ASIA/INDIA – The initiative of Christians in Kolkata: to give dignified burials to the outcasts

Kolkata – Giving dignity to people even at the moment of death, through the work of mercy of “burying the dead,” has been the spirit that has inspired the Christian community of Kolkata in the commemoration of All Souls’ Day. With this purpose in mind, they have launched the “Shamman Samadhi” initiative, which aims to be “a gesture of compassion and inclusion,” according to the Christian Burial Board of Kolkata, which brought together representatives of the various Christian denominations. The initiative, the ecumenical body explained, aims to ensure that all people, regardless of their economic situation, receive a dignified and free burial. Therefore, an area of Kolkata’s historic Christian cemetery in Mullickbazar, along Lower Circular Road, is now being reserved for families who cannot afford burial costs or receive the bodies of those who have died abandoned, such as the outcasts, without relatives or loved ones to care for them.
The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, who have frequently assisted the dying and abandoned, have also been involved. According to them, this initiative has expanded their mission of compassion, ensuring that the deceased are buried with dignity, peace, and respect. The Kolkata municipal government has also welcomed the initiative and announced a contribution from its local development fund to support it. The chosen site in the cemetery has been divided into two sets of graves, one for adults and another for children under the age of three.
The Christian Burial Board, which has taken over the upkeep of the graves, has reiterated its commitment to serving the city’s most vulnerable residents “with empathy, respect, and civic responsibility,” and announced that a second burial site will be available at Tollygunge Cemetery early next year, thus expanding the scope of this initiative. Furthermore, at this stage, the Christian Burial Board has requested that the city government allocate land to build a new Christian cemetery, as the existing cemeteries, which date back to the British era, have reached capacity.

Read original article