Daughter defies tradition, performs father’s last rites

Fighting opposition and social stigma, a 20-year-old girl from Ghaziabad performed the last rites of her father, reports Peeyush Khandelwal.

Fighting opposition and social stigma, a 20-year-old girl from Ghaziabad performed the last rites of her father.

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Rupali Parashar, pursuing a course in French from Delhi, decided to go ahead with the decision even when relatives and other family members expressed unhappiness. Parashar has two sisters.

"Our father was deeply attached to all three of us. He always treated us like sons in the family," she said.

The tragedy struck when her father K.D. Sharma, a manager with State Bank of India posted at Secunderabad and sole earning member of the family, suffered a brain-haemorrhage. He was admitted to a private hospital where his condition further deteriorated and he died on November 7.

After the death when family and friends had gathered at the house, Parashar told them about her decision.

"She decided to do it even though we have cousin brothers in the family. It was only our father's inspiration and love that has instilled confidence in us. I am on dialysis and the middle sister is married. So Rupali came forward," said Ritu Parashar, the eldest sister.

In the presence of over 150 persons on Sunday, Parashar lit her father's pyre and performed the last rites.

"There was a mixed reaction to my decision. The Hindu religion does not permit a girl to perform the act. But after I decided to do it, I did not look back," she said.

Parashar was at first reluctant to meet the correspondent as the family thought it was their personal affair.

But she finally decided to meet us with the hope that others may take inspiration from her move.