Gorai residents build ‘Sarva Dharma Smashanbhumi’ after BMC delay, promoting communal harmony | File Photo
Mumbai: Christian residents of Gorai came together to build a ‘Sarva Dharma Smashanbhumi’ after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation failed to build a crematorium reserved under the development plan. Residents contributed around Rs 7 lakhs to build the crematorium on the plot claimed by an Adivasi man for the same purpose.
The Hindu and Adivasi communities had been using a locally installed stand on the stone brake water barrier at Gorai Beach to cremate their loved ones. The makeshift crematorium lacked basic amenities and was inaccessible during high tide. Since there was no other resort, the locals continued to use the place until it was allegedly demolished by a local person in November 2024.
Following the demolition, Gorai Villagers Welfare Association wrote to the Gorai Village police to file a complaint against the offender and also demanded the BMC for an authorised and functional crematorium. However, as the civic body did not work to facilitate the village with a crematorium, citizens decided to collectively build an all-religion crematorium with their own money.
Gorai residents build ‘Sarva Dharma Smashanbhumi’ after BMC delay, promoting communal harmony | File Photo
The members of Gorai Villagers Welfare Association and other villagers, a large population of which are Christians, came together and collected around Rs 7 lakhs for the cause. The ‘Sarva Dharma Samabhaav Smashanbhumi’ on a hillock called Jamdhar Pada, has a cremating stand, an overhead shade to save the cremation stand from rain and open area surrounding the stand to bury bodies.
The land was claimed by a member of the Adivasi community living in Gorai, who wished to make a crematorium for the community. However, when the entire village was left without a crematorium, the humble man offered the land for the all-religion crematorium for the villagers’ last rites.
However, the villagers have demanded the local MLA Sanjay Upadhyay to get the reservation for a crematorium on the beach transferred to the hillock where the new crematorium has been built. A 10,000-litre water tank has been installed at the spot but the villagers are still expecting a concreticed road leading to the crematorium, solar lights and regular supply of firewood.
Switsy Henriques, president of the villagers’ association, said, “A person should not only be able to live with dignity and also die with it. This crematorium is a symbol of communal harmony as well as the villagers’ will to defy all hardships and help each other in such situations. Even the labour who built the crematorium took a minimal charge to contribute to the cause. The MLA has also assured us that he will get us basic amenities.”
