Every body deserves a decent burial, believes Trivikrama Mahadeva. True to that he has given a final send-off to 88,888 unclaimed bodies, so far in Bengaluru. Every day, at least eight to ten bodies are either unidentified or uncliamed in Bengaluru.

“Police and hospital authorities approach me to organise funeral of those bodies. I feel, it’s my honour to do that,” says 56-year-old Mahadeva. It all started when Mahadeva bought his ailing mother from Begur near Nanjangud to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. However, she passed away. He was helped by Krishnappa to bury his mother’s body.

Krisnappa – recalls Mahadeva – used to bury unclaimed bodies, then. After his mother’s passing away, Mahadeva stayed with Krishnappa, who in turn adopted him. “That’s how I learned on the job,” Mahadeva, told Bfirst. in. Mahadeva’s good samaritan work has won him many accolades.

Former president Late Abdul Kalam had felicitated by him. He has won many awards in recognition of his good work. While his old age does not stop him from doing his best, he is sometimes, assisted by his son Praveen Kumar, who has completed his Masters in Social Work from Bangalore University.

“I have been supporting my father since 7th standard. I have buried more than 20,000 bodies,” claims Praveen Kumar.With the City growing very fast, Mahadeva is worried that there are no enough burial grounds in Bengaluru.

Concerned, Mahadeva has now formed a trust – Trivikrama Mahadeva Trust – to build a graveyard for such unclaimed bodies. While Thrivikrama Mahadeva is the founder president of the trust, Praveen kuamar, Harsha, Mrs Mala and Sonal are the other members. Harsha, an MBA graduate from London has joined hands with Mahadeva, after he read about him.

“Not everyone can do what Mahadeva is doing. However, he is worried about lack of space for burial. We are in search of a land for graveyard,” says Harsha.

The trust has not joined hands with any government agencies but is ready if anyone approaches them. “We don’t mind if the BBMP wants to take care of these burial grounds.

But they should ensure that the bodies are buried in organic cloth that decomposes in three months, facilities like renumeration and health insurance be extended to them,” states Harsha. Mahadeva who now has a Maruti Omni to ferry the bodies lives with his family. Ask him, how he feels about his rather unusal job? “Ironically, I live because of them,” says Mahadeva.

SOURCE : http://www.bfirst.in/category/bengaluru/trivikrama-mahadeva-undertaker-of-unclaimed-bodies-503173