In Nalgonda, a dispute over property has caused a delay in the last rites of an 80-year-old man named Pajjuri Narsimha Goud. Narsimha Goud had two wives and owned 50 acres of land. His first wife, Lingamma, had four sons and four daughters, while his second wife, Neelamma, had a son and a daughter. Neelamma and Narsimha Goud’s relationship had soured, and Neelamma had been living separately with her daughter-in-law and grandchildren. When Narsimha Goud passed away, Neelamma wanted to participate in the traditional funeral rituals, but Lingamma’s sons prevented her from doing so. Neelamma then lay on Narsimha Goud’s legs, refusing to allow the last rites to proceed until she received a share of the property for her deceased son’s children. Local elders and residents are now trying to mediate the situation.
In another incident in Suryapet district, Vempati Satyanarayana, who had six brothers and a sister, passed away. Satyanarayana had married Bhagyamma less than 30 years ago but they did not have any children. Due to family disputes, Satyanarayana had been living with his brothers while receiving treatment for his illness. Before his death, Satyanarayana’s brothers pressured Bhagyamma to register three and a half acres of land in his name. However, Bhagyamma’s two brothers demanded a share in the land registered under her name before allowing the funeral to proceed. The two parties got into a fight over the property, causing further delays in the funeral.
Both cases highlight how financial relations have overshadowed human relations even in matters of death and mourning.
