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The Egyptians buried their kings with treasures and even food to last eons. Veeraiyan preferred something simpler — his 1955 Morris Minor car.

This farmer from Sivapuram village near Kumbakonam had his last but most fervent wish fulfilled when his sons buried him along with his favourite black and yellow Morris Minor on Tuesday.

Veerayian (66) had even earmarked a portion of his land where the burial would take place.

So an earthmover was summoned to dig a huge pit with a sandy ramp leading into it. Veeriayan was made to sit in the driver's seat and the car was slowly pushed down the ramp into the pit.

After a few rituals the pit was closed. "Though a few relatives were against it we had to do it as all three sons had promised to honour his wish," said the eldest son Asokan.

Veeraiyan, in spite of scarce spare parts, had managed to keep the Morris Minor running and would drive down to the weekly village fair.

So much so that he was popularly known only as 'Minor' Veeriayan having been the proud owner of the car for forty years.