81-year-old woman defies odds, cremates bodies in Madurai

Mariammal, fondly called ‘Thotti’ Mariammal, is the only cremating person in-charge of the cremation ground in Thathaneri in Madurai. Whenever someone dies in the area, she begins her work by announcing the death in the entire locality by beating drums and then cremates the body. She also stays in the cremation ground until the body burns out completely. 

Speaking to DT Next, Mariammal said that cremating bodies is a family profession and she started working when she was 10. Her grandfather, Azhagu Malai, had taught her how to cremate bodies and in two years she learnt all the procedures involved in the process. 

Speaking about the cremation grounds, Mariammal said that she initially used to be afraid to stay in the cremation grounds past midnight. To ward off her fears, Malai used to place the ashes of burnt bodies on her forehead. As this ritual continued over years, she said her fear slowly disappeared. 

Over time, she started cremating bodies by herself and used to stay alone in the cremation ground past midnight. Mariammal proudly claimed that cremating bodies is their family right and her descendants would continue her work. Speaking about the problems she faced, Mariammal said that though the people in the locality knew her and her family, sometimes people from outside the region do not agree for her to cremate the bodies. 

“People in my locality did not differentiate based on sex and they never created any problems for me. They also explained to their relatives about my family and obtained their permission on behalf of me”, said Mariammal.