I congratulate Eruch Desai for boldly coming out in defence of our time tested and ancient custom of the disposal of the dead through the system of khurshed nagirashni. He has understood and recognised the efficacy and rationale of the system that has been acclaimed by many Zoroastrian and foreign scholars as the best and most efficient system.
Dr P. D. Sunavala questions Desai’s ability and rates him lower than Soli Sorabjee and Rafiq Dada. To this Desai has effectively responded in Parsiana ("Deadly campaign,” Readers’ Forum, December 7, 2006). In the matter of comparative competency and knowledge, does Sunavala consider himself a more reputed and renowned doctor than say, Dr Cyrus Wadia or Dr Jimmy Sidhva? If so, let him first understand the composition of a dead body and then jump into this controversy.
ARZ trustee Kerssie Wadia desires that his dead body should not be put near the ‘garbage.’ Who stops him from having his body cremated or buried?
Our scriptures clearly define and insist on the method of disposal of the dead through dakhmenashini. Those ignorant of the system and those who adopt an anti-dakhmenashini stance would do well to read the opinions of the learned men of different religions and communities who not only praise the system but strongly advocate its usage. If there is any evidence of an epidemic arising from the Towers of Silence which has affected people in the surrounding areas, they should come out with it through the World Health Organisation (WHO). Spreading false rumours and trying to instigate government authorities will not only be counterproductive but ineffective in view of strong existing evidence which supports the system of dakhmenashini which is the most environment-friendly.
Our Constitution gives us the freedom to practice our religion and to uphold our traditions and customs without interference from any source. The Central and State Governments are bound by these constitutional provisions. Therefore, to instigate the state authorities would be futile.
We the High Priests do not want to preach Bhagvath to the proverbial buffaloes. Dastur N. P. UNVALLA
Bangalore
There has been much ado about nothing on the dakhmenashini issue. Some years ago the Disposal of the Dead with Dignity-Action Group (DDD-AG) had created quite a hullabaloo. Now Dhun Baria has come forward as a perfect kathputli (puppet) on strings manipulated by a vested interest group.
Dr Viraf Jehangir Kapadia, in his pamphlet distributed at a meeting held under the auspices of The Parsi Voice at Faramji Cawasji Institute Hall on October 6, 2006, raised an issue: "The BPP trustees failed to lodge a criminal complaint against Dhun Baria and others for maliciously insulting the religious sentiments of Zarathushtrians and trespassing on a sanctified place to cast indignity to the departed Mazdayasni Zarathushtrian souls.” Baria’s action is tantamount to blasphemy.
At the meeting Dr Aramaity Dhalla, scientist and religious scholar and Adi Doctor, who can speak confidently on socio-religious matters of our community, reiterated that dakhmenashini is the best system. On the basis of her sound scientific knowledge and study of our religious scriptures, Dhalla explained that khurshed nagirashni, the fundamental aspect of dakhmenashini, is the sound basis of our old practice for the disposal of the dead. Doctor referred to the categorical injunctions in the Vendidad, chapter and verse, to emphasize the point. The unanimous resolution passed at the end of the meeting strengthened the affirmation of dakhmenashini.
There is a saying in Gujarati: "Chanchad kardé téthi dhoti nathi chodi kadhwani! (Just because the bugs bite, you don’t have to abandon your dhoti).” Yes, there are problems – the lack of vultures and high rise buildings surrounding the dakhmas not allowing the sun’s rays to disintegrate the corpses during the monsoon despite solar panels. But just because of these problems we don’t have to abandon our age old system which dates back to pre-Zarathushtrian times. With proper knowledge, understanding and resourcefulness, we can take a pragmatic approach to these problems. The bogey of health hazard at Doongerwadi raised by vested interests is hollow.
It has been suggested that if there are no vultures, why not have corpse eating animals like hyenas and wild dogs? It is easier said than done to maintain such animals at Doongerwadi.
Another suggestion is to collect the corpses after they have been given khurshed nagirashni for about a week or so and transport them to a far off desolate place devoid of human population or a deep jungle well exposed to the sun’s rays for natural disintegration, as was done in the distant past. Such a step may be looked into from our strict religious point of view. Would such transport of bodies be proper after they have been consigned to the dakhma? Moreover, to transport partly disintegrated dead bodies is not an easy task as government sanctions and special permits may have to be obtained.
After the chaharum, when the soul is completely separated from the body and the silvery thread connection between the bungli and the dakhma has been severed, the body has the status of mere waste material. Unfortunately, undue importance is being given to the naso-ridden corpse. How can we expeditiously dispose of this? Will it be proper from our religious point of view to douse the corpse with some strong corrosive for its speedy disintegration and drain off the residue into the bhandar? The use of baval powders and microbial cultures has already been started in the dakhmas in Bombay and Poona to expedite the bio-degradation of flesh. If this period can be shortened to a week or so, it would mean we have practically solved the problem.
D. WADIA
Much has been written about dakhmenashini in Parsiana. When an individual dies he or she is usually confined to the dakhma. Since the body is naso, which means putrified, whether you give it to the vultures or bury it is of no significance. However, in our religion we have to follow the traditions, and that is why dakhmenashini is the best mode of disposal of the dead.
DORAB P. PATEL
The blasphemous attacks on our time honored system of dakhmenashini have brought nothing but shame and disgrace to the Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian race and religion and disrespect to its culture, customs and traditions.
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees have failed in their duty to preserve and protect the vital system of dakhmenashini as required by the tenets and precepts of the Zarathushti faith. The community feels that they have deliberately neglected the affairs of Doongerwadi. When I met BPP trustee Dinshaw Tamboly and Dr Homi Dhalla (leading member of the Doongerwadi Upkeep and Maintenance Committee) face to face at an informal meeting at Dadar, they put forward futile excuses like the solar reflectors are non-functional due to "bird droppings” and that the Banaji Dakhma has been kept closed for "setting up of an aviary” for breeding vultures, creating undue pressure on the remaining dakhmas and failing the vital system of dakhmenashini. (The dakhma is kept closed as the residents of the apartment buildings adjacent to it can peer in. — Editors)
Dastur Peshotan Hormazdiar Mirza of Udwada, who was present at this meeting clearly stated, "There is no substitute nor compromise in the matter of dakhmenashini, which is an integral part of the Zoroastrian religion… and therefore those entrusted to maintain our… dakhmas and the Doongerwadi property are duty bound to make the system work under any circumstances and at all costs.”
The system has not failed; it is the trustees who have failed the system. If the BPP trustees choose to act against the wishes and intentions of the original donors and give away even an inch of the Doongerwadi lands or the buildings situated therein for any other purpose than for which they were earmarked, they would be committing a criminal breach of trust. DARIUS N. SETHNA