“Preserving property”

I was appalled to see a photograph showing trash on the open area across the road opposite the side wall of the Seth Cowasji Dinshaw Daremeher in Lonavla ("Preserving property,” Parsiana, December 7, 2013) and wonder whether the Lonavla Khandala Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman did complain about it to the civic authorities.
In America the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America has published a book titled The Z Factor, Life’s Driving Lessons by Shahriar Shahriari. It is the story of a young man who plants seeds that grow to be daffodils and green lawns in a rundown section of mainstream America. The book reveals how Z cleaned up the trash thrown around trees with the help of children.
The condition in Lonavla is so diametrically opposite to what is enumerated in The Z Factor. Cleanliness is next to godliness is what our religion preaches.
I urge the Zoroastrians of Lonavla/Khandala to clean up the garbage. I as a 70-year-old Zoroastrian Parsi offer to do so voluntarily. If need be I will stay in Lonavla for a week and do this on my next trip to India.

PORUS N. DADABHOY
Illinois, USA
porusdad@gmail.com