Changaramkulam, Kerala: When the young Alimon and Mohammed Rishan bid farewell with trembling hearts to Rajan whom they had treated as their own regardless of his religion or caste, that was the end of a decade-companionship. Rajan was 62 when he died the other day. When the two broke the wall of religion in Naranippuzha village and lit the flame of a funeral pyre that was also a flame of love and religious harmony felt by a whole village.
Rajan had run into Mohammed who was a member of the Nannamukku Panchayat, and father of Alimon, in quest of a single meal. That was four decades ago. That day, the family not only gave them food but also took Rajan with them, knowing that he had no home to go to. When Mohammed, who had brought him up like a member of the family died, his son Alimon took over the role of supporting Rajan. As for Rajan, who had lost his parents in early childhood, lost his only uncle too, and then his native Nenmara became alien to him.
On Monday, Rajan developed chest pain and was taken to the hospital but he died there. When a mat was spread in his front yard for the final rites before cremation as per the religious rites of Rajan, Alimon could not hold himself from sobbing. The funeral rites were conducted, including the traditional lamp and incense sticks under the leadership of locals A Suendran and MS Kunhunni. It was tearful Alimon who stood in watch as the last rites were performed in front of his own house.
The final act came when Alimon and his nephew Mohammed Rishan gave their final kiss to bid farewell to Rajan by lighting the funeral pyre in the cremation ground at Kuttikkad in Ponnani. When the flames went up, a whole village went into tears together with Alimon.