A Mother’s Grief Compounded: Widow Faces Family Dispute Over Son’s Ashes in Raigarh

The conflict came to a head on the day of the 'Teejan' ritual when the family gathered to collect Arun’s ashes. Vimla, who had performed the cremation, intended to immerse the ashes in Prayagraj.

However, her brother-in-law, Madan Sundar Agariya, also arrived to claim the ashes, leading to a heated argument.

The situation escalated, requiring intervention from village elders. They ultimately ruled that a mother holds the primary right to her son’s ashes, bringing a tense calm to the situation after several hours.

Vimla has firmly stated that she does not want her son’s remains to be divided and wishes to carry out the immersion herself.

This dispute adds another layer of pain for Vimla, who was already living in isolation. Forced to work as a ‘Mitanin’ (community health worker) to support her two children after being shunned by her community, her son’s death is a devastating loss.

The fight over his ashes represents not just a ritualistic conflict, but a profound struggle for a grieving mother’s right to mourn her child in peace.