Dakhma debate

Some 34 years back Parsiana had published an interview with the late Shiavax Vakil, then trustee of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), after he had entered the dakhma along with his friend and co-trustee Dr Aspi Golwalla. Unfortunately, Vakil did not receive support from Golwalla and ultimately resigned as trustee under pressure from co-trustees and the community. No efforts were spared to malign Vakil’s name for speaking the truth. It is heartening to note that Golwalla has now realized his mistake of keeping quiet at that time.

I think, in homage to an honest man, Parsiana should reprint the entire interview in a forthcoming issue to let the community know that the system of dakhmenashini collapsed because remedial measures were not taken and the issue was neglected. HOMI DALAL

Perth, Australia

The editors reply

We will feature the interview in the archives columns of our website parsiana.com

Our temporary six trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet at 209, Dr D. N. Road should know that it is not just diclofenac which is killing vultures but even NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) like Brufen, Combiflam, etc.

Our temporary six are very fond of affidavits. They have themselves sworn many affidavits and, as we all know, affidavits sworn by relatives of deceased inter-married Zoroastrians serve as visas for the latter to be consigned at the Towers of Silence.

Perhaps our temporary six may now insist that relatives should file an affidavit stating that Behesti Behramji was not taking Combiflam for his last wisdom tooth which was giving him trouble or Behesti Soonamai refused to take Brufen despite her bodyaches.

Long live the vultures — both the feathered ones who feed on the dead and the other variety who feed on the sentiments of the "brain dead” to feather their own nests.

NOSHIR H. DADRAWALA