A few years ago the Parsi community was honored with a visit by the then chief minister of Gujarat, now Prime Minister ,Narendra Modi to Udvada, abode of the oldest fire temple. Union minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Irani had earlier made an appeal for recognition of the sacred town as a heritage precinct.
Thanks to the endeavors of stalwarts like the late Congressman Homi Taleyarkhan and business magnate Pallonji Mistry, a high school came into existence in Udvada. Recently, under the initiative taken by a few residents, supported by eminent educationist the late Dr Mehroo Bengalee, two more classes, viz, XI and XII were added for the convenience of students who would have otherwise been obliged to travel to neighboring towns to complete their schooling.
The next step would be the demand for additional classes for completion of graduation. The big question is: what after graduation? What job opportunities would Udvada provide? An easy way out would be migration to urban centers either for higher studies or in search of jobs; this should not result in an increase in the number of the educated unemployed.
Therefore, there is a need to establish a training center in Udvada to cater to the requirements of the rural and tribal population and even Zoroastrian children residing in remote places. The center would provide them appropriate training in rural development through education in advanced agriculture, dairy and poultry farming, horticulture, floriculture, cultivation of medicinal plants, tree culture, afforestation, fisheries, landscape gardening, soil testing, pest control (organic way), emphasis on alternative energy sources like bio-gas, raising of bio-fuel and ethanol yielding plants (jatropha curcas, a bio-fuel species, could be grown as a hedge plant). The fertility of Udvada’s soil is legendary. Herbs and shrubs of economic value can be grown under fruit trees. Of course modern technologies would be involved. Having acquired expertise in these disciplines, young people would get an opportunity to remain in their own village, contributing to its growth and thereby improving their standard of living.
Though World Environment Day was celebrated on June 5, several hillocks in the country remain barren. These could be turned green with suitable plantations by a young brigade of trainees.
At this juncture it may not be out of context to mention the lead taken by Udvada in the organic form of farming. The fishermen (machhlis) of Kolak, a village located very close to Udvada, practice paddy cultivation during the rainy season. Fish waste is composted and used as manure in the rice fields, resulting in bumper crops. The addition of fish waste in abundance does not require raabing, i.e. burning of dried leaves and twigs spread over the soil where the ash serves as fertilizer. Elimination of raabing in turn would reduce the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and thereby global warming. The success of this rural development program would need the guidance and active participation of several leading organizations involved in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, rural management, etc and the support of state and central governments.
Instead of polluting industries contaminating the air, water and soil of the surroundings of the Iranshah, the eco-development program outlined here would preserve the sanctity and serenity of the holy precinct.
Dr V. M. MEHER-HOMJI