Thiruvananthapuram: T. Safeer, a Muslim ward member of Kadinamkulam grama panchayat, has drawn wide appreciation for performing the cremation of Rakhi, a Hindu woman abandoned by her family.
Rakhi, 44, originally from Chhattisgarh, had lived for years at the Benedict Menni Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Centre in Chittattumukku. She survived mental illness, later developed cancer, and was cared for by nuns at the centre. Before her death on Friday, she expressed a wish to be cremated according to Hindu customs.
Her relatives were unable to attend. Both her brother and daughter are undergoing treatment for mental health conditions, leaving no one to fulfill her request. The nuns turned to Safeer, who arranged and performed the last rites.
This is not the first time he has stepped in. Safeer has previously performed the funerals of three other women from the same centre, including two Hindus and one Muslim, who had no relatives to conduct their ceremonies.
Images and videos of his action were shared widely on social media, receiving praise from across Kerala. Many described it as the “real Kerala story,” highlighting the state’s tradition of coexistence and respect among communities.
Safeer’s initiative has struck a chord with the public, serving as a reminder that dignity in death is a human responsibility that goes beyond religion.
