Bombay: The Telling Figures for 2007

Contrary to public perception, double the number of Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian men married outside the faith as versus women in 2007 in Bombay.

Statistics obtained from the Registrar of Marriages offices at Fort and Bandra showed 66 males marrying out as versus 33 women. The year prior the figures were 37 males and 42 females. One reason for a larger number of males marrying outside the fold is that there are more boys than girls in the marriageable age group, Parsis/Iranis having a noticeable preference for sons rather than daughters.

The total number of interfaith marriages was 99 as versus 224 of community marriages. This works out to around 31 percent. The previous year, the figure was 32 percent. The interfaith percentage figure has remained between 30 and 36 for the last eight years. This may indicate a stabilization of the figure but one cannot predict whether the trend will change.

The largest number of marriages, 81, were in the month of December (59, same faith and 22 outside the faith). January was next with 43 Parsi/Irani marriages and 14 interfaith.

As versus 247 marriages in 2006, the count for 2007 was 323. While the number of community marriages increased from 168 in 2006 to 224 in 2007, the number of interfaith marriages rose from 79 to 99. The year 2008 being a leap year, a decline in the number of marriages, especially within the community is expected, couples being apprehensive of marrying in a supposedly inauspicious year.

The average age of brides was 27 in 2007 as compared to 28 years in 2006. Likewise the average age of bridegrooms too came down from 31 in 2006 to 30 years in 2007.

The number of births (from the data available to Parsiana) in the Bombay community registered a decline from 132 in 2006 to 123 in 2007. As compared to 63 boys born in 2006, there were 65 in 2007 but the birth count for females declined from 69 to 58. The birth data is not exhaustive as Parsiana has access only to the B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital, the Breach Candy Hospital and individuals writing in to us with proof of verification. The figure probably represents around two-thirds of the births in Bombay.

The life expectancy in the community which stood at 78 years in 2006 remained the same for 2007 too.

The death count showed a reduction as well. As against 802 deaths registered in 2006, there were 789 in 2007 or an average of 66 a month. Among those consigned at the Doon­gerwadi there were 397 males and 366 females in 2007 as compared to 375 males and 398 females in 2006. The number of females opting for cremation at the Chandanwadi crematorium was 15 in 2007 as compared to 18 the year earlier. The number of males cremated, 11, remained the same for both the years. The data for those consigned at Doongerwadi is sent by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet while the cremation data is obtained from only the Chandanwadi electric crematorium, one of the six crematoria in Bombay.

Given below are the 2007 figures pertaining to the Parsi community in Bombay based on records available to Par-siana:

Births: 123

Boys 65, Girls 58

Marriages: 323

Parsi 224

Interfaith 99

Males married out 66,

Females married out 33

Deaths: 789

Consigned: 763

Males 397, Females 366

Cremated: 26

Males 11, Females 15