Protect the Iranshah

For the past two years in particular a lot of concern has been expressed by various Zoroastrians (priests, professionals, engineers and specialists in soil mechanics and oceanographic studies) about the submarine seepage of water, along the Udvada coastline, where the Iranshah is located.

This subject has been debated even at the six-monthly meeting of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India. Our holiest fire has been shifted from time to time on the grounds of safety/security, and there is no sanctity to one particular place. It was kept burning in Sanjan for 669 years after which it was kept in the Bahrot Caves for 12 years (1393-1405 AC); thence in the Vansda forest for 14 years (1405-1418 AC) and thereafter at Navsari for 313 years (1419-1732 AC). After three years in Surat (1733-1736 AC) it was brought back to Navsari where it remained for five years (1736-1741 AC). The following year (1741-1742 AC) it was housed in Valsad after which it has remained in Udvada for the last 260 years (October 28, 1742 till date).

The earlier reasons were its physical safety, occasioned by political instability: the Moslem misrule in South and Central Gujarat and the fear of the Pindharis. The current reason is also one of physical safe­ty, arising from natural (and not political) dangers. We should be physically, financially and administratively prepared for the shifting of our holiest fire as a last option.

Everything conceivable can be done to retain it at Udvada after ensuring its safety against the ravages of the Arabian Sea. It would also mean an intensive dialog with the priests of Udvada in particular should such an eventuality arise.

A trustee of the Poona Panchayat has volunteered to provide spacious land and the infrastructure for relocating the Iranshah in the safe environment of Poona. Perhaps it may never be necessary if the Gujarat government takes early and stringent measures to prevent further sub-soil damage. Should the sea defeat man, we may have no option but to shift our most precious legacy and possession to a safer haven. I am sure funds from India and abroad will pour in. All our holy fires are our lasting and enduring inspiration and no endeavor must be spared to protect each and everyone of those which are burning today and will burn till eternity.

BEHRAM T. DASTUR