It refers to media-reports about The Dadar Athornan Institute set up about a century ago to train persons from fast-eliminating Parsi community as Parsi priests by admitting students at an early childhood age from class I to class X, on verge of closure because of shortage of funds. Since population of most-talented Parsi community of the world having sharply declined, funds from the community are not enough to run the Institute.
Concern on fast declining Parsi population have been raised again and again including even by the then President Pranab Mukerji. Apart from other steps taken to increase Parsi population, it is time that Maharashtra government takes over responsibility for funds to run the only institute to train students as Parsi priests namely The Dadar Athornan Institute also as a gesture towards the community which has provided most talented persons in every field including cricket, trade, industry and even in service-sector for taking up big projects in its dedicating spirit towards society as a whole where the basic principle is to live for the society rather than for self.
It is also time to amend articles 331 and 333 of the Constitution providing at least one of the two reserved seats in Lok Sabha presently for Anglo-Indians only to a distinguished personality from Parsi community.
MADHU AGRAWAL