Daughter breaks tradition, carries mother's bier

VARANASI: Breaking the social barriers and tradition to fulfill the last wish of 95-year-old Santara Patel, an agrarian family of Bariyasanpur village, her daughter and daughters-in-law lifted her bier to village outskirts. They were joined by other women villagers.
Mother of two sons and a daughter, Santara lost her husband 20 years back. He was known for opposing impractical traditions. Santara's son Tribhuvan Narain Singh Patel said that his mother was deeply inspired by his father's vision.

"After sensing that her end was close, she called me, my sister Pushpavati Patel and other family members and asked us to donate her eyes after the death. She also asked Pushpavati and her daughters-in-law to lift her bier on their shoulders up to village outskirts," said Tribhuvan. Pushpavati said that for her mother her sons and daughter were equal. She used to say that a woman should not hesitate in performing last rites, she added.

After her demise on Sunday her family called the doctors to donate eyes. However, her body was cremated at Manikarnika Ghat by her sons.