Harinarayan Rishidev, a Mahadalit (most backward community) man from Bihar’s Madhepura district was forced to bury his dead wife inside his house after his neighbours did not allow him to cremate her on their land in the village where there is no community crematorium.
Sahogiya Devi, the wife of Harinarayan Rishidev, died on Monday after falling ill a day before. “She was suffering from diarrhoea. When no villager was ready to allow cremation on their land, I decided to bury her in my house,” said Rishidev, a 40-year-old landless daily wage earner.
Madhepura’s sub-divisional officer (SDO) Brinda Lal, who along with other officers, rushed to the village after being informed about the incident. “We are going to the village and after holding talks with the villagers and panchayat mukhiya, a piece of land will be identified for a cremation,” Lal said.
Rishidev is a Mahadalit, a special category created by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government to include the poorest among the Dalits. Rishidev demanded a separate cremation ground for his community in every panchayat. “I do not want this to be repeated with my other landless brethren,” he said.
The agitated villagers said that a concerted effort is needed to protect the basic minimal rights of the dead.
