Dadar's heritage hero renovates agiary

Fareeda Kanga
Dadar

At 32, Dadar resindent Jimmy Mistry is a man with a mission.

In a bid to help the Parsi community from which he hails, Mistry decided to use his professional skills (he runs an ISO-9001 certified architectural and interior design firm – Della Tecnica), to renovate and restore his neighbourhood fire temple to its pristine glory.

"as soon as I heard that the 75 years old Rustom Motafaram agiary in Dadar needed a facelift. I jumped at the opportunity to offer my expertise and assist it in giving it a fresh lease of life." says Mistry.

Clear that he didn't want to deviate even an inch from the original design and styling. Mistry poured over ancient texts and drawings of the agiary before plunging into the project with his core design tem of 30 architects, graphic designers and project managers.

"Renovating a fire temple require research and planning because certain elements in the original structure cannot be changed.," he reveals.

Perhaps his most ambitous project to date and a labour of love; Mistry spared no energy and expense (solely from his own pocket), to recreate the magical experience in time for the Agiary's diamond jubliee.

Itialian marble was used for the florring replacing the existing one, which developed cracks over time, whilst old cornlces and mouldings that had broken off from the celling were copied and refitted.

The doors and windows covered with layer upone layer of oil paint got stripped bare and the original wood was touched upon.

A stunning Zen-like landscaped graden was laid in the compound outside on the lines of the garden at the Swaminarayan temple in London. Old partitions that had been hapazardly fitted and were causing smoke from the fire to remain trapped inside, were removed and a proper ventilation system was created.

"We completed the resotration of this 6,400 square foot fire temple as well as the garden in a record two monts" he adds produly.

Keen to start a chain reaction. Mistry want to help renovate other agiaries in Mumbai, either offering financial assistance or technical support. "I started my business in 1992 with a six member constracting staff and today, I have a permanent staff of over 500 employee in mumbai, Daman and Gurgoan, yet I haven't forgotten my humble beginnings," says this mechnical engineer from Nagpur.

"And think this is the best way I could repay society and offer thanks for any success I have achieved in this city," he concludes.

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