Talala146;s daughters

One has heard of such instances in the bigger towns and cities of the country. What makes this incident especially significant was that it took place in a small town.

The fact that a Hindu woman is not considered important enough to perform the last rites of her parents is the final indicator of her inherent inferior status in society. It must hurt a daughter to be considered less than equal to her brothers, while sharing the grief of a parent8217;s death. In fact, I felt this sharply when my own father passed away.

Keeping a daughter away from performing her parents8217; last rites is based on the belief that she is a debt to them. A debt, which they can repay only through 8216;kanyadaan8217; 8212; by giving her away in marriage. The earlier this is done, the better, or so goes traditional common sense. It is also believed that by performing the last rites of her parents, a daughter makes her parents indebted to her again and thus jeopardises their souls8217; salvation. When a son performs this same ceremony he is, in contrast, only discharging the duty that he owes his parents for their having brought him into this world. Thus, through this ritual, he is thought to have redeemed himself and them.

Of course, nobody knows what happens after death. Neither does anybody know whether those who performed the rituals according to tradition, actually went on to attain salvation. For all you know, it may be the other way around 8212; that only parents who treat their daughters as the equals of their sons get to attain salvation!

That is why the example set by the five daughter of Talala is not just commendable but an important indication of how change is taking place even in the margins of this country!