Adopt adoption law

The gruesome murder of Adi K. Cursetjee by an allegedly "adopted” non-Parsi woman is only an extreme case of Parsi wealth being coveted by outsiders. The community is dithering on many important issues, vital to its survival and growth: one of those being the issue of adoption (which was illegalized when the Union of India was formed on January 26, 1950).

The Parsis of the princely state of Baroda used to adopt Parsis and the adoptees were called palak and dattak. With the merger of the state with the Union, that practice was no longer legal and our Parsi elders did nothing to retain or strengthen it!

Most communities have adoption laws and the most enlightened community in the country is still debating the issue.

Even today it is not too late for the Parsis to legalize adoption, draft out provisions of an Adoption Bill for Parsis, submit it to the law and home ministries of the Central Government and see that it becomes an act of Parliament.

BEHRAM T. DASTUR