“Rites at residence”

I have read the letter "Rites at residence” by Sam R. Chothia, managing trustee of the Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, January 7, 2007). The resolution allegedly passed in the general meeting of the Anjuman held on January 9, 2005 is incorrect in as much as none of our religious scriptures prescribe that obsequies like geh sarna, uthamna and sarosh nu patru should be performed either at the bunglis at Doongerwadi or at an agiary or atash behram alone.

Until about 50 years ago at least 50 percent of such ceremonies at Bombay were performed at the residence of the deceased or at khadkis specially meant for the purpose in practically each Parsi home. Even today in 90 percent of the cases in Navsari, Surat, Billimora, Udvada, etc these ceremonies are performed at the residence of the deceased.

Chothia has stated that the five so-called religious leaders have supported the Anjuman’s resolution. All of them had, at some time or other, willingly participated in the uthamna ceremonies of people like the Wadias, Adenwallas, Dubashes, Pochkhana­wallas and Jehangirs performed at their residence and accepted without any compunction envelopes given to them by the deceased’s relatives.

Further, in his letter "Deadly campaign” appearing in the same issue, Dastur N. P. Unvalla has pointed out the opinions of learned men of different religions regarding dakhmenashini. We too agree and accept that dakhmenashini is perfect for disposal of the deceased when the system is fully functional and provided we have scavenger birds around. However, today it has become the most undignified mode of disposal with hundreds of bodies decaying in the dakhmas for months together and then being buried outside in uneven pits amounting to mass burial. Even pet animals and birds belonging to Zoroastrians are more fortunate than their owners as they are buried individually in mother earth.

I think it is the moral duty of every human being to ensure that his or her own corpse is disposed of in a dignified manner because the body has given them service for the entire lifetime. The poorest of humans try to remain neat and clean; it would be a shame to defile the same body in a horrible manner in the dakhma rather than opting for a dignified way of disposal. Unvalla says our Constitution has given us freedom of religions/traditions and customs, so why do priests themselves violate the law of the land by stopping the final rites of persons opting for other systems of disposal or excommunicating priests like me who help people exercise their fundamental right according to our Constitution?

Self-styled scholars, high priests and orthodox groups are instigating trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) to deny prayer facilities for those who are cremated. Were they asleep when the BPP was developing building all around the Doongerwadi, hampering the natural habitat of vultures due to which dakhmenashini has reached this state? Since the BPP trustees have changed Doongerwadi land into a residential colony, they must now rectify their grave mistake by providing a prayer hall for those opting for cremation. If they don’t have the courage to do this they should step down from the trusteeship of the BPP and make way for persons like me who are able to bring about practical solutions without succumbing to pressure or outside interference and put an end to unseemly controversies.

Since it is not the fault of ordinary Zoroastrians that they are opting for other modes of disposal in the current situation, why should they be deprived of four days’ prayers held at a religious place meant for just this purpose?

Ervad FRAMROZE S. MIRZA