“Vulture venture to take...”

Your article, "Vulture venture to take flight?” (Parsiana, August 7, 2012), misses the point. Whatever reasons there may well be for re-populating the nation with vultures, Parsis on the menu should not be one of them. The Doongerwadi grounds should be converted into a center of research and study — of international excellence — on civilizations arising in the Roman-Greco-Persian cauldron, including Russia and Mongolia. Only then can you claim that "The Parsis are providing a model of leadership and conservation…” (The claim was made by P. R. Sinha, director of the Wildlife Institute of India, not Parsiana — the editors)

The last remaining acreage of natural greenery on Malabar Hill should be renamed Wisdom Park and kept open to scholars who learn from the past for a better tomorrow.

NAWSHIR KHURODY

ndkhurody@gmail.com

In the old days in Persia, the philosophy of not polluting the elements could be easily maintained by the method of sky burial. There was plenty of uninhabited land available where a dead body could be left on a hilltop with the assurance that it would be fully consumed in a short time by scavenging birds and animals. This was possible even in India in the olden days.

In the present times, this is not the case. In Bombay and other populated areas scavenging birds are scarce and scavenging animals are totally absent because of human population. Birds fly in the sky and look for animal carcasses in rural areas. They are not readily attracted to places surrounded by tall buildings. To try to breed them and keep them in cages is not only extremely expensive but not good for the birds whose nature is to fly free and not be caged up.

Of course the dakhmenashini system was based on convenience and convention. There is nothing religious about it. In fact, the religion prescribes eliminating a corpse as quickly as possible, which does not happen in the dakhma in Bombay where partly deteriorated bodies lie rotting till the remains are eventually buried.

It would be respectful to the dead and to their families if the corpse was cremated in a clean way in an electric crematorium or buried as per the wishes of the deceased or their family. The world is always changing around us and we have to move with the times.

JAMSHED R. UDVADIA

Lansing, Michigan, USA

jrudvadia1@sbcglobal.net

I am all for a working dakhma. Otherwise the Doongerwadi lands in Bombay will be lost forever on account of not fulfilling the object for which they were given. I emphasize the word "working.” Egos and hare-brained schemes have no place here. Rs 25 crore is a lot of money for the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) to spend on a vulture aviary. Also, there should be a minimal guarantee of success; in experiments the rate of failure is high.

Moreover, implementation will be chaotic. Get ready for suits and litigation. Remember that a corpse is the property of the relatives. They will be alive and ready to put up a fight. How long can one keep a cadaver at Doongerwadi while the battles go on? Maybe, this money should be spent on a morgue? Or just consign only the liver (the organ, no pun intended) into the No. 3 dakhma?

Let those in charge of the purse-strings at the BPP make a solemn effort to answer this question: "Would I do this if it were my money on the line?” For those who say yes, can they provide a tangible bank guarantee for even half the amount they are willing to spend of the community’s money? Doubtful.

BAPOO MALCOLM

bapoomalcolm@gmail.com