“The sun is there”
In the report "The sun is there” (Parsiana, August 7, 2016), on the meeting of the West Zone B Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India on July 24, 2016 in Valsad, former Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustee Khojeste Mistree has been quoted as saying that "the dakhma does not permit the naso to come out of its precincts.” In his zeal to justify the defunct method of dakhmenashini he has forgotten that the skeletal palm of a corpse was found near the Shapoorji Fakirji Jokhi Agiary compound in Godrej Baug in 2012. That may not be an isolated instance.
Mistree says that "dakhmenashini is not the problem. We can strengthen it.” We have been hearing about this "strengthening” since decades, and yet the situation continues to deteriorate. It is believed that at periodic intervals decomposed, rotting corpses are buried in a mass grave. Does this not amount to defiling nature/land? Mistree was a BPP trustee for seven years as well as a member of the Save Doongerwadi Committee. The community would like to learn from him what tangible steps were taken during his tenure to "strengthen” the practice. Are sprinkling bovine urine and lime powder, releasing ozone gas, masking the stench by planting fragrant flowers nearby and using solar panels ways of "strengthening” the system?
Centuries ago our ancestors had established aramgahs at many places. Surely they were not religiously illiterate? These aramgahs exist despite the presence of dakhmas. Some months back an ordained priest from Navsari chose to be buried in Vansda and his after death ceremonies were performed at the local dar-e-meher reportedly in the presence of a high priest. This demonstrates that burial is permitted in our faith and should answer Mistree’s query as to "how could one inter a defiled body into the earth or in a fire?”
Even in Bombay, after exposure to the sun (assuming that the sun shines during the rains) and partial cremation via solar panels, are not decomposed corpses ultimately buried in a mass grave in a most undignified manner? Had not Mistree himself once claimed that solar panels amounted to solar cremation? Why is the use of solar panels being continued if they are a form of cremation?
As for the suggestion to utilize the open space at doongerwadis for growing baval trees, would not this be inconsistent with the object for which the authorities have leased the land to the community?
Dastur Khurshed Dastoor rightly commented that "the choice to perform (after death ceremonies for those opting for other modes of disposal) or not, was left to the priests. It depends on each and every priest. His conscience decides. Please respect his wishes.” Did the BPP not act in haste, banning two priests because of which it lost over three crore rupees? The directions to apply conscience in this regard should come from the Athornan Mandal.
The incident reported (in the same article) by Ardish Vapiwala of the Shree Daman Vapi Parsi Jarthosty Anjuman, about two skulls being moved inside the dakhma and placed side by side, is alarming. There was apprehension that someone may have entered the dakhma and possibly performed some tantric rites.
What is welcome is the practical stand being taken by cities like Ahmedabad and Baroda where the last wishes of the deceased are respected. Bombay wants to pander to impractical, rigid fundamentalist elements who, not so long ago, got two priests banned by the BPP. Burial can and should be allowed simultaneously with dakhmenashini.
It is high time a firm decision is taken, rather than futile discussions after which the problem remains unresolved. It would be relevant for the community to know whether there was any delegate from Navsari present at the said meet. If not, does it not imply that the Vatican of our faith has a different view on the subject?
HOMI DALAL
homeedalal@gmail.com
The editors reply:
Dalal’s email was forwarded on August 12 to Mistree for a reply if he so wished. Till August 23 no reply was received. A reminder was thereafter sent on that day to which there has been no response.