What Mario Miranda's last wish was

Noted cartoonist Mario Miranda, who passed away on Sunday, would be "cremated" on Monday and not buried. The veteran cartoonist had expressed his wish to his wife that...

Noted cartoonist Mario Miranda, who passed away on Sunday, would be "cremated" on Monday and not buried as per his wish, family sources said.

The veteran cartoonist had expressed his wish to his wife that he should be cremated and not buried after his death, they said.

Father Bolmax Pereira, priest of Saviour of the World Church at Loutolim village, where Mario breathed his last, said the funeral mass would be held on Monday at 9.30 am.

"After observing the funeral mass, the body would be taken for cremation either in Panaji or Margao," he said, adding that cremation is not banned under Catholic faith.

The 85-year-old cartoonist, who was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan award, passed away this morning at his residence in Loutolim village, 40 kms away from Panji.

The sources stated that Mario, who was found dead in his sleep, was in good health till Saturday night.

His wife, Habiba, went to see him on Sunday morning and found him not responding, they added.

The exact cause of his death is not known yet.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people thronged Mario's residence after news of his death spread across the state.

Church bells were pealed to announce his death, soon after the Sunday morning mass.