A poor man in eastern India who fed a flame of hay for more than five decades to mark the 1947 independence of India from the British died in his thatched hut on Tuesday, relatives said.
Paduram Mahanta (83) was cremated by one of his sons in their village, Dipila Kamargaon, 75km from Guwahati, the main city of Assam state.
”Mahanta was so moved by the independence that he decided to do something special to keep the passion of freedom alive,” Arunim Sharma, a village elder, recalled.
”He took a bunch of hay from the granary and tied it before lighting it up. Since then, he made sure the flame continued to burn every day.”
The villagers have now decided to keep the fire burning.
”The village will ensure the fire continues for generations,” community leader Bhabesh Talukdar said.
The Assam government last year approved a gift of 50 000 rupees (about R6 000) to Mahanta for his dedication. — Sapa-AFP