“Karani Agiary’s salgireh”

The Karani Agiary was founded and funded by my grandfather’s brother ("Karani Agiary’s salgireh,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, February 21, 2015). It was a very Zarathushti family with high religious and family values. They were God-fearing, generous people and in those days establishing an agiary was one of the good deeds that people who could afford it did as a good Zarathushti act.

My understanding is that my brother, Dr Philly Karani, who has been a trustee of the fire temple, said that the fire was brought to Cusrow Baug to save it from destruction during the Hindu-Muslim riots in Null Bazar where it was originally located. It was reportedly brought overnight and Nusserwanjee Hirjibhai Karani made a covenant with the Cusrow Baug authorities (the Wadias) to keep the fire there, build the current agiary and have half the number of trustees from the Karani family and the remainder nominated by the Cusrow Baug authority/managing committee. My father, Maj Gen N. D. P. Karani was a trustee for many years, and I am hoping that my son Farokh Karani will be a trustee one day.

ZAREEN KARANI ARAOZ
Boston, USA
zareen@managing cultures.com