Mumbai: The age old Parsi tradition of leaving the dead for scavenger birds is caught in a controversy again.
As many as 163 Parsis from Navsari in Surat have signed a letter demanding land for a burial ground as they believe the traditional system has become dysfunctional. However, their demand has not gone down well with the community clergy, who have joined hands to protest against the demand.
Last week, the Navsari Samast Anjuman sent out their agenda for a meeting, which is scheduled on January 8. What stood out was point number four, which stated that there will be a discussion on the letter signed by 163 community members demanding an aramgah or burial ground.
Within hours, the community members began discussions and the high priests expressed their disagreement. Dastur Dr. Feroze Kotwal, a high priest from Mumbai sent out a strong worded letter to the Anjuman.
“Instead of strengthening the system, they want to move away from the age old tradition. It is simply not acceptable,” Dr. Kotwal told The Hindu .
In his letter, the 82-year-old high priest stated, “It is my learned opinion that the system of Dokhmenishini has not failed but the authorities have failed the system. I hereby suggest that every effort should be made to strengthen the system and efforts should be made to bring back the vultures in the vast area of dakhmas”.
Dakhmas, also known as Tower of Silence, are large wells where the dead are put to rest and left to be eaten by scavenger birds. But after the vultures disappeared, the system suffered a severe jolt. A few community members have time and again demanded alternate methods of disposal like cremation and burial. At present, there are two dakhmas in Navsari — Bhabha Dhakma and Tata Dakhma. There is about 15 acres of land under the Anjuman near these two dakhmas where the reformist Parsis are demanding a burial ground.
“We want the existing system to continue, but also have an alternative [system] for those who believe that the existing system has faltered,” a member of the Parsi community in Navsari said, refusing to be named.
The secretary of the Navsari Anjuman, Yazdi Kasad confirmed that they had received a letter. “As per protocol, we will discuss the demand in the meeting on January 8,” he said.
Navsari has over 2,000 Parsis. Annually, the two towers get nearly 100 dead bodies. The number is slightly high because of two old-age homes in the area for the community members. Last year, a priest from Navsari had opted to get buried and his will was executed by Mr. Kasad.
But, Dr. Kotwal, in his letter, said that Navsari is “ dharam ni tekri ” for the community. “Any steps taken to institute an aramgah will be suicidal for the Parsi Zarthostis of Navsari,” he said. His letter was signed by other high priests, Dr. Kaikhusroo Jamaspasa from Mumbai and Khurshed Dastoor of Udvada.
