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Hema, the daughter of late Motisingh Parmar, is a schoolteacher in Surat. She said that she wanted to perform the ceremonies as a tribute to her father.
“It did not occur to us that someone else should perform the ceremonies. He loved us and did not treat us differently. I decided to participate in the ceremony. None of the relatives or community members contested our wishes,” said Hema. Community elders like Balwantsinh Rathod, see the act as a strong statement of gender assertion.
“In most cases, a male cousin or an uncle would have performed the last rites. However, these women decided to perform the rites as a tribute to their father. The times are changing. It is a practical way of demonstrating that both sons and daughters are equal,” said Rathod.
This act will hopefully set an example for women across the state. Such events may not mean much in the cities, but it will be talked about in villages and towns,” said a community elder in Rajpipla, who was appreciative of the manner in which the daughters had demonstrated their affection for their father.
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