The book shows how Indian babies and toddlers were placed in the cantons of Zurich and Thurgau between 1973 and 2002 and how they were taken in and adopted there for care. It follows her journey to Switzerland, which begins with her biological mothers. The circumstances of the procreation, birth and surrender of children by mostly unmarried women as well as legal practice in international adoptions in India and Switzerland are discussed. The focus is also on the prominent and often questionable role of women who worked as adoption mediators in international child transfer and brought over 2,000 Indian children to Switzerland during the investigation period. The authors have processed extensive archival material and held numerous discussions in India and Switzerland with people who were adopted, who were involved in the process, with adoptive parents and experts. In doing so, they unravel a hitherto largely unknown chapter in the history of foreign placement and international adoption and provide insight into a complex network that was characterized by couples' unfulfilled desire to have children, commercial interests, questionable legal practice and inadequate child protection.
The book will be published by Chronos Verlag in September 2024.
27.9.2024
