Twenty days after Vivaan James died of septicaemia,the family of the 11-month-old laid him to rest in a short,emotional ceremony at Orlem Church in Malad (West) on Sunday afternoon. Vivaans father,merchant navy captain Sunil James,arrived in the city on Friday after spending months behind bars in Togo. He had been detained on charges of abetting piracy. Vivaans body was brought home on Sunday morning,wrapped in a white blanket and made his final journey in a hearse to the church with his favourite toy a green and purple turtle by his side. The funeral service attracted curious bystanders apart from a number of close friends and immediate family members. Local MLA Aslam Shaikh and MP Sanjay Nirupam also paid their respects. After a short prayer,during which Sunil and his wife Aditi James broke down several times,Vivaan was buried in a corner at the far end of the graveyard,under a tree. There were some 5,000 people in this congregation and the graveyard was running out of space, said Vivaans uncle Rakesh Madappa. Aditis uncle Tejas Rao said the family was having a tough time dealing with the loss. When I took Vivaan to the hospital a few days ago,I never thought I would be carrying his casket as well. I hope no other family has to go through what we have, he said.
