WARANGAL: Final rites of a Hindu man who breathed his last during his stay at a senior citizens' home was performed by a Muslim woman in Warangal, Telangana. Yakub Bi, who runs an old-age home along with her husband takes care the needs of 70 seniors for free.
When K Srinivas, 70, was found at a bus stop two years back, partially paralysed, he told Yakub that he was abandoned by his family. It was only after his death that his son could be contacted. However, he said he could not follow traditional Hindu rituals for his father's funeral because he had converted to Christianity. While Yakub's husband was travelling, she decided to perform Srinivas' last rites of Srinivas as he was "like a father" to her.
Taking up the role, she walked around the funeral pyre an earthen pot on her shoulder, and lit the pyre, taking the spot that would traditionally go to the dead person's oldest son. Other members of the old-age home were present during the ceremony.
