When 44-year-old Rakhi, a native of Chhattisgarh lodged at the Benedict Menni Psycho Social Rehabilitation Centre in Kadinamkulam grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was close to the end of her life after being stricken by cancer, the only wish she conveyed to authorities was that she wanted her last rites to be conducted as per the Hindu custom. But, the woman who was recovering from mental illnesses could not recollect the location of her home or her relatives.
After her death on Friday, the Christian nuns running the centre got in touch with T. Safeer, the panchayat member of Chittattumukku, where the centre is located. Learning about their dilemma, Mr. Safeer, a practising Muslim, stepped in to take up the role of the deceased’s son to carry out the funeral rights according to Hindu rites.
T. Safeer, member of the Kadinamkulam grama panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram, performing the last rites of Chhattisgarh native Rakhi. | Video Credit: special arrangement
Relatives couldn’t be traced
“The attempts to find out her surviving relatives were futile. When someone expresses such a wish, we have to do whatever we can. My religion has taught me to give the utmost respect to the body of a human being, be it of a close relative or an unknown person. Since I often take part in funerals and other functions of people from all the religions in my ward, I was somewhat familiar with the rites to be carried out. The person at the Kazhakuttam crematorium also guided me. My religion did not become a hindrance to me in this. Rather, the Imam of the local Jamaath congratulated me. He said this was the right thing to do,” Mr. Safeer told The Hindu.
