‘Ruined’ Parsi Fire Temple In Kolkata Turned Into An Electrical Market
‘Ruined’ Parsi Fire Temple In Kolkata Turned Into An Electrical Market
The fire temple in Kolkata’s Ezra Street, which is Gothic in style with huge Tuscan pillars and dentil ornamentation is in a remorseful state. (Photo courtesy: Brian Paul Bach)
The huge Rustomjee Cowasjee Banajee Agiary (Agiary – is a fire temple in which Parsi Zoroastrians pray) at 26 Ezra Street in Central Kolkata has been turned into an electrical market of sorts, but who cares!
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation know that time and tide wait for none and thus are not at all concerned to evict the squatters and restore the said temple in spite of the Government of West Bengal declaring it as “Heritage Building” on 6th October 2007 pursuant to the recommendation of the Expert Committee of the Heritage Buildings.
The fire temple which is Gothic in style with huge Tuscan pillars and dentil ornamentation is in a remorseful state. Plasters are peeling off from each wall; the marbles on the floor have been scooped out and sold. Vegetation growth has weakened the entire structure. Every inch of the building, including the temple basement, has been encroached upon by business units. Even the gate can scarcely be seen from the road.
There has also been a documentary made, showing the deplorable state of affairs titled: “A Brief Stroll Around The Parsee Fire Temple In Ezra Street, Calcutta.”
Courtesy : ‘Maneck Bhujwala
Dont yo think its time to wake up for our community world wide, small as we are, get together, pool in our resources, both community and panchayats wise (worldwise) to save this agairy (fire temple) for our beneficiaries, or have we become so easternised -westernised that we no longer care what is happening.
What a pity ! Its a double blow to the already shrinking Parsi population..They should try to protect this 1912 heritage site..