The Community, All Five High Priests Speak Unanimously Against Metro III
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The unanimous protest to ‘Save Our Atash Behrams’ brought the community together at Patkar Hall, near Churchgate (South Bombay), on 8th June, 2018. Community initiatives – The Parsee Voice and WAPIZ – jointly invited community members for a public meeting to support the High Court Petition asking to realign the Metro III line in order to prevent the desecration of our holy Anjuman and Wadiaji Atash Behrams. And the Community displayed fervent support, turning up in large numbers to save Our Atash Behrams, a Movement which was supported unanimously by our five High Priests – Vada Dasturjis – Khurshed Dastoor (Udvada), Kaikhushroo Dastoor Meherjirana (Navsari), Kaikhushroo JamaspAsa (Mumbai), Dr. Firoze Kotwal (Mumbai), Cyrus Dastur (Surat); as also the BPP Trustees, various Anjumans across the country and the Trustees of both the Atash Behrams.
The event commenced at 6:30 pm with the compere and one of the main crusaders, Hanoz Mistry, introducing eminent dignitaries on the dais – frontman of the movement Jamshed Sukhadwalla, lawyer Zerick Dastur, Vada Dasturji Cyrus Noshirwan Dastur, Er. Pervez Bajan, and petitioners Berjis Desai and Ratan Patel. The gathering brought to light three significant aspects of the Metro III tunnel, that is, ‘Structural’, ‘Legal’ and ‘Religious’ facets.
Surat’s Vada Dasturji, Cyrus Noshirwan Dastur led the Humbandagi, followed by Chief Petitioner Jamshed Sukhadwalla, who received a grand applause on taking the mike. He stressed how this was just the start of a long journey and the support of the entire Parsi Community will be needed along the way. He further expressed gratitude to all those who helped through the difficult phase, especially Hafeez Contractor, Upendra Rao, Zerick Dastur and his colleagues – Kunal Kothari, Tanvi, and Smriti Singh who represented the petitioners in court.
Dasturji Cyrus Dastur acknowledged the solid unity in our community responding to the need of the hour which demands we protect our heritage structures. “It would be a sin if the holy fire within our Atash Behrams were desecrated due to the Metro III line. The repercussions will be noticed by our community and others, if the connection of the Atash is broken with the ground,” said Dasturji Cyrus, thereby appealing to the Government to keep the Metro III line away from our pious Atash Behram compounds since there is no way that a new Atash Behram can be consecrated.
Lawyer, Zerick Dastur, who represented our stand in court, expressed happiness on seeing a packed house supporting the noble cause. Zerick shared how when he visited Wadiaji Atash Behram for a sight inspection, he was convinced we were fighting for a righteous cause. “A Fundamental Right is not what someone can give you, but it is what no one can take away from you,” said Zerick, thanking Er. Rooyintan Peer for his laborious research which helped provide the requisite material to move court. After facing numerous challenges based on their sense of conviction in this cause, an Interim Order was finally secured from the High Court on 23rd May, 2018.
Berjis Desai delivered a strong message, sharing his observation about how all had gathered as one unit, keeping any differences as traditionalists or reformists, at bay. Er. Dr. Pervez Bajan shared a glimpse into the history of the Atash Behrams and spoke of the significance of our fire and religion, and the ill-effects of having a tunnel built under the Atash Behrams.
Hanoz Mistry read out the Resolution, declaring it open for vote by all attendees. He stated that if need be, the video recording of the same would be produced in court as evidence implying the strength in numbers, within the community, opposing the tunnelling work under the Atash Behrams for the Metro III line. All of the one thousand and sixty-three attendees in the hall voted in favour of the Resolution objecting the Metro III work, unanimously passing the Resolution amidst a lot of well-deserved cheer! With records of the attendees documented in over six books at the registration counter set up at the entrance of the hall, the very purpose of the ‘protest gathering’ stood fulfilled. The eve concluded with an extensive vote of thanks delivered by Rita Doctor.
In fact, it is in keeping with this show of solidarity and unity, that the collective efforts of the Community have been successful in getting the High Court to pass an order on 14 June, 2018, in keeping with the Writ Petition filed by Jamshed Sukhadwalla and four others, adjourning the hearing of the Metro III Case to 12 March, 2019, citing paucity of time.
The order (Pg. 02) also states, “If any ad-interim relief or interim relief is operative till today, the same will be continued to operate till the next date. If ad-interim or interim relief is not granted for a limited period, the said order will remain unaffected.” Hence, within just one week, with the grace of Ahura Mazda, the noble ‘Save Our Atash Behrams’ Movement has been successful in protecting and preserving the structural and religious sanctity of the legendary Anjuman and Wadiaji Atash Behrams, by bringing the ongoing Metro-III tunnelling work under these Atash Behrams, to a halt, albeit temporarily, till a mutually conducive alternative has been developed.”
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