Intermarriage in the UK

According to the research of former Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) president and World Zoroastrian Organisation (WZO) founder Shahpur Captain, the percentage of interfaith marriages in the UK based community — reckoned at about 3,000 at the last census — stands at 60 percent of the second generation.

Captain writes that he had taken the data of 185 families who altogether had 376 children. Of these, 227 were married to, living with or going out with non-Zoroastrians, while 80 children (21 percent) were married to or living with Zoroastrian partners. A sizable number, 64, were unwed. Of the five divorces on record three were Zoroastrian marriages.

"That means that nearly three times as many marry outside the community as those within the community. Assuming that at least half the ‘unmarried’ were to marry non-Zoroastrians, the percentage for intercommunity marriages would rise to 69. It would not be far fetched to say that across the community possibly 70 to 75 percent of our second generation children marry outside the fold,” notes Captain.

Captain: survi-val imperatives

"It is this generation of Zoroastrians that should have been kept within our fold, if we are to survive and prosper in the United Kingdom. Instead, a majority of our educated, well placed youth have turned their back on the community which they regard as backward looking and racist. This process of drifting away from the community will accelerate even more in the third generation… there is no guarantee that the children of Zoroastrian parents will marry Zoroastrians only…

"It is now more imperative than before that we recognize the stark reality facing the community. We should welcome with open arms all non-Zoroastrian spouses of Zoroastrians to all our communal and religious functions and ceremonies without reservation of any sort. We should perform the navjote ceremony of the children of Zoroastrian mothers married outside the community and welcome them into our fold. Whenever required, we should perform the full ashirwad ceremony willingly and without conditions. Same for the funeral ceremony. Our Setayash Gah should be open to all…

"The above stated changes in our practice will not take anything away fom our noble religion, for the religion of Zara­thushtra is immutable. In fact, the changes suggested will enhance our religion,” writes Captain in an open letter to the community.

In the meantime to the joy of the family and all orthodox thinkers in London, ZTFE stalwart Rusy and Dr Roshan Dalal’s daughter Natasha was wed to Shiavax, son of the late popular hotelier Jimmy and Zenobia Lord of Matheran’s Lord’s Central Hotel. The ceremony and celebration at the Zoroastrian Centre saw 500 members and friends participate, former ZTFE president and its current treasurer informs us. In fairness to Captain it needs to be noted that that marks a score of 25 percent in the Dalal household.