Adoption is the answer
It was heartening to read in the newspapers about the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment that ruled that any person can adopt a child under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 irrespective of the religion he or she follows and even if the personal laws of the particular religion of that person do not permit it. This, to me, seems an ideal solution for our dwindling numbers — a solution more simple, ethical, paropakaari (benevolent) and truly philanthropic in the most catholic sense of the term, would be hard to find.
We only have to empty our orphanages by adopting children and raising them as pure, ethical Zoroastrians with a large measure of Parsipanu thrown in. This would truly and definitely be a boon to our nation. After all, as the popular legend states, haven’t we kept our promise to Jadi Rana to mingle effortlessly into the mainstream culture and sweeten it in every way?
By adopting children we will be creating honest-to-goodness Zoroastrians who will spread ethical values across our beloved land — a land now groaning under the burden of corruption. Mother Earth will no longer have to weep and beg Ahura Mazda for a savior. She will have an army of hamkars to aid her.
In the true spirit of sakhaavat our charity will encompass every community, caste and "out-caste.” Our homes will be full of youthful joy and laughter.
Adoption could very well increase the total fertility rate in a natural manner. Women have been known to conceive after adopting a child. Moreover, our women will no longer have to subject themselves to expensive fertility treatment and face financial, emotional and physical stress.
Our glorious religion could then flourish, not by the sword as in ancient times, but through the warmth and love of innocent children. In this way we could truly repay our debt to our adopted motherland. ABAN MUKHERJI
mukherji.aban@gmail.com
The editors note
According to noted jurist Fali Nariman the Supreme Court judgment is not applicable to Parsis (see "No right to adopt,” Parsiana, March 7, 2014).