Readers' Forum
“Devoted to death”
Farrokh Vajifdar deserves to be congratulated for his erudite and lucidly written review of the book Days of Transition: The Parsi Death Rituals by D. Luddeckens and Ramiyar Karanjia ("Devoted to death,” Books, Parsiana, January 21, 2012). As usual, he comes as a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stifling atmosphere created by those in authority who shy away from "inconvenient truths.”
Whilst any lay person, or even most of the priests today, may not be aware of the integrity and accuracy of interpretation by the two authors in their book and take for granted all that they have written, it is only a clear-thinking person like Vajifdar who, with his in-depth knowledge and years of study of what our Prophet Zarathushtra has revealed in the Gathas, and based on his deep knowledge of Zoroastrian theology and interpretation of ancient texts, is able to puncture holes in the text, wherever called for, duly supported by textual evidence and sound reasoning. More power to his elbow to enlighten and reveal to one and all what otherwise passes off as deafening silence from our High Priests and the dhongidox elements who profess to know everything about our great religion but hardly ever venture to explain things to the laity in unambiguous terms and based on scriptural evidence from the Gathas as revealed by our Prophet.
A point of great perplexity and sadness to me is the photograph from the book reproduced along with the review which clearly shows the face of a deceased person after the funeral service at Doongerwadi.
Is not Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, the principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute who writes a column in a well-known weekly Parsi newspaper to "acquaint us with the essentials of the Zoroastrian religion?” Is he not one of the "experts” who sits in the council set up by high priests in Bombay to advise them in their deliberations? If so, it would be appropriate for him to explain how it is permitted to publish such a photograph for all the world to see the face of the deceased after the paidast ceremony has been duly performed (not to mention the pain it could cause to the relatives of the deceased).
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees may also note that throughout the Doongerwadi premises there are signs expressly forbidding photography. What action are they contemplating against those responsible for taking photographs in an area where this is forbidden?
RUSI SUNTOKE
Sydney, Australia
rsuntoke@gmail.com
Whilst any lay person, or even most of the priests today, may not be aware of the integrity and accuracy of interpretation by the two authors in their book and take for granted all that they have written, it is only a clear-thinking person like Vajifdar who, with his in-depth knowledge and years of study of what our Prophet Zarathushtra has revealed in the Gathas, and based on his deep knowledge of Zoroastrian theology and interpretation of ancient texts, is able to puncture holes in the text, wherever called for, duly supported by textual evidence and sound reasoning. More power to his elbow to enlighten and reveal to one and all what otherwise passes off as deafening silence from our High Priests and the dhongidox elements who profess to know everything about our great religion but hardly ever venture to explain things to the laity in unambiguous terms and based on scriptural evidence from the Gathas as revealed by our Prophet.
A point of great perplexity and sadness to me is the photograph from the book reproduced along with the review which clearly shows the face of a deceased person after the funeral service at Doongerwadi.
Is not Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia, the principal of the Dadar Athornan Institute who writes a column in a well-known weekly Parsi newspaper to "acquaint us with the essentials of the Zoroastrian religion?” Is he not one of the "experts” who sits in the council set up by high priests in Bombay to advise them in their deliberations? If so, it would be appropriate for him to explain how it is permitted to publish such a photograph for all the world to see the face of the deceased after the paidast ceremony has been duly performed (not to mention the pain it could cause to the relatives of the deceased).
The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees may also note that throughout the Doongerwadi premises there are signs expressly forbidding photography. What action are they contemplating against those responsible for taking photographs in an area where this is forbidden?
RUSI SUNTOKE
Sydney, Australia
rsuntoke@gmail.com
Ervad (Dr) Ramiyar Karanjia replies
The book under review, Days of Transition: The Parsi Death Rituals is an abridged and modified work based on the academic study in the German language done by Prof Dorothea Luddec-kens chronicling the lay Parsi’s perception of death. It may not be the classical view of the religion. My role in the abridged form of the book was limited to elucidating certain technical terms and aspects and giving the classical view wherever possible.
I am sorry that the sentiments of the writer were hurt regarding the photograph of a "corpse” in the book, reproduced along with the review. In the book it is clearly mentioned below the caption that it is a "posed photo.” Unfortunately, this was not printed in Parsiana. It is not right to jump to conclusions and flay the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet or ask for explanations from them.
I would like to convey that I am not an "expert” in anything, nor have I ever claimed to be. I do not advise anybody. I just try to give information and assist people who approach me. I have never gone out of my way to teach, preach or guide anybody.
The book under review, Days of Transition: The Parsi Death Rituals is an abridged and modified work based on the academic study in the German language done by Prof Dorothea Luddec-kens chronicling the lay Parsi’s perception of death. It may not be the classical view of the religion. My role in the abridged form of the book was limited to elucidating certain technical terms and aspects and giving the classical view wherever possible.
I am sorry that the sentiments of the writer were hurt regarding the photograph of a "corpse” in the book, reproduced along with the review. In the book it is clearly mentioned below the caption that it is a "posed photo.” Unfortunately, this was not printed in Parsiana. It is not right to jump to conclusions and flay the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet or ask for explanations from them.
I would like to convey that I am not an "expert” in anything, nor have I ever claimed to be. I do not advise anybody. I just try to give information and assist people who approach me. I have never gone out of my way to teach, preach or guide anybody.
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