There is some good news for the Parsi community. The western railway has accepted their demand of halting two trains for two minutes at Sanjan station in Gujarat. Members of the community visit the place every year to observe the historic annual Sanjan Day celebrations which is held on Monday (November 17). It is the day the community is said to have landed in India at Sanjan. They visit the 'SanjanSthamh' – a pillar erected in 1920s which still exists.
Two trains that will be halting are 19011/19012 Gujarat Express (Mumbai Central to Ahmedabad) and 12921/12922 Flying Ranee Express (Mumbai Central to Surat), only on that day.
"This was actually started by Homi Talyekhan, a Parsi and former governor. It was for the first time on his request that the government halted the train. It is something that the government should now do without a yearly request from the community," said Viraf Kapadia, one of the members of the community.
"Sanjan actually became popular after a book Kissa-e-Sanjan written by one of the Parsi priest. It is a highly acclaimed and romanticised epic about Parsis first landing there after facing persecutions in Iran. However, its historical accuracy is questionable. Factual data suggests that Parsis first arrived in Diu and moved to Sanjan much later. There have been archaeological signs to prove this," said Muncherji Cama, trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP).
"It is not a regular halt and that is why community members will have to approach every year with a request. Such type of halt cannot be declared a year in advance because it needs to be seen whether it is really required or not. In any case they have to just send a letter and it is done," said divisional railway manager, Shailendra Kumar while talking to dna.
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