Although it reflects the unique identity of the community,
fewer members are willing to speak and teach Parsi Gujarati
Parinaz Gandhi
When asked to fill in their mother tongue on official documents, Parsis in India are in a dilemma. Should it be Gujarati or English? Outside of Gujarat, try asking "Gujarati aavréch ké (do you know Gujarati)?” Those past their prime will probably say "Bolta aavréch pun vaachta nai (we can converse in Gujarati but cannot read the script). The youngsters are more likely to respond with "We can understand but cannot speak.”
Once the state of Bombay was bifurcated along linguistic lines into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960, Parsi students in Bombay opted for English as a medium of instruction. In......