TNN
Ahmedabad, May 6: Several roads in Bapunagar were chock-a-block on Monday. People poured out in large numbers to witness a strange sight: A mother was on her final journey on the shoulders of her four daughters. Her sons were conspicuous by their absence.
Chanchalba Rami, 95, had four sons and four daughters. But, when she was on her deathbed, her sons got 'too busy' to come for the funeral.
In this hour of need, daughters stood by her, took care of her medical needs and also conducted the funeral after her death.
Chanchalba died on Sunday night. Her husband Chiman Rami, who died 10 years ago, had two cloth shops in Viramgam. The couple stayed in a huge ancestral home and their family was big, with eight children.
After Chiman’s demise, the sons were quick to take their share of the ancestral property. But, nobody seemed bothered about taking care of their mother. It was at this juncture that Hansa, Chanchalba's eldest daughter, stepped forth and took up her responsibility. For the next decade, Chanchalba spent her last years with Hansa and other daughters - Jaya, Gita and Bharti.
All four sons were intimated about Chanchalba’s demise but they failed to turn up. However, her two grandsons - Kamlesh and Tarun - did come.
Led by two boys of Chanchalba's eldest son, the bier carried by the four women moved through the roads, drawing huge crowds. The funeral procession seemed to increase in size in each locality as people joined out of sympathy and curiosity. Seeing the daughters carrying the bier on their shoulders was a rare sight.
Chanchalba’s last rights will be completed at Siddhpur in north Gujarat, which is considered to be a sacred place. Hansa said, “I have nothing against my brothers. I feel I am fortunate to have been destined to take care of my mother and also to look after her final rites.”
Her grandson Tarun said, “I am sad that neither my father nor uncles fulfilled their responsibility. We have been brought up with affection by our own grandmother. We have come to be with her in her final journey.”