Bungli beautified

The final destination of many a Parsi from Nagpur is the aramgah which has a quaint bungli constructed in 1910 by the Contractor family of Chargaon. Time had taken a toll on the structure, so the Shree Nagpur and Kamptee Parsi Zarthosti Anjuman went into action to restore this "piece of its history,” states a write-up sent to Parsiana by Sohrab Kanga.

Interior and exterior of restored bungli in Nagpur

Led by Anjuman president Aspi Bapuna and honorary secretary Shiraz Gimi, a dedicated team of members collected donations from the community. The ball was set rolling by the World Zoroastrian Organisation and the Zoroastrian Charity Funds of Hong Kong, Canton and Macao which donated one lakh rupees each.
Rukshad Bhagwagar and his interior design firm Forms were entrusted with the task of repairs and restoration, the only condition being that the original work done by their ancestors not be disturbed. Painstakingly, over a period of eight months, the brickwork was cleaned, the turrets recast, tiling redone, new sachkar area and plinth constructed, bathrooms refitted, pressured water supply provided, the large glass window redone in stained glass and the Persian inscriptions restored, the write-up reveals.
With the aramgah’s bungli restored, Nagpur’s Parsis, many of whom now live in high-rise buildings have a bungli renewed to its original glory wherein their last rites can be performed.