TN: Doctor sons keep mother’s corpse at house hoping to resurrect her through ‘prayers’

Two doctors were found keeping their mother’s corpse at home in the belief that she can be resurrected through prayers. The family had converted to Christianity recently and been following the religion rigorously. The corpse was taken to their native for final rites after neighbours informed police.

Balakrishnan, a retired hotel manager, was living with his wife Malathi and two doctor sons in an apartment in Madurai. Reportedly the family had converted to Christianity a few years ago. The elder son pursues MD and the younger one is studying MBBS in Theni Medical college. Malathi was getting treated for a heart ailment and passed away on November 8.

Her body was brought to the apartment but no measures were taken to conduct the funeral. Neighbours who came to convey their condolence advised the family to get a freezer box for the corpse and inform their relatives. However Balakrishnan and his doctor sons did nothing. The corpse was being kept in the apartment for 3 days which led to suspicion and Neighbours informed police.

When cops asked Balakrishnan to bury the corpse he claimed that they were waiting for the pastor. Police insisted that the corpse should not be kept for so long and threatened legal action. Police informed the relatives in his native and the corpse was finally taken away. Neighbours say that Balakrishnan and his doctor sons were praying in the hopes of resurrecting Malathi and police confirmed the same.

Christian belief of resurrection has wreaked havoc in many families as evidently seen in the incident. Even well educated people like Balakrishnan’s sons give more credence to this belief than scientific temper. In 2021, a policewoman was denied medical treatment and her small children were made to live with her corpse for 20 days.

The woman had converted to Christianity which caused rift in the family as a result of which she separated from her husband. When she fell ill the pastor she followed scared her family into believing that Jesus would not save her if she was admitted to a hospital. He also convinced them that if they prayed for her she would regain life. Her small children aged 13 and 9 were made to live with the decomposing corpse for 20 days and when police intervened they insisted that their mother would come alive if they continued to pray.

These are a few incidents that came out because there were neighbours who noticed the odd behaviour. We do not know how many are denied medical attention for curable diseases in the name of God and left to die or denied a decent last journey.