Odisha girl breaks barriers, performs last rites of father

Defying age-old tradition, a young girl lit the funeral pyre of her father and performed all the rituals during his last rites in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district. 

Contrary to the tradition where women stay away from performing last rites and are not supposed to come to the cremation site, the young girl, from tribal-dominated Nabarangpur district took the emotional route and lit her father’s funeral pyre.

“The deceased Kateswar Rao of Pathani Sahi in Nabarangpur was a social activist. He was associated with several NGOs and did everything for the betterment of society and the poor. This was a small tribute to the great man,” a local said.

“Our father loved us a lot. He never differentiated between a boy or a girl,” said Rao’s daughter I.V. Reshma, explaining why she chose to be at the forefront while bidding goodbye to him.

“Not all families have sons. What will happen to the deceased person who has no male heir? In today’s time, we should not differentiate between a son and a daughter. My father never differentiated me from any male/boy. He has grown me up equally with equal opportunities and equal love. It was his last wish and I have fulfilled it,” an emotional Reshma further added.

“With her noble act, Reshma has set an example that it is the right of a girl to give last respect to their loved ones. A girl is no different and can also carry out all the responsibilities that a man can do. Such act will go a long way in ending the differentiation of men and women in the society,” said social worker Manisha Tripathy.