Kochi: A Jacobite parish in Kerala on Sunday refused to bury the maternal grandmother of Priyanka Chopra, a leading actress of Bollywood.
Madhu Jyotsana Akhauri had died in Mumbai on June 3, aged 94. She was a freedom fighter, social activist and a former legislator.
Born Mary John in St John’s Attamangalam parish in Kumarakom, near Kottayam, the elderly woman had always expressed a desire to be buried at the same church. The actress, along with her mother, Madhu Ashok Chopra, brother Sidharth, and other members of the family came to Kottayam to attend her funeral.
However, the authorities at Kumarakom parish denied permission for the funeral, on the grounds that she had married a Hindu, reports The Times of India.
A church spokesperson told media persons that Akhauri had broken ties with the church after her marriage to a Hindu and she lived as a Hindu. “One is automatically disowned by the church under such circumstances. She could have re-joined the church while alive. But once a person is dead, we cannot accept the body for burial,” he added.
However, the funeral was finally conducted at St Thomas Jacobite Church at Ponkunnam, some 50 km east of Kumarakom, situated in the same district. It was not clear how the church allowed burial in a different parish.
Meanwhile, the actress wrote on Twitter, “Rest in peace Nani. #Kerala #FinallyBackHome”
The 33-year-old “Bajirao Mastani” star said her grandmother will always be in her heart. “Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday,” she added.
Akhouri had gone to Bihar as nurse and later married Dr Akhouri. Besides Priyanka’s mother Madhu Chopra, she is survived by two other daughters and a son.