The Vasudevans bring Thiruvanmiyur's forlorn cemetery back from the dead.
This article is reprinted with permission from the Adyar Times, Chennai, which is a participating organization in the India Together Campaign.
On August 15 last, while India celebrated its Independence Day, while politicians were hoisting the National Flag and local community leaders were making speeches at neighbourhood functions, here in Chennai (Madras), an electrical contractor went about planting saplings in a neighbourhood crematorium. His purpose; to make the final resting place for the dead, a pleasant campus. The Vasudevans live in a place called Thiruvanmiyur, now a bustling residential neighbourhood in the south Chennai district in south India.
Not so long ago, these parts were uninhabited areas but as the city grew, Thiruvanmiyur has expanded and so has the local graveyard. But the conditions here have been appalling. So when Vasudevan heard the local civic body called the Corporation of Chennai, announce a scheme to allow social service groups to formally adopt burial grounds here, he chose to take it up in this neighbourhood.
Most people cremate the dead at this ground and many need to perform rituals associated with the Hindu religious customs. But what Vasudevan saw here shocked him; garbage was dumped all over, people eased themselves as the dirty ground was converted into an open toilet, vegetation grew wild and the compound wall had collapsed at many places. So the Vasudevans formed the Jayadasa Charitable Trust; its single point endeavour - to maintain this cemetry.
Today, the place has a neat look. The saplings have grown, the garbage has been cleared and the ground is being levelled. Local youth who found this a safe place to drink illicit liquor or gamble, are not to be seen, since the security has been improved. The Vasudevans plan to provide a water connection as well as power, for use by those who bring in the dead. The Trust has been doing all this from the donations made by the Vasudevans and from the odd cheques that come in from those who appreciate their work.
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But it is looking for more funds to make the crematorium a much neater place for the dead. The Jayadasa Charitable Triust functions from 2, Balakrishnan Road, |
Vincent D'Souza
Email: dsouza@md2.vsnl.net.in
