It's been man's desire to live forever, but the greatest men history has produced have ended up losing their battle to death — the grave being the inevitable final resting place.
Such was the case with Brigadier-General John Nicholson, who was once a gallant officer of the British East India Company but today lies buried in the heart of Delhi in a cemetery near Kashmere Gate. He is remembered, but those who kept him there have been forgotten.
Such has been the case of gravediggers since the inception of the world — except for Abraham Lincoln, who worked as a sexton in a churchyard and went on to become the American president
In the heart of Delhi lies a beautiful cemetery called Nicholson Cemetery.
In a huge complex with graves dating back to the Revolt of 1857 lives Mangat Ram , cousin Heeralal and Peter, who act as the caretakers of the graveyard premises besides digging graves.
Being from a very poor family from a small town in Uttar Pradesh, Heeralal has picked up grave-digging.
“I am here since the death of Indira Gandhi,” says Heeralal, not very sure of the amount of time he has spent in the graveyard.
Starting by digging graves by around nine in the morning and finishing by five, they keep a certain number of graves ready as they are never too sure of the number of deaths that might come their way any given day.
“People think we have a very dirty job when we are doing God's job. No one would do this if we didn't,” asserts, Peter, who complains that people's attitude towards them is usually negative and they are considered to be the lowly part of society.
“We don't care what others say; we do it for a living,” says Mangat Ram, looking defiant in the face of a society that looks down upon them.
Living in a small corner of the graveyard, their families are deprived of electricity or any sort of security. Running water is the only facility they cherish in the heritage cemetery, which lies in an ignored state.
“We earn just Rs.4,500 per month. You can very well understand the problems,” says Mangat.
Occasional harassment from cops is another problem.
Unable to share their concerns with outsiders, the gravediggers live a life of their own within the graveyard, troubled amidst the surrounding quiet.
