“Volunteer pall bearers”

In "Volunteer pall bearers,” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, May 2004) Roda Hakim writes that the family members should work as pall bearers so that the khandhias would not have to do this work day in and day out. But as the editor pragmatically says, who would like to see the half eaten, swollen, rotted bodies of their loved ones or friends? And still the purpose of integrating these people in our mainstream society would not be served! Let’s face it. They are children of a lesser God and unless and until we do away with this gory system which has lived its life, the lot of the khandhias will not change. Maybe then the third or fourth generation of these unfortunate people would be accepted and assimilated in our community.

I still maintain, why not build a small crematorium for those who are in favor of this system? Why make dakhme­na-shini a subject of intense debate? It has outlived its purpose and opting to be cremated does not make a Zoroastrian a lesser human being than the orthodox, who in any case blow hot and cold, and quote the scriptures to serve their own purpose. Stop all this useless controversy and let us have a choice and a final say in what we may opt for.

An individual who lives life on his terms will want to have his wishes respected when he departs. Let’s give him that right and privilege to do so and save us the usual histrionics.

GOOLOO R. MEHTA