In The Wonderland Of Inter-Marriages

 

Our community has disintegrated. Had our community not dwindled inspite of inter-marriages, would we have made an issue of it? Had our community been poverty stricken, would the inter-married have bothered to claim their stake? Obviously all the claims of affinity towards the religion, religious fervour etc. would have got exposed. There is no consistency in inter-marriages due to religious disparity between the couple. The traits we boast of cannot germinate through inter-marriages. A futile attempt is made to juggle the terms ‘Community’ and ‘Religion’.

A child identifies itself by the collective denomination of its parents. The spiritual entity of the child is torn apart by the identity crisis of the inter-married. Can the inter-married couple convince their child why their religious inclination is not in consonance? Their reaction out of frustration will obviously silence the child. All that we are striving for is the physical survival of our race. Why do they not get converted to another religion in the name of change which they claim to be the only constant? Religion is an experience and not a possession.

Maneck Panthaky

 

 

Is It Not The Right Time For A Change?

Since over more than three decades, the vultures have vanished, making the disposal system inoperable. The solar panels are not adequate and specially during the four months of the rainy season, they are mostly non-functional, yet we stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the facts. At many places where dokhmas are not there, we bury or cremate the dead bodies offering traditional rituals and prayers. Cremation, consigning the dead bodies to fire hurts the sentiments of the fire worshipping community, but burial is tried, tested, practiced and accepted by all. At present the best option is to establish an Aramgaha at the Doongarwadi premises and solve the problem of the community.
Disposal of the dead body is a matter of health , hygiene and sanitation, whereas religious prayers are performed to send blessings to the soul proceeding on its final journey. Denying prayers has not solved the problem, it has created serious conflicts in the community. All organic matters, through the cycle of decomposition are converted back to their natural elements. The dead body is but a heap of perishable mass which start rotting within a few hours, emitting foul stench, causing hazards to the environment and nuisance to the neighbourhood. We should make proper arrangement for their quick and dignified disposal.
It is necessary to dispose the dead body at the earliest as a delay leads to the body starting to decay. The same delay happens to the dead bodies laid in the dokhmas where they are left to decay and putrefy. Is it not the time for a change?
Our religion has laid great emphasis on the principles of Ashoi, that is purity. We are flouting the principles of our religion by allowing the dead bodies to rot. It is a disgrace to the community that in this modern age of advanced scientific technology when we all strive to live in cleaner, safer and more hygienic environment, we are making the khandias toil in unhygienic, inhuman conditions, at the expense of their physical and mental health. It is below the dignity of man to work under such horrifying condition facing ghostly sights of dead corpses, bearing the obnoxious stench of rotting cadavers and performing a most disgusting manual task of cleaning the dokhmas infested with rotting human remains. Working in such horrifying conditions leads them to alcoholism and other vices. We hope and pray that the sons of khandias get well educated and find better prospects in their lives.
As regards monetary gains, the community has always been generous specially when it concerns the rituals for their departed dead. Besides the salary, perks and incentives, we voluntarily pay handsome Ashodads at the time of funeral. But when it concerns the status and dignity, we keep a distance not considering them as equals.
A day’s strike caused furore in the community. A day is not far when they will realize that monetary gains which offer them chicken pulav and fish delicacies are not worth having at the expense of their mental and physical wellbeing. They will relish masoor pau, after a day’s work that brings for them self-respect, peace of mind and sound sleep.
Will there be volunteers to do their job permanently?
We should be prepared for the eventuality where khandias may not be available. An Aramgaha at Doongarwadi, will solve our problem and end the conflicts in the community. Luckily we have space and facilities and it is not a new experiment, for the community. A majority of the community members prefer alternate modes of disposal, but they do not want to miss the ambiance of the Doongarwadi, the beautiful hill garden, so peaceful, so serene, creating a soul stirring atmosphere just right to give a fitting farewell to our dear departed ones on their final journey to God’s house.
If the trustees stop infighting and devote some time , to introduce some new eco-friendly green methods of disposal, which do not pollute the fire and earth, they will render great service to the community.
Due to environment awareness people all over the world have started using eco-friendly methods like Promession or freeze drying and Resomation or alkaline hydrolysis. Though they are not introduced in India as yet, we can be the pioneers if we can make it. We definitely need a permanent solution to our problems. Will the trustees listen to the voice of the community?

–  Piroja Homi Jokhi (piroja.jokhi@yahoo.com)