These Odisha women cremate unclaimed dead bodies

Three women from Odisha have embarked on a unique journey of service, where they cremate bodies of the abandoned. They have broken Hindu traditions by performing the last rites of the dead, which bans women from doing so.

Bhubneswar:Traditionally, women from Hindu community are not welcome to be seen at a crematorium or perform the last rites of dead people. But, Rituparna Sasmal and Saswati Behera from Bhubaneswar are aberrations. Their phones start buzzing when someone finds an unclaimed body in and around the city.

These Odisha women cremate unclaimed dead bodies

After getting the call about an unclaimed body, they rush to the spot to help in performing the last rites which they consider as a very noble deed. Working with a social service organisation they have been doing these rituals for years, taking time out and helping those who don’t have anyone to perform the rituals in their final journey.

Cremation as a service

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Saswati Behera said, “I saw one senior sister doing this yeoman service. I got inspired by her. I asked myself, why I can’t do this noble deed if she can do. I talked to Pradip Bhai to join the Trust. After joining the Trust, I was not doing this work initially. But getting inspired by other senior sisters and Pradip Bhai, I have been doing this since then.”

The good Samaritans have their own cup of woes too. Both of them are deserted by their husbands and currently staying in Bhimatangi area. As they have to take care of one daughter each, they make their ends meet by working as domestic help.

Indigent burial as a service

However, their personal sorrows have never stood in their way of helping others rather hardened their resolve to do good for society. They claim the dead bodies and consign them to flames believing that person’s dignity must be maintained every after the death.

Pradip Kumar Prusty, President of Seba Trust said: “They are known here as a friend of dead people. They have been working with me for last four years. Whenever we get to know about an unclaimed body they recover and cremate them.”

Their unusual work choices often raise eyebrows but these feisty women are not bothered by the societal perceptions.

They are known in police circles also who call them when they find any unclaimed body. They rush to the spot to collect the dead body- be it rail track or any other places, often in odd hours.

Sometimes they have to recover the decomposed dead bodies, battling severe stench. But what hurts them the most is not the societal disdain but people denying them to offer work for their choice of performing last rites.

Rituparna Sasmal said, “I used to clean utensils at neighborhood households to make ends meet. But when they got to know that I am performing last rites of unclaimed dead bodies, they stated dissuading me to enter their households saying that my entering their households will defile their house. Some of them even stopped me from working in their households.”

Despite being scorned by the society for their work choice, Rituparna’s daughter has unflinching support with her.

Saipriya Sasmal, the daughter of Rituparna said, “I am proud of my mom. I am happy that she is doing this yeoman service.”

For the yeoman service they have been awarded several times, which they consider more satisfying than anything else.

Read: Bihar: 3 month-old found dead in a fisherman's net