Elderly Man Dies In Old-Age Home; Daughters Watch Last Rites Virtually

Sonipat: A father who devoted his life to educating and raising his three daughters died at an old-age home in Sonipat, Haryana, but none of them could be present for his final rites. Instead, the daughters attended their father's funeral through a video call from Nepal, Uttar Pradesh, and Mumbai.

What is the case?

Shivcharan Ram Ratan Gupta, who comes from Mumbai and used to work as a textile businessman, was living in the old-age home for nearly two years. He had moved to the old-age home with his wife, Meena, who died earlier.

Shivcharan Gupta probably never imagined that the three daughters he had educated and raised despite every hardship would not be with him at his final farewell. The daughters didn't even have time for the funeral of their father. Not only that, no one even came to collect his ashes.

According to reports, Shivcharan, a resident of Maharashtra, was a prominent textile merchant of his time. About two years ago he came to the Sonipat's old age home with his wife, Meena Gupta. He had no son, but he educated his three daughters and made them successful.

What did the old-age home say?

Anand Kumar, the director of the old-age home, had informed Shivcharan Ratan Gupta's daughters (Anita, Nisha, and Priya) about his illness 20 days ago. However, the three daughters allegedly made excuses and did not visit Shivcharan Gupta.

Gupta passed away around 3:30 am on Tuesday due to an illness that lasted for a long time. After his demise, the management of the old-age home informed his three daughters.

Since they couldn’t make it to Sonipat for his funeral, they joined the last rites through a video call. His body was cremated with the help of the management of the old-age home and the locals.

What did the management say?

Anand, the old-age home operator, said that Shivcharan Gupta kept a phone to communicate with his daughters. But after he fell ill, his daughters stopped calling, and even when we informed them, they didn't arrive. 

Anand said, "Even after his death late at night, we told them that we would have the body preserved if they were willing to come, but they made the excuse of not having time."

Shivcharan Gupta's eldest daughter, Anita, lives in Nepal and is a teacher there. Anita's younger daughter, Nisha, lives in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and the youngest, Priya, lives in Mumbai. None of the three daughters attended the funeral. 

How did the daughters attend the funeral?

The daughters joined the funeral via video call. Anita, a teacher, sent Rs 5,100 online and requested that their father's last rites be performed properly. Initially, the daughters had asked that the ashes be kept, but later said they lacked time, so the old-age home's administrators should immerse the ashes in the Ganges. After the funeral, the daughters requested that all videos of the funeral be sent to them via video call.