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HERITAGE SITES

This major and expensive part of the Parsi Heritage Project will require interaction with technical advisors, archaeologists and local custodians of the Sites. The "Save Udwada Committee" created by the late Shri Homi Talyarkhan had begun an attempt to preserve the most sacred Atash Behram of India. Involving UNESCO in an Udwada action plan would be to try and declare a part of the town of Udwada as a World Heritage Site and preserve along with the Fire Temples, the typical architecture and lifestyle of the area around it. International monetary assistance and technical know-how at national and international levels will be sought for this as well as other Zoroastrian Sites of archaeological, religious and heritage significance.

Some Heritage Sites and their development in the creation of tourist interest will fulfill the needs of preservation as well as maintenance on a long term basis. Infrastructure for such promotion will need Government assistance and tax exemption and policy planning as has been done in restoration and preservation of Havelis in Rajasthan which are now under the Heritage Hotel Scheme.
A main feature of the Heritage Site Programme is to develop the Diu Fire Temple and Dakhma which have been handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and as they are now unconsecrated, they can both provide a major focus of interest regarding the community, among fellow Indians and foreign tourists.
At Heritage Sites, traditional Zoroastrian arts, crafts, food items, published material about the community can be made available to stimulate interest and generate income. This may even help revive certain arts and crafts which are in danger of extinction.
The ultimate aim of the Heritage Project would be to create a Museum on the Parsi Zoroastrians which would be of international standards and evoke international interest and response.
The Heritage Sites Project also has an international dimension because some of the original sites are located in Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia along the Silk Route and local Governments with their own UNESCO offices could initiate their own preservation projects.
Some of the Heritage Sites identified so far can be seen in the following table:

Navsari Atash Behram

UDWADA

BAHROT CAVES

PARSI VAD / BHARUCH / NAVSARI

The Fire Temple and the town face severe erosion from the sea. A methodology is required to hold back the sea which is rapidly destroying the foundations of the holy building.

The Parsi part of the small town of Udwada is full of deserted houses. The entire area can be developed to preserve the Fire Temples and the lifestyle of small town Parsis to make it self-sufficient and to attract far greater numbers of visitors.

Research required into this and surrounding areas as examples of early Parsi settlement in Indian history.

Preservation of the few remaining Parsi homes with traditional wooden structure, carving and artifacts as examples of living culture.

PARSI VADIS AT TITHAL/SANATORIUMS IN GUJARAT

PLACES OF FAITH/ PILGRIMAGE

BEGUM VADI

Can be developed as tourist sites which will preserve many which are now derelict and empty. To be seen as examples of Stately homes with their particular lifestyle.

Goti Adaran with its unique collection of offerings.

Bharuch Vad Agiary which is believed to be visited by heavenly messengers.

Aslaji Agiary.

Navsari Atash Behram to be declared a World Heritage Site.

On the Bharuch river bank, this family home of the Vakharias was listed as a "must see" in the Lonely Planet Guidebook. It has among other things a unique screen of carved wood which must be preserved .

Bharuch Parsi Vad

TENA DAKHMAS	BHIKAI BEHRAM WELL	JAMSHETJI TATA'S BIRTH PLACE
Traditionally regarded as an important Parsi site these Dakhmas had blue Persian tiles over the entrance door. The area has not been protected but it could lead to valuable information regarding early Parsi settlement in the Tena creek area after various invasions.	A place of pilgrimage and faith on the footpaths of busy Mumbai. It can be declared a protected Religious Site by the Government or by the ASI to preserve its sanctity.	At Navsari, this monument of National Importance is in a state of disrepair and needs urgent attention.

DADABHAI NAOROJI'S BIRTH PLACE.

WALKING TREE

PARSI BUILDINGS

If it has survived the builders, this Navsari home needs preservation.

Dadabhai Naoroji's life and times can form a part of its Museum.

At Sanjan, a mango tree in a Parsi Vadi, this has become a tourist spot because of the strange movement of its branches and roots.

Distinctive Parsi /Iranian architecture is seen in some old buildings at Mumbai and other places. Many such are in need of repair and restoration to their former beauty.

Nowroji Hall at Ahmedabad has valuable Ravi Varma paintings and objects of art. It also contains a Family Tree and should attract tourists who could also see a Lifestyle exhibition in its premises.

SANJAN LANDING

CEMETRIES ACROSS INDIA

VYARA

The Site where the Parsis landed in India needs to be promoted as a tourist attraction and the surrounding area developed.

A Sound and Light show could be arranged which would explain the story of the landing at Sanjan, the history of the community and its role in the building of Modern India.

From Srinagar to Ooty, Parsi cemetries provide a record of the pioneering spirit of the small groups who lived at lonely locations and contributed to the Nation.

This Site of legendary heroism and sacrifice by Parsi women has to be explored and its historical location established.

DIU

LIBRARIES

ANQUETIL DU PERRON'S HOUSE

The Agiari which is now with the ASI to be restored and preserved for people of all faiths to visit.

The Dakhma can also be seen as a part of an ancient system as is being done in Iran today.

The Meherji Rana Library at Navsari with its invaluable collection of manuscripts, the K R Cama Library, Libraries at Fire Temples, the Library at Beena , Madhya Pradesh and other such Sites need research and preservation.

This young Frenchman who first translated the Avesta and had many romantic adventures during his quest for Zoroastrian knowledge, lived for many years in Surat.

His house is still in existence and should not be demolished by builders.

IRANI RESTAURANTS

JRD TATA'S RESIDENCE

HERITAGE ITEMS

As part of the lifestyle of the later generation of immigrants from Iran, the Irani Restaurants of Mumbai and their special ambience need attention.

To try and preserve this house as a important National Monument in his memory

Statues across India of and by Parsis, in public places or private residences to be recorded and preserved.

The Patel Pheta in Surat, Paintings, stained glass, porcelain, crystal, ivory, jewellery and other valuable art objects to be recorded and preserved.

The tangible Parsi contributions to the building of Modern Mumbai to be collated.

If any Parsi without issue could donate his/her property with its artifacts, it could become a National monument to the Parsi contribution in Mumbai's Lifestyle.

TANKA WATER SYSTEM

IRAN

CENTRAL ASIA /AFGHANISTAN

CHINA

In interior Gujarat, this ancient environmentally conscious system of storing rain water has a unique a methodology. It must be recorded and links, if any, with Iran explored.

Persepolis.

Nasq-I-Rustam.

The Pirs.

The Dakhma and Cypress Tree at Cham.

Other Zoroastrian Sites to be preserved for posterity.

There are caves, fire altars, wells and other Zoroastrian Sites across the Silk Route many of which were taken over by the Buddhists and later by Islam.

However, their origin is of archaeological significance to the world.

Uzbekistan and Tajikistan contain some such Sites and are also believed to have Zoroastrian manuscripts

Zoroastrianism spread to Western China and an Archeological Survey should reveal details.

The Chinese influence on Parsi embroidery and artifacts as well as valuable Parsi collections of Chinese art objects should be quantified and recorded.

At the conclusion of the Heritage Site Project, we hope to succeed in the creation of a PARSI ZOROASTRIAN MUSEUM OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

METHODOLOGY

ACTIVITY

TECHNICAL ASPECT

TECHNICIANS

Formulate separate teams for international funding and preservation techniques particularly for the sea erosion problem at Udwada.

Research and collation of data available. Catalogue of all heritage sites.

Creation of a model Agiary and Dakhma at Diu with the ASI.

Creation of an International Parsi Museum.

Government assistance required for scheme of Heritage Parsi Homes and Tourism.

Networking with researchers in Iran, China, Afghanistan and Central Asia for their Heritage Sites programme.

Coordination between UNESCO, ASI, INTACH, Govt. of India, and Governments in other countries which contain Zoroastrian Heritage Sites.

Technical Expertise to be invited for preservation of stone and wooden structures, Architectural restoration, restoration and preservation of interiors. Tourism prospects to be analysed.

Experts in the control of sea erosion and preservation of foundations affected by the same will need to find a system by which to save Udwada from the sea's destruction.

Experts in the creation of Museums to work out the Parsi Museum budget and plan.

Digi Beta recordings, Photographs and archival collections. Archival films, editing into film clips and inclusion in the production of a CD-ROM.

Publication of research findings and collation of the same.

Archaeologists, Restorers, Experts in techniques of controlling sea erosion. Architects, Restorers of art objects eg. Paintings, glass, crystal, ivory.

Film makers and CD-ROM producer.

Each Heritage Site may require separate experts and these teams will have to be constituted.

FINANCIAL ASPECTS

To bear the enormous cost of Heritage Site restoration and Preservation UNESCO will need the support of the Govt. of India as well as International funding from large agencies. Each site will have a separate blue print and costing which along with coordination, research and collation will be finalised by specialists.

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