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We will be open to any innovative ideas that come our way during the construction period…(though) our memorandum of understanding with the Bombay Municipal Corporation does not mention your Prayer Hall in particular,” stated Dr Ramnik Parekh, trustee of the Hiralal Parekh Parivar Charity Trust (HPPCT). The Trust is developing the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Worli Smashan Bhumi (crematorium grounds) in central Bombay within which is housed the Prayer Hall where Parsis who opt for cremation can have the four-day funerary prayers performed. Parekh was responding on February 1, 2021 to Parsiana’s queries on whether the five-year-old Hall would also benefit from their proposed video service (to beam funerary services to those not present). Earlier, when queried, Prayer Hall Services and Maintenance Trust chairman Dinshaw Tamboly had responded: "They have not come to our side, nor have they communicated with us.” "Parsi Prayer Hall,” features in HPPCT’s brochure on the project under the title "Project Masterplan and Timeline.”
Ramnik and co-trustee Dr Bharat Parekh stated in a joint letter to Parsiana dated January 26 that "Bombay should be proud of the Parsi community for their philanthropy and benevolence. As per the current plan, since we were not asked by municipal corporation to address redevelopment or updating of the facility at Parsi Prayer Hall, we have not considered or allotted funds to install closed circuit televisions and necessary equipment for remote live transmission of the proceedings from there to all parts of the world. We will however be happy to consider taking on this assignment hoping to get adequate support from the Parsi community.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The nine-acre facility includes a burial ground, and is among the largest of over 200 crematoria and burial grounds in the city. HPPCT’s project, termed Antim Prasthan (Final Departure) is intended to "restore dignity to the soul’s ultimate journey,” notes their brochure. Services are proposed to be provided free to members of all communities. "We have also been asked to manage and maintain the facility for the first five years,” the trustees noted. 
The 18-month project commenced in July 2020 and is expected to involve an outlay of Rs 40 crores (USD 5.48 million). The "sensitively and functionally designed facility for our new normal” will span 80,000 sq ft of carpet area, spacious reception areas and four air-conditioned prayer halls, noted Ramnik. The proposed facility will have eight pyres of which three will use gas, three will be traditional wood pyres and two closed wood pyres (that are speedier and use less wood). The usage of electricity is not cost effective, Ramnik explained. Eight pavilions will have spaces with seating arrangements for up to 100 mourners each. Step-free access will enable free movement for the physically challenged. Phase I comprising four pavilions will be ready by September 2021. 
Webcasting facilities will be available for relatives and friends who are unable to attend physically. Their objective is to alleviate the "heart breaking stories” of family members and friends unable to pay their last respects to those who succumbed to coronavirus, or could not attend obsequies on account of quarantine or lockdown conditions, reported The Indian Express (IE) of November 9, 2020. "We earlier had the webcasting in mind for non-resident Indians,” stated Bharat to IE. 
Their proposed plan extends to landscaping roughly two-and-a-half acres of presently unkempt open land and burial ground. Focused on sustainable practices, the refurbished facility will use modern pollution control methods in case of wood pyres, conserve existing trees and plant more, use solar energy and water harvesting systems. "We aim to alter public preference for open wood pyres in cremation by educating and counselling of family by social workers on the premises about environmental benefits of closed wood as well as gas furnaces,” notes their brochure.
"We have been able to muster up about 70% of the cost and are looking for additional funds,” noted the trustees. The Trust lists the JSW Foundation, Tata Group and Mahindra Group as "grand benefactors,” having supported HPPCT with at least five crore rupees (USD 686,000) each and Kotak Mahindra Bank as "benefactors,” with support of two-and-a-half-crore rupees (USD 343,00).  
HPPCT’s Antim Samskar Seva, started in 2008 has assisted over 14,000 bereaved families in Bombay to provide dignified funerals and last rites, noted Ramnik and Bharat. They stated that the Seva was a result of a personal harrowing experience that Ramnik had while claiming and transporting his late father’s body from a public hospital to their home. "Finally, along with his siblings he decided to take action by launching Antim Samskar Seva to facilitate dignified funerals,” noted their brochure. The hearse service operates all days of the year from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is free of cost (voluntary donations are accepted). What began with one hearse and four personnel now employs five hearses and 20 uniformed employees, they stated.
"We have assisted families of (all) other communities including Parsis, either for cremations or carrying the deceased from hospital to home/crematorium/burial site,” the trustees noted.
More details of the project and a donation link is available on https://www.hiralalparekhtrust.org/antimprasthan. Contact Antim Samskar Seva on: 9223355500/       9223355511.