Durgashankar Tailor, 58, died on Saturday night following a prolonged illness. A resident of Barli Bundi Rager colony, Tailor’s last wish was that his four daughters shoulder his bier.
He had no son. On Sunday afternoon, Tailor’s daughters fulfilled his last wish despite the community leaders threatening to outcaste them.
“The community leaders first told us not to participate in the last rites, which we refused to agree to. After we finished our father’s last rites, they directed us and our wailing mother to prostrate before them and seek forgiveness for our act. We refused to do that as we had done nothing wrong,” said 25-year-old Meena, the eldest of the daughters.
Meena, who is a housewife, said that when they returned from the crematorium, they found the community complex locked to prevent them from bathing there. All the men and women of the family had to take bath at home, she added.
“We are being punished for fulfilling our father’s last wish and being made to feel like culprits,” said Meena’s younger sister Kalawati, a BA final year student. “We had to light fire at home against the custom to cook food,” she added.
However, ex-chairman of Bundi municipality and one of the community leaders, Modu Lal claimed that the family never asked for the keys of the community complex.
“We sought forgiveness from the community for the act of our four daughters but they remained adamant. Only a few of the community members, who were educated, participated in the funeral,” said Tikam Chand, the maternal uncle of the four daughters.
When contacted, community head Chandulal Chandeliya refuted the allegation of the family being outcasted.
“I was away from the city and am not aware of the details. The decision of the four girls is an encouraging step. There are some persons in the community from outside Bundi who are spreading the misconception,” he said.
