Leave ‘well’ enough

From time to time, there have been press reports about our chief minister, the home secretary, the police commissioner and even our governor evincing a sincere interest in the repeated vandalism at the Bhikha Behram Well.

A report in The Times of India (June 8, 2004) states: "Members of the community are reluctant to even replace the damaged stained glass panes, fearing further attacks.”

The fears are not at all misplaced. One should learn from how the Somnath Temple was plundered by Mohammed Gazni. It was re-embellished 16 times. After each embellishment, Gazni plundered it, with impunity. Seventeen times he plundered Somnath!

Bhikha Behram well: learn from experience

Some counsels suggest that no new stained glass should be fitted into the hollow panels. The glass panels should be replaced by vandal-proof marble or Cuddapa stone which can be engraved with an asho farohar/a fire altar/a picture of Zarathushtra. The stone will have no pilferage value; plus it will be much more enduring than glass panels.

If intruders could walk in to the Anjuman Atash Behram (where there is a modicum of security) and take photographs with impunity why talk of our Well? Sanity demands no further embellishment.

BEHRAM T. DASTUR