Readers' Forum
Freedom of choice
I feel one should have a much more open attitude and allow people to opt for cremation, the aramgah or dakhmenashini. Let it be the individual’s choice and not dictated by the orthodox or the trustees. Some of our priests are not against the aramgah coexisting with dakhmas. I am not shooting in the air; believe me, the condition of the dakhmas is deplorable with no scavenger birds (vultures particularly!) available and failure of the solar panels, which is sad. Who would wish their beloved ones to rest in such a place? I call this a sin!
But then, to each his own and God for us all should be our motto, and one needs to see that the sentiments of individuals are not hurt. So why not accept the dakhma along with the aramgah? There are acres of land surrounding the dakhmas which some day will be eyed by the builders’ lobby and we will lose all our property. Before such an eventuality comes about, especially in small towns, for example in Baroda, it’s imperative to take concrete steps to avert this. Imagine what the pall-bearers go through. The sights inside must undoubtedly be affecting their psyche. So far they have been doing the task bravely but will it not affect them at a later date? Will visions of what they see inside the dakhma not remain with them forever?
I had a talk with a priest who very categorically stated: "At least we can change this outdated practice of not allowing a dakhma along with burial. Otherwise not only will we fail to save our lands but will also lose the dakhma.” If a panthaky can speak thus off the record, it’s time the trustees engaged in a dialog with him to seek solutions, because at the end of the day why should the trustees meddle in religious matters? Let us instead consider ourselves lucky that there are priests who think in this way. It is the duty of the punchayets to stand behind them and support them even when orthodox Parsis target such priests. Do we have the guts? It is time the anjumans resurrected the old pioneering spirit by supporting and bringing about much needed changes. Wake up trustees! It’s time to lead and not follow like gheta bakra (domesticated sheep). Stop pushing the matter under the carpet with a typical chaalvaa dév verso thi thatoo avyuch (let things continue the way they have for years). Why change now?’
This is a defeatist attitude and will only cause further disintegration in a community that is already changing due to increasing number of interfaith marriages. If all the small anjumans think alike, then someday the Bombay Parsi Punchayet too will have to bow down.
RODA D. HAKIM
Baroda
vadhakim@yahoo.com
But then, to each his own and God for us all should be our motto, and one needs to see that the sentiments of individuals are not hurt. So why not accept the dakhma along with the aramgah? There are acres of land surrounding the dakhmas which some day will be eyed by the builders’ lobby and we will lose all our property. Before such an eventuality comes about, especially in small towns, for example in Baroda, it’s imperative to take concrete steps to avert this. Imagine what the pall-bearers go through. The sights inside must undoubtedly be affecting their psyche. So far they have been doing the task bravely but will it not affect them at a later date? Will visions of what they see inside the dakhma not remain with them forever?
I had a talk with a priest who very categorically stated: "At least we can change this outdated practice of not allowing a dakhma along with burial. Otherwise not only will we fail to save our lands but will also lose the dakhma.” If a panthaky can speak thus off the record, it’s time the trustees engaged in a dialog with him to seek solutions, because at the end of the day why should the trustees meddle in religious matters? Let us instead consider ourselves lucky that there are priests who think in this way. It is the duty of the punchayets to stand behind them and support them even when orthodox Parsis target such priests. Do we have the guts? It is time the anjumans resurrected the old pioneering spirit by supporting and bringing about much needed changes. Wake up trustees! It’s time to lead and not follow like gheta bakra (domesticated sheep). Stop pushing the matter under the carpet with a typical chaalvaa dév verso thi thatoo avyuch (let things continue the way they have for years). Why change now?’
This is a defeatist attitude and will only cause further disintegration in a community that is already changing due to increasing number of interfaith marriages. If all the small anjumans think alike, then someday the Bombay Parsi Punchayet too will have to bow down.
RODA D. HAKIM
Baroda
vadhakim@yahoo.com
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