48 percent males and 52 percent females had married out. As against 210 Parsi marriages in 2002 there were 193 in 2003, lower by 17.
The percentage of intercommunity marriages thus rose from 31 in 2002 to 36 in 2003 if calculated as a ratio of intercommunity marriages to the total number of marriages (110:303). If calculated as a ratio of intercommunity to community marriages (110:193) the percentage rises to an all time high of 57 as against 45 the year earlier.
The number of births, 114, according to the statistics available to us, were lower by 66 in 2003 as against 180 in 2002. There were 56 males and 58 females born in the community in 2003 as against 77 males and 103 females a year earlier. Although our birth count includes children of out-married males and females we are principally dependent on the data made available to us from two hospitals in central Bombay.
The death count too reduced in 2003. As against 918 in 2002, there were 886 deaths in the community in 2003 of whom 870 were consigned to the dakhmas and 16 were cremated. In the preceding year 892 were consigned to the dakhmas and 26 were cremated. Considering that there were 439 males and 431 females consigned to the dakh-mas in 2003 it indicates that the percentage of male and female deaths was almost equal. Of those cremated, 10 were males and six were females this year as against nine males and 17 females in 2002. Although there are five electric crematoria in Bombay, Parsiana has access to data only from the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Bombay.
The Life Expectancy at Birth calculated for those consigned at the Doongerwadi was 76 years, the same as in 2002. This is calculated on the basis of data made available to us by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. It was highest, at 80 years, in the month of September 2003 and lowest, at 73 years, in February.
Given below are the 2003 figures pertaining to the Bombay Zoroastrian community based on records available to Parsiana.
Births: 114
Males 56, Females 58
Marriages: 303
Parsi 193
Intercommunal 110
Deaths: 886
Consigned: 870
Males 439, Females 431
Cremated: 16
Males 10, Females 6
As compared to 46 males who opted for non-Parsi spouses in 2002, there were 62 in 2003. The number of out-married females declined by one in 2003 over the preceding year’s total of 49. Thus, of those married out in 2003, 56 percent were males and 44 percent were females. It was the same ratio in 2001. In 2002, 48 percent males and 52 percent females had married out. As against 210 Parsi marriages in 2002 there were 193 in 2003, lower by 17.
The percentage of intercommunity marriages thus rose from 31 in 2002 to 36 in 2003 if calculated as a ratio of intercommunity marriages to the total number of marriages (110:303). If calculated as a ratio of intercommunity to community marriages (110:193) the percentage rises to an all time high of 57 as against 45 the year earlier.
The number of births, 114, according to the statistics available to us, were lower by 66 in 2003 as against 180 in 2002. There were 56 males and 58 females born in the community in 2003 as against 77 males and 103 females a year earlier. Although our birth count includes children of out-married males and females we are principally dependent on the data made available to us from two hospitals in central Bombay.
The death count too reduced in 2003. As against 918 in 2002, there were 886 deaths in the community in 2003 of whom 870 were consigned to the dakhmas and 16 were cremated. In the preceding year 892 were consigned to the dakhmas and 26 were cremated. Considering that there were 439 males and 431 females consigned to the dakh-mas in 2003 it indicates that the percentage of male and female deaths was almost equal. Of those cremated, 10 were males and six were females this year as against nine males and 17 females in 2002. Although there are five electric crematoria in Bombay, Parsiana has access to data only from the Chandanwadi crematorium in south Bombay.
The Life Expectancy at Birth calculated for those consigned at the Doongerwadi was 76 years, the same as in 2002. This is calculated on the basis of data made available to us by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. It was highest, at 80 years, in the month of September 2003 and lowest, at 73 years, in February.
Given below are the 2003 figures pertaining to the Bombay Zoroastrian community based on records available to Parsiana.
Births: 114
Marriages: 303
Deaths: 886
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