Authors, activists and academicians have come out with an open letter, calling for dignified burial to those who have passed away due to COVID-19.
The letter reads, “In the midst of the pandemic, we are witness to the immense silent tragedy of loved ones not being able to say goodbye to those they have lost. For families battling infection and death of loved ones, this is one kind of suffering which is unnecessary, which should not have to further burden bereaved families. The ability to give a dignified farewell to our loved ones is often the starting point in coming to terms with uncountable loss. The process of grieving begins with this important ritualized moment”.
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been numerous reports of neighbours and even family members shunning the deceased for fear of catching the infection. This fear has extended across sections of the society. In early June, a 77-year-old priest in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district lost his life and test results which came later confirmed that he was COVID-19 positive. Locals refused to grant permission to bury him in the cemetery of the church.
In April, a mob attacked the police in Chennai when they were burying the remains of a doctor.
“This highly infectious nature of the virus, and hospital restrictions, often mean that it is impossible for us to be able to stand by the bedside of those that we love in their last moments. The stigma around COVID-19 has spread from the living to the dead, even though there are detailed scientific and official guidelines that show us that a dignified death is possible. It is deeply saddening that the fear and stigma around COVID-19 has caused families to abandon performing the last rites for their family members,” reads the letter.
“Everyone has the right to say goodbye to their loved ones in a respectful manner. It is critical for us to know that it is completely safe for the last rites of a loved one to be performed by family members and for them to have a respectful burial/cremation. The ministry of health and family welfare released a set of guidelines on burials on the 15th of March. It clearly states that the family may view the face of their loved one before they are cremated/buried and. All religious rituals that do not require contact are allowed. There is indeed no scientific reason why people who have lost their loved ones to COVID-19 cannot see the face of their loved one before the last rites, and there is no rational or scientific barrier for them to undertake with due safety the religious and cultural practices associated with death rites which they believe in and which will give them solace, as long as this does not involve crowding and physical contact”.
The aforementioned guidelines issued by the ministry say, “The main driver of transmission of COVID-19 is through droplets. There is unlikely to be an increased risk of COVID infection from a dead body to health workers or family members who follow standard precautions while handling body. Only the lungs of dead COVID patients, if handled during an autopsy, can be infectious”.
The letter concludes, “We write this open letter to the people of India both for the purpose of scientific public education, and also to express our deepest sympathies to those who have lost and will lose their loved ones to the COVID-19 virus. We want to stand with them at their hour of grief, and to support them as they are able to conduct the last rites and ceremonies that are customary for them with the necessary precautions and safety. We reiterate that there is no scientific reason whatsoever for the suffering of families and friends who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 to be aggravated by not being able to bid a dignified and loving farewell to the departed”.
Signatories to the letter include historian and biographer Rajmohan Gandhi, human rights activist John Dayal, author Nayantara Sehgal, activist Tapan Bose and actor Sharmila Tagore.
