No gender bias in giving dignity to the dead

In the recent floods, when other crematoriums were out of reach or not functioning, Velangadu Crematorium was one of the few options. Close to 15 bodies were brought in throughout the week and Praveena Solomon, a woman caretaker at the crematorium handled them all. Jumping over the walls to reach her office, as the road near the gate was completely flooded, Praveena was determined to carry out her duty. “Since we have the facility at the first floor, the crematorium was functioning. We didn’t want the rains to hamper work. I didn’t think twice before coming to office,but then that was my duty,” she adds. In 2014, Indian Community Welfare Organisation took over the operations of the crematorium. Making an exception to the long-running tradition of men as caretakers, Praveena and Esther Shanthi were appointed as caretakers. 

Entering a male bastion 

More than a year ago when Praveena Solomon took charge of the functioning of Velangadu Crematorium, she knew she had a huge task in hand — break the gender bias. But later, she realised that was only part of a whole new set of challenges. “I had my family’s support, though my in-laws were initially not in favour of my decision to take up this job — supervising cremation and burial of dead bodies every day. But later they agreed. When I came here, it was more challenging than we had imagined,” she says. 

Coordinating the operations, she later realised that it was not much about traditions or customs, but about discrimination. “Some of them who came for the cremation would be drunk and would misbehave. But I put on a brave face and went ahead with my work. The other trouble was with touts, who would charge the families of the deceased extra for the cremation, using our name. When we objected, they threatened us with dire consequences. We later resolved the matter with them,” she recounts.

Since the 4.5 acre crematorium also has a burial ground attached to it, there are babies and children brought in for burial. “Being a mother of two, I get extremely emotional when I see that. Some of them are just a few months old and that continues to haunt me for days,” she admits. However, she believes that being a woman gives her the sensibility to approach death and mourning with a lot of care.

“Most often, people get very emotional and break down completely during the funeral.  They have no one to comfort them and at times, they have children accompanying them. 

At that time, I think it is important for me as a caretaker to lend them some support. I stand next to them till the end of the funeral and ensure that the child accompanying them eats something. These thoughts are natural for a woman,” she adds. 

Praveena credits her family for standing by her. “It was natural for anyone to frown at the thought of working at a crematorium. But my husband and family have stood by me.  In fact, my children, though they don’t understand my work entirely, have been cooperative. 

My son studies at a nearby school and whenever he sees a funeral procession, he asks me curiously if I they ended the procession at my office,” she says with a smile. An English literature graduate, Praveena was introduced to social work by her mother who worked closely with social worker Sarojini Varadappan.  “I was studying for nursing when I decided to join an NGO. In 2004, I joined ICWO. I was working as a field officer and was educating sex workers. I have been followed by men during my field visits and I dealt with them. Handling the crematorium is another service for me,” she says.