JOIN USMeera Kumar, the daughter of noted novelist, the late Triveni, immersed the ashes of her father Prof S N Shankar at the Paschimavahini in Srirangapatna on Sunday, raising many eyebrows.
The son has to perform the last rites of parents in the Brahmin community or a male relative, in case the dead person has no son.
Meera is the only daughter of Triveni (original name Bhagirathi) and Shankar, a former principal of Sharada Vilas College, who died at 87 on Friday. The body had been preserved till Saturday when Meera consigned it to flames at the MCC crematorium at the foot of Chamundi Hills.
She told Deccan Herald that she was very inspired by the popular novel ‘Sothu Geddavalu’, authored by Triveni, who died five decades ago when Meera was just a 11-day-old baby.
Meera’s daughter Anusha also took part in the last rites of her grandfather. Maheshwari, the priest from Arya Samaj who helped Meera perform the rituals, and a host of relatives stood by Meera’s decision.
“My father didn’t believe in customs and did not practice them throughout his life. Every daughter must claim her birthright to perform the last rites of her parents,” she said.
Maheshwari will also guide Meera in the rituals that follow.