“Neglected agiary”

Thank you for publishing my letter on the Ashburner Agiary ("Neglected agiary,” Parsiana, May 7, 2011). I have had many e-mails and telephone calls asking for options on what could be done for the Agiary. However, not much has been accomplished.

I have visited the Agiary several times since the letter appeared and though I am not happy I am somewhat satisfied at its present condition compared to what it was earlier. Two employees who were largely responsible for the mess have now been removed.

As Zoroastrians we believe strongly in purity. At the Ashburner Agiary much needs to be done to improve the infrastructure and for maintenance. I have never seen an agiary where there are dark black windows full of dust and cobwebs, a floor which has not been swept for days and a table that’s greasy with so much oil. I had helped to clean the Agiary a few months back along with a couple of friends and family members as I could not bear to see the atash padshah amid dirt and dust with no one to pay any respect or attention. But that was not enough.

I have made up my mind to not only organize a drive to clean the Agiary but to also appoint a couple of persons to work there sincerely and clean it every day. I have met the Agiary’s manager but all he does is crib and talk of closing down the fire temple. Worst of all, he wears a little handkerchief on his head and not a cap (topi) when he is inside the Agiary.

Where all this will end is not a question I can answer, but when it is going to end is something I can work on. For this I require help. I request volunteers to telephone me at 9820174387 or e-mail me if they are interested in helping out. I could then present this offer to the trustees for their assistance as well.

YASMIN SHROFF

syasmin.shroff@gmail.com