India born architect Dadi Surti worked for Shapoorjee N. Chandabhoy and Company (formed on April 27, 1868) in which my grandfather the late Burjor S. J. Aga and my late uncle Jamshed Burjor Aga were partners. After the demise of my uncle, the partnership was converted to a non banking financial company, Shapoorjee Chandabhoy Finvest Private Limited of which I am director.
Surti, now settled in Karachi/London, has written a book, Zoroastrian Evolution, with beautiful color illustrations, in which he has dealt with dakhmenashini. According to him, exposing the dead bodies in the mountains to the sun, scavenger birds and wild dogs is pre-Zoroastrian. It was a natural local custom; the left over bones of the corpses were collected and kept in a room (ossuary) or just left to decay.
Dadi Surti: dealing with dakhmenashini
When there was famine or war, many corpses were placed on a hillside where they would be exposed to the most sun. As this was not a pleasant sight, a screen was built around it. This is how dakhmas evolved. Gradually, the system developed further on hygienic principles, especially in Bombay where the dakhmas had four long drains and wells. A dakhma is usually a round structure with only one entry and high walls; thus wild dogs could not find easy access and were automatically eliminated. Scavenger birds have also drastically reduced in number due to dense development and human habitation around Doongerwadi.
The theory of not spoiling the ground is debatable because a dakhma occupies plenty of ground space with its four long drains and cesspits. Placing exposed corpses together in a well is not really environmentally friendly. Perhaps, a grave would occupy less space and be more hygienic. There is no restriction on burial in Zoroaster’s teachings or in any of our religious books. In all probability there were no dakhmas in use during Zoroaster’s time. He himself was reportedly buried.
Today, with technical advances, cremation may be the best answer. The dead body is reduced to ashes within an hour and does not really spoil the fire, earth or atmosphere.
An inside view of the Tower of Silence is visible on the internet. Sometimes, the stench of rotting bodies is present, but as dakhmas are normally located in large open spaces the smell may be tolerable. In Karachi, however, the dakhmas are located in the middle of a housing colony and the smell is at times objectionable.
Medically speaking, leaving corpses in the open is not really harmful as good bacteria in the soil and air will ultimately reduce the bodies to dust. As corpses take a long time to decompose, some stench will occur. While this is unpleasant, it is not harmful. After all, people who live in industrial areas do put up with foul smell, especially when in the vicinity of a leather tannery (e.g. old Bandra area), Surti mentions.
It may be prudent to have an opinion poll taken in the community and find out what people desire. Placing a crematorium near each dakhma would probably satisfy everybody. The cost of construction for conversion to cremation would be under Rs 20,00,000 and running cost per body would be approximately Rs 750.
Shapoorjee Chandabhoy Finvest Private Limited has a limited number of copies of Surti’s book for distribution gratis. One copy will be given per person. Those interested may contact Rathnavathi Bhangera or Lucy Babu by telephone at +91 22 22662987/ 22661364, or write to Shapoorjee Chandabhoy Finvest Private Limited, 9-13 Kamanwalla Chambers, Sir P. Mehta Road, Fort, Bombay 400001.
BEHRAM AGA
behram_r_aga@yahoo.co.in