Once again after taking the case to highest of the land, this individual has won the right to have a tradition funeral pyre, and I wonder at who's cost this structure will be built.
If he wants a conventional Hindu funeral, why can't he be shipped back to India when he dies?
I don't blame him at all, he's a right to be disposed of how he wishes (actually, i think we all should). I blame the the law for not allowing it in the first place.
I can't see a problem. We have a lot of British people who are Hindu and, as long as the structure meets the legal requirements, which it does, and is in a crematorium, then what is wrong. Why should his body be shipped to India when he has probably resided here all his life and his family are here?
I can see that cremation should only take place in designated areas for health and safety reasons and to protect peoples sensibilities, but a crematorium is exactly the right place!
Normally you'd be inveighing against Newcastle and their 'elf and safety' concerns as bureaucracy gone mad; now suddenly you think it's a great idea to block funerals on the grounds of air pollution? Have you secretly turned green? Anyway, sure, let him be disposed of any way he wishes. I'd like to see more Viking funerals with blazing longships myself.
When the average person dies and is buried or cremated normally their family meets the costs. If someone dies penniless and without family then the state will pay but it will be a minimalist affair.
I see know reason why things should be different in this case, quite likely the gentleman has worked hard all his life and put money top meet the cost of his chosen funeral.
Jno,
Have you seen the cost of viking longboats recently.? You'd be much better off spending the money while your alive and get sent off in a cardboard box when your gone.