Christians in Kolkata Launch Initiative Ensuring Dignified Burials for All
In Kolkata, India, the Christian community has launched a compassionate initiative aimed at ensuring that every person, regardless of financial or social status, receives a dignified burial. The project, called “Shamman Samadhi” (meaning “Dignified Burial”), reflects the spirit of All Souls’ Day and extends it into an ongoing mission of mercy and inclusion.
Organized by the Christian Burial Board of Kolkata, the initiative brings together representatives from multiple Christian denominations in a shared commitment to human dignity. Described as “a gesture of compassion and inclusion,” Shamman Samadhi seeks to honor the dead, especially those who have no one to claim or care for them.
Dignity Beyond Wealth or Status
The Christian Burial Board emphasized that the heart of the project is to guarantee every individual, regardless of economic means, a free and respectful burial. A section of the historic Christian cemetery in Mullickbazar, located along Lower Circular Road, has been designated for this purpose. Families unable to afford burial costs can now lay their loved ones to rest in peace, and the same space will welcome those who have died alone or abandoned.
According to Agenzia Fides, this area will serve as a haven for the forgotten, those who often go without even the simplest funeral rites. The initiative ensures that no one, whether poor, orphaned, or destitute, will be denied a place of rest and remembrance.
Faith in Action: A Community Effort
The Missionaries of Charity, the religious order founded by Mother Teresa, have joined hands with the Christian Burial Board in this endeavor. Known for their lifelong service to the dying and abandoned, the order sees Shamman Samadhi as a natural extension of their mission. “This initiative allows us to extend compassion beyond life to secure a peaceful and dignified farewell for every soul,” the congregation said.
The Kolkata city government has welcomed and supported the project, pledging financial assistance from local development funds. The designated area of the cemetery includes separate sections for adults and for children under the age of three, symbolizing care for every stage of life.
The Christian Burial Board has taken full responsibility for maintaining the graves and ensuring that the cemetery remains a place of serenity and respect. The Board also plans to expand the initiative to the Tollygunge Cemetery by early 2026, reaching more communities in need.
In addition, the Board has requested that the city allocate new land for a Christian cemetery, noting that most existing burial sites date back to the British colonial period and have reached full capacity.
Through Shamman Samadhi, Kolkata’s Christian community is not only offering practical help but also reaffirming a profound truth: that dignity belongs to every human being, in life and in death alike.
