82-year-old woman dies after performing 'Santhara'

Just five days after the Supreme Court granted stay on Rajasthan High Court’s orders that declared Santhara (fast unto death) an illegal practice, Rajasthan has reported the first death in the country where an elderly woman died after observing 51 days of fast.

The 82-year-old Badni Devi, who had been observing Santhara died on Saturday in Gangashahar town of Bikaner district of Rajasthan.

Family members informed that Badni Devi has been on Santhara from July 17. A large number of community members from neighbouring cities had converged in Gangashahar for the last rites.

“For last 51 days, she had been living only on little amount of water. She died the way she had wished and we pray for her soul. She died peacefully and it was the blessings of God. We are happy for her,” said Kiran Daga, one of the three sons of Badni Devi.

Community leaders have claimed that after Supreme Courts stay, it’s the first incident of death after observing Santhara in the country.

“On August 31, the apex court granted stay on Rajasthan High Court’s order that declared Santhara an illegal and punishable offence under IPC Section 306 (abetment of suicide) and 309 (attempted suicide). So this is surely the first case of Santhara after the stay order,” claimed Deepesh Jain, a community leader.Though Badni Devi had been on Santhara for last 50 days but formal announcement about her fast was made  only last Monday.