Kolkata Christians launch ‘Shamman Samadhi’ for free, dignified burials of poor & abandoned on All Souls’ Day. Ecumenical mercy initiative.
Newsroom (04/11/2025, Gaudium Press )In a poignant observance of All Souls’ Day, Kolkata’s Christian community has unveiled the “Shamman Samadhi” (dignified burial) initiative, aimed at extending mercy to the deceased by ensuring free, respectful interments for the city’s poorest and most abandoned residents.
The ecumenical Christian Burial Board of Kolkata, representing various denominations, described the program as “a gesture of compassion and inclusion.” It reserves a dedicated section of the historic Mullickbazar Christian cemetery along Lower Circular Road for families unable to afford burial costs and for unclaimed bodies of the marginalized — including outcasts without kin.
The Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Mother Teresa renowned for aiding the dying and destitute, have integrated the effort into their outreach. A spokesperson said it broadens their mission, guaranteeing burials marked by “dignity, peace, and respect.”
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has endorsed the project, pledging funds from its local development allocation. The designated plot features separate grave sections: one for adults and another for children under three.
The Burial Board, now responsible for grave maintenance, pledged ongoing service to vulnerable citizens “with empathy, respect, and civic responsibility.” It plans a second site at Tollygunge Cemetery by early next year and has urged municipal authorities to provide land for a new cemetery, noting that British-era grounds are at capacity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Fides News
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