The Tower of Silence is one of the finest poems ever written by Dhan Gopal Mukherji (1890-1936) . An Indian American Mukherji popularized Indian culture in the West and was one of the spokesmen of it no doubt. He wrote at that time when a few could have thought of achieving in a foreign land.

One of two historical Towers of Silence used by Zoroastrians
to leave dead bodies there for birds.
Located on a hill just next to Yazd, Iran.

The present poem is all about the Parsis how they dispose off their dead. The poem is very much like Gray’s Elegy, an uncommon presentation, which a few have missed to engage in. The Tower of Silence as a poem reminds us of the architectural excellence of the tower and the vultures perched upon.

The poet asks the audience to walk silently, to pause by to feel the silence, as for the dead lie in slumbering here, in this Tower of Silence. They lead their lives as the lonely dwellers of the tower. Do not disturb them. They are resting. They are tired travelers. Hush, hush up, when you pass through the way to pay tributes to them. They are sleeping, the dwellers of the tower.

Travelling a long distance, they have reached here and are in long sleep and the tower is a messenger of   the heavens’ eternal bowers which interconnect with. The poet asks to pray soulfully, mutely, reverently. Walk humbly without disturbing them who are but in a sleep. Utter no word; coldly or sadly.

The dead and gone by are in a restful state of sleep and peace. They are at the feet of God. Addressing the visitors as pilgrims, the poet says that if they have to see, feel and mark, they may but maintain silence. The travelers have gone away, and they are not returning anymore.

The Tower of Silence, the beauty of the structure, the mystery surrounding it, are the focal points of the poem under our perusal.

What pains us most is that we have forgotten many of the pre-moderns, the pre-independence-time poets. We too have not prescribed him into the courses of our studies.

Silent! Tread airily!
Hush, pilgrim!
Lay your tribute softly,
They sleep, they sleep . . .
The dwellers of this tower lonely.

From life's path tortuous,
Travelled they
To this solemn house that towers
Its head
To the heavens' eternal bowers.

Pray soulfully, mutely,
Kneel reverently,
Utter no word, sadly, coldly,
Walk hence humbly.

They sleep, the dead,
In that tower;
Laying their burdened heads
At God's feet,
As they lie at rest on the couch of death.

Silent! Tread airily!
Hush, pilgrim!
Lay your tribute softly —
They sleep, they sleep . . .
The dwellers of this tower lonely.
 

*The Zoroastrians, instead of burying their dead, leave them in the Tower of Silence.

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