To avoid dakhmenashini and cremation, both of which are mired in controversy, the former due to the non-availability of vultures and the latter as it is believed to be against our religion since we pray to God through fire, I suggest that we donate our dead bodies for medical study. This should be done after removing the corneas for eye donation and other parts of the body which would be useful to people. Will Parsi medical practitioners kindly enlighten me as to which parts of the body, along with the skin, would be useful for transplanting into critically ill human beings?
Whether we opt for cremation or body donation for medical research, there will be controversy in the community regarding after-death religious ceremonies. To avoid this, a dead body could be disposed of without any religious ceremonies (even geh sarna) and the expenses saved on the four days’ ceremonies donated to the agiary nearest to where a person lives. The money saved on ceremonies from the fifth day onward could be donated to the unnati (progress) fund for mobeds.
Will some scholars of religion enlighten me on whether this would be against our religion? I am putting these views before the community as we Parsis believe in charity. PHIROZE E. GANDHI