In the poem ‘Idylls of the King,’  poet Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) wrote “The old order changeth, yielding place to new. And God fulfils himself in many ways, lest one good custom should corrupt the world.” The subject of this column namely, the time-honoured custom of practising the last rites of the departed people in many ways by those following different faiths both in India and the rest of the world merits discussion dispassionately, taking care not to betray any prejudice or favour towards any particular faith in word and thought. Two widely followed practices of last rites, (a) Burial and (b) Burning, having stood the test of time dating back to pre-historic periods are currently figuring in the columns of dailies in the form of philosophical articles by some cognoscenti and also news with facts and figures relevant to the two customs of dealing with the dead as it were, read, dealing with mortal remains of departed near and dear ones.

While the last rites of those who are extraordinary members of society in myriad ways, that is common knowledge, are performed with State honours at cost met from sources of public fund, the last rites of the rest are marked by customs followed by successive generations of surviving kins or well-wishers involving both expense and effort which don’t need elaboration.

The figures of fuel consumed for burning the mortal remains of the dead and space for burying as being currently practiced all over the country during the 12 months of the year bring us to the point of pondering over the resulting constraints of both fuel (firewood) and space (burial ground). While gas-fired and electricity-based crematoria, established in some cities of the country have been accepted by some sections of the population following different faiths, the benefit of change is only marginal. The other practice of last rites, namely burying, with no clue of any solution other than providing more land space for the dead compels change in the old order, conforming to Tennyson’s aforementioned poetic line.

Two news items published recently in a widely circulated daily, with data, citing official sources, on existing land area for burial and additional area needed in days ahead support favouring the use of the same land for multiple burials as a pragmatic change compelled by constraints. The clergy of different faiths can play a stellar role in bringing about this change.