Be your own man, Ratan Tatahas advised Cyrus Mistry, who will succeed him at the helm of the USD 100 billion Tata group two weeks from now. “I don’t think it is right to have a ghost to shadow over somebody,” saysTata, dismissing any notion that his larger-than-life persona would linger even after he retires on December 28 when he turns 75
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http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ratan-tata-cyrus-mistry-tata-group-chairman-tata-tata-group/1/237685.html

The 10th World Zoroastrian Congress will be held in Mumbai from 27th December 2013 to 31st December 2013. Mumbai is the birthplace of Parsi entrepreneurship, and is closely identified with Parsi and Iranian Zoroastrians. The community has made a substantial contribution to the city and the nation in every field of endeavour, including arts and culture, law, science and engineering, medicine, defence of the nation and more. The theme of the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress, Mumbai is “Zoroastrianism in the 21st Century: Nurturing Growth and Affirming our Identity”.

It was in Zoroastrianism that the concepts of heaven and hell first appeared and from there on this belief found its way into judaism and christianity. Here are some quotes from an article by norwegian professor Michael STAUSBERG on the subject.

To read the complete article, click here

THE ZARATHUSHTI WORLD – A DEMOGRAPHIC PICTURE
(Revision 3, Oct 28, 2012, including results from the 2011 Iran census.)
In commemoration of its 25th anniversary, FEZANA undertook a demographic study of Zarathushtis around the world. The 2012 data was compared with a similar study in 2004 [FEZANA Journal, Winter 2004]. Some very significant (and rather alarming) observations were noted.

* The estimated Zarathushti world population has declined by11.0%, weighted largely by declines in Iran (- 37.5%), India (-12.4%, note: estimated data was used, pending official census results) and Pakistan (-21.0%). Gains in the Diaspora countries, primarily USA (+32.5%), Canada (+7.5%), New Zealand (+36.8%) and Singapore (+129.6%) do not compensate for these losses.

* The situation in India is exacerbated by the high ratio of deaths to births. In Mumbai, this ratio has increased from 303 deaths per 100 births in 1992, to 741 deaths per 100 births in 2011. Over the past two decades (1992 – 2011) there were only3,456 births and a five times larger number of 17,715 deaths in Mumbai!

* Over the last two decades, there has been an upward trend in intermarriages as reported in Parsiana for Mumbai (from 20.5% in 1992 to 38.9% in 2011) and in FEZANA Journal for North America (from 23.7% in 1991 to approx. 60% in 2011.

* On the optional survey questions about offspring of mixed marriages and conversions to/from the Zoroastrian faith, few responses were received (only from a few North American states/provinces, and not from any other country). While not statistically significant, the data does indicate a disturbing number of children of mixed marriages and more so, their next generation, not following the Zarathushti religion.

Disclaimer. While every effort has been made in good faith to seek out reliable sources, this compilation is not an official, statistically correct census. The raw data is presented, as received, to get a flavor of the Zarathushti world. We leave it to the professionals to analyze the data, and determine its credibility and level of confidence. Addressing the issues. In India the decline has been attributed primarily to low fertility rates; the leadership is aware and taking measures to address those issues. In the Diaspora communities, while there is population growth, indications are towards subtle decline due to assimilation and intermarriages; we urge community leaders to initiate measures to keep future generations within the fold. We appeal to the worldwide leadership to take cognizance of these disturbing trends, implement actions to address the issues unique to each country, and work together towards a worldwide Zarathushti renaissance.

These results were presented (along with an early history of Zarathushtis in North America) by Roshan Rivetna at the Congress in New York in August 2012. The powerpoint presentation and the paper “The Zarathushti World – a Demographic Picture by Roshan Rivetna†(Revision 3, dated Oct 28, 2012, now updated to include 2011 Iran Census results) can be viewed at www.fezana.org.
For information contact FEZANA Administrator Zenobia Damania at admin@fezana.org.

The Parsi community in Mumbai now wishes to provide vultures with two aviaries, which are to be built smack at the center of one of their most sacred sites. Their goal is fairly simple to comprehend. They want these scavengers to once again feed on their dead, as most of the people who are part and parcel of this community believe that, when compared to being buried and being cremated, being eaten by a vulture is the best, especially as far as environmental protection and public health are concerned. Work on these two aviaries is to begin in April 2013, and it is expected that, by the year 2014, this centuries-old practice will be resurrected. €  ’³Without the vultures, more and more Parsis are choosing to be cremated. I have to bring back the vultures so the system is working again, especially during the monsoon. Most vulture aviaries have to spend huge sums to buy meat, but for us that’s free because the vultures will be feeding on human bodies on us, Dins! haw Rusi Mehta, chairman of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet told members of the press.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Parsi-Community-Wants-Vultures-to-Feed-on-Their-Dead-311172.shtml