Padma Shri Sharif Chacha: The 'mad' cycle mechanic who honours the dead

Sharif is a cycle mechanic who lives in a small rented accommodation

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From being labelled pagal aadmi (mad man) to receiving the Padma Shri, Mohammed Sharif has come a long way. Known popularly as Sharif Chacha, the 80-year-old has been performing the last rites of unclaimed Hindu and Muslim bodies in Faizabad for the last 27 years. 

He told THE WEEK, “Kya Hindu, kya Musalman, sabse pehle insaan” (What Hindu, What Muslim, humans above all).

Sharif has, as per his memory, cremated 3,000 Hindus and buried 1,500 Muslims till date, though media reports peg this number at a much higher 25,000.

The idea came to him when his own son’s dismembered body, partly devoured by animals was found on a railway track 27 years ago. 

“I resolved then that no individual would undergo the humiliation my son (then 25) had undergone in death”, he told THE WEEK. 

When news of the Padma Shri first came to Sharif, he was sweeping around a mazar (mausoleum). “A police officer came and said come with me at once to the District Magistrate’s Office. I asked what have I done? But he wouldn’t answer and did not even allow me to take my cycle. At the DM office, I was given roses and the DM held my hand and told me about the award.” 

Sharif is a cycle mechanic who lives in a small rented accommodation. When he first started picking up unclaimed bodies, he would take them to the cremation or burial ground on a push cart or his cycle. “People said I was mad. Then after some years Lal Babu, Chand Babu, Pappu bhaiyya, Patel Babu, Sharad bhaiyya and so many others started helping me”, he says reeling off a long list of names of those who have assisted him. Though the administration has not helped him financially, it has provided him with a designated spot at the cremation ground to perform the last rites of Hindus. “They also make available cloth (to cover the dead bodies) at times”, he says. 

Sharif has two other sons—Shakil and Ashraf. A third son died six months ago. He says that his wife never recovered from the death of his eldest son. “It would have been good to have her with me to receive the award but I think one of my grandsons will accompany me”, he says. 

As for the award, he says it is not really his. “You media people came to me so many times, took so many pictures and interviewed me. This is all your doing”, he says.