India, March 24 -- The death of my grandmother shattered me. We shared a special bond - she made me feel like I was the best in the world, perfect in every respect.

Apart from losing a person who I loved, her death was also a rude awakening for me about the discrimination women face when it comes to performing the last rites of their loved ones.

On January 23 this year, I lost my 95 year old grandmother (dadi) Nirmala Devi to cardiac arrest. She was that one person who unabashedly praised me. The evening before her death she praised the tea I had made and said that I make better tea than my brother (my brother and I are always competing about who makes the best chai).

While she loved the entire family, she especially had a soft corner ...