AHMEDABAD: When 89-year-old Gustad Borjorji Engineer passed away in Feb 2014, he left behind a flat for his caregiver's granddaughter by writing a will. A city civil court last week granted probate of that will, bestowing the deceased's property to the person who was not blood-related to him. Engineer, who was previously engaged with Tata Industries, wrote a will a month before he passed away on Feb 22, 2014. He had no legal heir - son or daughter. His wife passed away in 2001. The 159-square yard flat in Shahibaug, where he was living, was to be given to Amisha Makwana, who was just 13 years of age then.
Makwana's grandmother gave her services as a caregiver for the Engineer family offering her culinary services. From a very young age, the girl would accompany her grandmother to the Parsi family's house. Engineer developed a bond with the child and took responsibility for her education.
In his last days, Engineer wrote the will in presence of two witnesses and got it notarised as well. Since Makwana was a minor then, Engineer appointed his nephew Behram Engineer as executor of the will. Behram remained her legal guardian until she became a major.
In 2023, Makwana approached the city civil court through advocate Adil Saiyed for probate of the will and submitted that she was "residing with Engineer and taking his care till his death and residing with him as his daughter and family member. Hence, out of love and affection, deceased - Gustad Borjorji Engineer bequeathed her property mentioned in the Schedule to the applicant by executing a Will dated 12-01-2014". A public notice was issued inviting objections before the court granted probate of the will. There was no objection from anybody. Engineer's brother too gave a No Objection Certificate in Makwana's favour. The court on Aug 2 ordered a probate in her favour and issued a succession certificate.
'He wanted to adopt me' Amisha Makwana affectionately recalls her bond with Engineer and his wish to adopt her. Makwana, who now works in the human resources department of a private company, said, "I used to call him Tai. We had a special bond. He wanted to take care of me. He was like my mother and father both. Till I was 13, he was a protective shield for me," she told TOI. She further said, "He wanted to adopt me but did not, considering my interest only. He was a Parsi, and he did not want my faith or identity to be changed. He was aware that adoption would only distance me from my biological parents. He always wished that I got compassion from both the families."
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