Readers' Forum
Parsis and adoption
Currently there is no central legislation governing adoption among the Parsis of India. Historically, the practice of palak (nothing to do with the spinach!) was practiced by the Parsis only in the princely state of Baroda, for centuries. There’s a record of the first Meherji Rana (born 1514, estimated) being adopted by his paternal uncle, Vatchha Jesung.
The law regarding Parsi adoption died with the state of Baroda merging with the Union of India in 1950.
On this issue, Parsis have been indolent and primitive in not urging the central government to enact a law of adoption for the community. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) should take the help of eminent jurists and submit a draft to the Central Law Ministry.
Instead of bickering at the weekly meetings of the BPP and six-monthly meetings of FPZAI, these bodies should take up some constructive work and move toward submitting a legal draft.
The law regarding Parsi adoption died with the state of Baroda merging with the Union of India in 1950.
On this issue, Parsis have been indolent and primitive in not urging the central government to enact a law of adoption for the community. The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI) should take the help of eminent jurists and submit a draft to the Central Law Ministry.
Instead of bickering at the weekly meetings of the BPP and six-monthly meetings of FPZAI, these bodies should take up some constructive work and move toward submitting a legal draft.
B. T. DASTUR
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