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Journalism of Courage
Wrapped in a traditional white shroud, Mohan Lal, a retired Warrant Officer of the Indian Air Force, staged his own funeral in Gaya’s Konchi village, leaving villagers stunned. Lal orchestrated the dramatic act to inaugurate the cremation ground he had helped build for the community.
According to NDTV, the procession followed all customary rituals, with villagers chanting “Ram Naam Satya Hai” as they carried what they believed was his final arthi to the cremation ground. Believing it to be a real death, locals turned up in large numbers to pay their respects. But when the procession reached the site, the unexpected happened: Lal suddenly sat up, revealing that the funeral had been staged.
“I wanted to see who truly cared for me,” he explained.
Watch the video here:
At the cremation ground, instead of lighting himself on fire, Lal symbolically burned his own arthi, with the melancholic tune Chal ud ja re panchhi, ab desh hua begaana playing in the background.
Having observed the struggles villagers faced during monsoon seasons to perform cremations, Lal took it upon himself to build a proper cremation facility. He chose this unique way to inaugurate the site, using his own symbolic funeral as the first ceremony.
“Even after retirement, I wanted to serve my village and society,” NDTV quoted Lal. “Seeing the villagers walk with me, believing it was my final journey, filled my heart with happiness.”
After the pyre turned to ashes, they were immersed in the nearby river as per tradition. To conclude the event, Mohan Lal hosted a community feast, the report added.
