Illiterate Selvam had begun helping out his father at the crematorium on the banks of the Noyyal from a very early age. He is now in his late forties and he virtually lives in the "Nandavanam" (Crematorium) maintained by the jewellery fraternity of Coimbatore. The Nandavanam is full of trees and a well is located next to an open bathing area within its premises. Selvam maintains the stock of firewood and dung patties required for cremation and also the vast area measuring about one and a half acres. The Coimbatore Arya Vysya Samajam has been keeping the place neat and clean for decades.
Service-minded Selvam is guided by the presence of jeweller Manoharan who makes it a point to co-ordinate the activities on an everyday basis by visiting the crematorium which has toilets and a place to store the ashes meant to be immersed at the holy city of Kasi. Sometimes the ashes are left here for months before they are immersed in Kasi and Selvam ensures that they are not tampered with or lost. On the passing away of a person from the fraternity Manoharan directs Selvam to get the cremation platform ready and this is just the beginning of the process. Subsequently Selvam takes care of the cremation with a lot of diligence. He places the wood on the platform and keeps the bathing area ready for the person who is supposed to light the funeral pyre. Once the pyre is lit he takes care of the process until it is completed and helps the family to clear the remains the very next day. Its a revelation for most when they get to see the priest frequenting the crematorium everyday besides interacting freely with Selvam on a friendly basis.
Selvam helps the family of the deceased to clear the remains while also cooking the stuff required for the ceremonies. He uses a simple stove and prepares the material required for the same from just under a coconut tree. He uses turmeric, black urad dhal, rice, raw plantain and brinjal to cook a mixture that is used in the rituals and the same is offered on the platform nearby in order to feed the crows and other birds. Selvam also prepares other items used for the rituals with the aid of fabric and turmeric besides preparing a mixture using urad dhal powder and rice powder along with turmeric. He uses the mixture to make parts of the body, umbrella, etc., Selvam does all this and more with effortless ease. Additionally he helps the concerned people and the priest to do the homam or fire worship on another covered platform. One can see him working with a plan and precision throughout the process. He is courteous and kind to the people who have lost their near and dear.
The vegetarian community which supports and uses the crematorium, reveres its departed by performing "Nithya Karma" or daily rituals for 10 days regularly with the help of Selvam and the priest who happens to be the master of ceremonies. On completion of each stage everyday the concerned person has a bath and therefore Selvam has to maintain sufficient water for two baths a day for each person. He manages the waste quite well and also cleans up the platform used to feed the crows and other birds. Clean shaven Selvam is deft fingered and he serves as the all-in-all in the crematorium.
"I have been here since childhood and remember pushing the decorated cart which was used to carry corpses those days and this was before the advent of motorised vehicles used for the same purpose. My family lives nearby and I spend most of the time at the crematorium. The next generation may not follow me for they are choosing a different line of activity. Many of my kith and kin are working in a number of places. This is my job and I do it everyday to the best of my ability and knowledge," stated a duty conscious Selvam while cooking the material required for the rituals.
The crematorium has a number of trees, bushes and flowering plants which are nurtured by the well which is facing the impact thanks to the pollution prevalent in the River Noyyal. The family of the deceased come in laden with grief and one sack of materials required for the ceremonies and Selvam tries to unload the same in the company of the priest who is extremely courteous to him. Persons like Selvam are unsung heroes of our country and its about time that the State and social service organisations recognised and rewarded the likes of Selvam.
Service-minded Selvam is guided by the presence of jeweller Manoharan who makes it a point to co-ordinate the activities on an everyday basis by visiting the crematorium which has toilets and a place to store the ashes meant to be immersed at the holy city of Kasi. Sometimes the ashes are left here for months before they are immersed in Kasi and Selvam ensures that they are not tampered with or lost. On the passing away of a person from the fraternity Manoharan directs Selvam to get the cremation platform ready and this is just the beginning of the process. Subsequently Selvam takes care of the cremation with a lot of diligence. He places the wood on the platform and keeps the bathing area ready for the person who is supposed to light the funeral pyre. Once the pyre is lit he takes care of the process until it is completed and helps the family to clear the remains the very next day. Its a revelation for most when they get to see the priest frequenting the crematorium everyday besides interacting freely with Selvam on a friendly basis.
Selvam helps the family of the deceased to clear the remains while also cooking the stuff required for the ceremonies. He uses a simple stove and prepares the material required for the same from just under a coconut tree. He uses turmeric, black urad dhal, rice, raw plantain and brinjal to cook a mixture that is used in the rituals and the same is offered on the platform nearby in order to feed the crows and other birds. Selvam also prepares other items used for the rituals with the aid of fabric and turmeric besides preparing a mixture using urad dhal powder and rice powder along with turmeric. He uses the mixture to make parts of the body, umbrella, etc., Selvam does all this and more with effortless ease. Additionally he helps the concerned people and the priest to do the homam or fire worship on another covered platform. One can see him working with a plan and precision throughout the process. He is courteous and kind to the people who have lost their near and dear.
The vegetarian community which supports and uses the crematorium, reveres its departed by performing "Nithya Karma" or daily rituals for 10 days regularly with the help of Selvam and the priest who happens to be the master of ceremonies. On completion of each stage everyday the concerned person has a bath and therefore Selvam has to maintain sufficient water for two baths a day for each person. He manages the waste quite well and also cleans up the platform used to feed the crows and other birds. Clean shaven Selvam is deft fingered and he serves as the all-in-all in the crematorium.
"I have been here since childhood and remember pushing the decorated cart which was used to carry corpses those days and this was before the advent of motorised vehicles used for the same purpose. My family lives nearby and I spend most of the time at the crematorium. The next generation may not follow me for they are choosing a different line of activity. Many of my kith and kin are working in a number of places. This is my job and I do it everyday to the best of my ability and knowledge," stated a duty conscious Selvam while cooking the material required for the rituals.
The crematorium has a number of trees, bushes and flowering plants which are nurtured by the well which is facing the impact thanks to the pollution prevalent in the River Noyyal. The family of the deceased come in laden with grief and one sack of materials required for the ceremonies and Selvam tries to unload the same in the company of the priest who is extremely courteous to him. Persons like Selvam are unsung heroes of our country and its about time that the State and social service organisations recognised and rewarded the likes of Selvam.