Denial permission to bury Priyanka Chopra’s grandmother in church invites criticism

Thiruvananthapuram: The refusal of a local church at Kumarakom in Kottayam district of Kerala to bury the grandmother of Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra in its cemetery has invited criticism from various quarters including a bishop of the Church.

The grandmother of the actress Mary John Akhouri’s wish was to be buried in her family tomb at St. John's Attamangalam church at Kumarakom where she was born and baptised. However, the parish refused to bury her body in the church cemetery on the ground that she had married a Hindu and lived as a Hindu.

Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church Mor Timotheos Thomas has criticised the decision of the parish and arranged for burial of Mary John at another Jacobite church near Ponkunnam which was about 45 km from Kumarakom.  He told television channels that it was an inhumane and unchristian act. One accrued merit by burying the dead, he said.

Ms. Chopra had also criticised the refusal of the church to lay her grandmother to rest at the Attamangalam church. It was unfortunate, she said.

The church maintained that it had to follow its conventions and traditions. The issue had become controversial because Ms. Chopra was a celebrity.