Subscribers’ views on Parsiana/the community as expressed on the subscription renewal form are published. Unless another name is affixed to the remarks, Parsiana assumes they are written by the subscriber.
Parsiana keeps me updated as to what is happening in our community around the world. Keep it up, team Parsiana!
BEHRAM MADON
Secunderabad
Parsiana magazine is very well brought out as it gives us varied community news from India and abroad. Parsis must contribute for it. Carry on the good work.
ARNAVAZ RUSTOM POONEGAR
I enjoy reading it on the whole, but get depressed when I read about men and women marrying outside. Stop publishing such matters as they have a very bad influence on our youth. ZARIR B. SETHNA
The editors reply:
We appreciate the apprehensions cited by Mr Sethna but we would be failing in our duty if we did not report honestly and independently on trends and developments in the community. Last year the percentage of out-married Parsis in Bombay exceeded the Parsi to Parsi marriages for the first time ever. Instead of bemoaning that 51% marry non-Parsis, we should rejoice that 49% still marry within the community. The latter figure is going to keep depleting.
The main cause for Parsis marrying non-Parsis is the exceedingly limited choice of spouses within the community. In Bombay probably fewer than 150 Parsi babies are born in a year. Elsewhere the figure is far less; accordingly, the figure for interfaith marriages spirals.
We have to learn to adjust and adapt to this new reality. It is unlikely that Parsiana’s statistics influence who one chooses to marry. Many Parsis who marry non-Parsis do not subscribe to or even read Parsiana.
Due to the present restrictions on social gatherings, the opportunities to meet other Parsis and anyone else has been severely curtailed. This isolation will reflect on the percentage of people never getting married, marrying within or outside their communities.
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It is the best magazine for the Parsi community giving news and views on our community affairs all over the world. It is a boon to Parsis in India and globally. Please keep up the good work.
PHIROZ H. WRITER