“Dakhmas and dogma”

I read with interest Dastur (Dr) Firoze Kotwal’s letter of resignation from the Doongerwadi Advisory Committee ("Dakhmas and dogma,” Parsiana, August 7, 2012). He has expressed his views admirably.

However, he is not correct in describing his erudite statement as "theology,” which relates to fundamental beliefs about God which are thought to be eternally valid. The dakhma culture, on the other hand, is a rite, ceremony, custom or practice, even (if you wish) a dogma or "scriptural” injunction, but not theology. It relates to this world. Therefore, it has to be judged by how valid or useful it is in the world as it stands.

Obviously, the scriptural interpretations of the dakhma culture have become superfluous as in our part of the world it now suffers from the most fundamental of infirmities: it doesn’t work. It is no longer a method of disposing of the dead because the dead are not being disposed of. The bodies are still there. It is specious to cover this up by saying that our method of disposal is to allow bodies to decompose in the open in the natural way. This is the same thing as saying that we have no method at all.

All texts of scriptures cannot be said to be equally binding. Rites and ceremonies are there to serve us, not to rule us. "The Sabbath,” said Jesus to the religious purists of his day, "was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Today, the respected high priests lag in their thinking behind significant sections of the community, whereas they are expected to lead. Human beings want to bid farewell to the departed with dignity. Dakhmenashini cannot be considered a dignified way of doing so any more.

CYRUS S. RUTTONSHA

Poona

cyrusruttonsha@hotmail.com