Catholic burial vault in Chennai: As it is Residential area, Body exhumed and buried again in burial grounds!
One more Christian burial right in Residential area in Chennai: Six months after unearthing an unauthorised home for disposal of dead bodies in Salavakkam, Kancheepuram district, a similar case has come to light near Pallavaram, on Wednesday. 26-12-2018. Remember the story of a mysterious hospice near Chengalpet that hit the headlines earlier this year for burying the bodies of its inmates inside the campus? Same is the case here at a church in Pozhichalur, but with a Slight twist. What changed a silent narrow lane into a crowded Ranganathan Street-like, is this St Alphonsa Syro Malabar Catholic Church and the mystery of a ‘body’ buried inside it[1]. The news was first taken to the public last night by a resident here, who belonged to a Hindu group and as the information started spreading across this tightly-packed residential area, it shocked them to the core[2]. Within minutes, it eventually hit the social media and a huge bunch of people marched here overnight. Soon, the police stepped in, raided the place and retrieved a body that was buried inside a chamber in a concrete cemetery in the church. Then they buried it at the Pozhichalur burial ground, after completing legal formalities.
Why the Tamil and Malayali Christians have separate burials and practices?: Still, the social media posts claimed that there were more than seven corpses buried inside the campus. Adding to this, it was also said that more chambers were found inside a room in the church. Following this, News Today visited the spot this morning to find out what has really happened. “This is a Malayalam Roman Catholic church. We are also Roman Catholics, but Tamils. We all used to go for a common church before two years. But, some of their (Keralites) customs differ from us. So they bought a land here and built this church. One of their main practices is, burying the dead bodies in a cemetery that is built inside the church premises. This custom is followed widely in Kerala. The Catholics want more space in India to be filled with tombs, as they want to aggressively show off their presence by all means. In Kerala, if it were prue theology, here, linguistic fanaticism to whip up passion dividing people.
The concrete burial vaults – licensed or not: Even in Tamilnadu, they do this in areas like Thoothukudi,” said Kannan, a resident here. He further said, “Following the same, this church members too built the chambers to bury the body of its members. They also claimed that they have applied for license, to make the process legal. The Christians always tell these tales. Even the bone-Thomas of Salavakkam also told but, every thing has been forgotten now, But, before they got the approval, one of the members, a 75-year-old man Lonappan, originally from Kerala, who resided at Pammal with his family, was dead. So, expecting that they would get the license soon, they buried this man here, a week back. The body was kept inside a box and a cement memorial cemetery was built around it.”
Body exhumed and burried again in burial grounds: “However, the police demolished it completely and recovered the body. As it was just a week back, the body was not in a bad condition,” he stated. Other residents showed their strong opposition towards this activity. “This is a pure residential area and we don’t want these kinds of activities here. The government should never grant the license. Such activities are strictly condemned,” said an angry resident, G Mohanasundaram. Speaking to News Today, Shankar Nagar Inspector of Police (Crime) Bhooma Devi, said[3], “we visited the spot after the complaint and recovered a body. Revenue officials are set to conduct an inspection at the church today. Investigations are on.” This incident has brought in much chaos overnight and many residents who spoke to this reporter stressed that they would not allow a cemetery setup in their neighbourhood[4]. Police have launched a hunt of Jose, chairman, and Geo, reverend of the Church. Sankar Nagar police registered case and have launched a hunt for the chairman and father of the church[5].The locals filed a representation with Kancheepuram collector P. Ponniah. On his direction, a team led by tahsildar and Tambaram RDO, rushed to the church on Wednesday evening. Sankar Nagar police provided security cover to the team[6]. But, even if that Jose is tracked and taken for questioning, will the Police could proceed further?
Cremation or Burial – the Western discussion: The Indian Christian should listen to Pope and accept cremation. When the Pope lifted the ban on cremation in 1963, why they continue in India even in 2018, even after 56 years? The Christian west has already discussed and decided the issue and many Christians have started for cremation. Cremation is usually considered cheap and cost-effective, between $700 and $2000. = Rs. Rs. 4900/- and 15,000/- Burial cost is $ 10,000 = Rs.7,00,000/- in foreign countries with other service fees, transportations, grave plot caskets and headstones[7]. Not to mention, staff usage, hearse, preparation of the body and embalming.. It is environmental friendly and saves space. Cremations take no space and in contrary, burials demand new land after each generation passes away. But, cremation does not allow another organism to feed on the body or produce and thus the circle of life is being broken, it means it is environmental unfriendly[8]. So if the Indian Christians are still afford to continue burial, definitely, something has been there, then, the bone-Thomas too have suspicious activities, as has been exposed by the media, but, now suppressed.
How cremation accepted in Christianity?[9]: The practice of cremation dates back to ancient times, but after Christianity was introduced, cremation in Christian countries was stopped because it was seen as a sacrilegious act towards Christians and God. However, in 1963 Pope Paul VI lifted the ban on cremation[10]. In England and Wales, burial took place principally in churchyards until the late 19th century when advocates of cremation founded the Cremation Society of Great Britain with the aim of constructing the first crematorium. This first Act of Parliament concerning cremation in the UK was the Cardiff Corporation Act of 1894, a piece of legalisation which came about following the eccentric activities of Dr William Price. He got a son named Jesus Christ Price, however, the boy developed convulsions and died. William cremated him on the top of hill. As it was illegal, he was arrested and taken to court. Eventually, Price was indicted on three counts:
- That on January 13 he had unlawfully, wilfully and indecently attempted to cremate the body of his deceased infant male child, and that he had caused indignities to the remains of the body;
- that by such conduct he had caused a public nuisance and
- that he had attempted to dispose of the child’s body when the coroner intended to hold an inquest upon it, without first giving notice to the coroner.
Price’s trial began on February 16, 1884, at the Glamorgan Assizes at Cardiff, and he argued his case. The trial continued, in his final speech, Price said: “When I die, if I cannot get someone to burn my body, then by God I shall somehow contrive to come back and burn myself!” The jury reached a not guilty verdict and Price was set free. On January 23, 1893, after a week’s illness, Price passed away. A week later, a group of people formed the congregation of the first officially authorised and sanctioned public cremation ceremony in Britain.
What is the truth?: Salavakkam concrete vault burials raised many questions and exposed the stereo type modus operandi. Export of skeletons, bones, bone powder and many such allegations were made. However, none knows what the police or the government has taken action against the church authorities. The account of bodies received, disposed etc., are not produced to the public, in spite of the demands made by the villagers. How one more church has been found with the same modus operandi. So what has been actually going on has to be probed. Is there any scam or illegal activity going on has to be clarified.
© Vedaprakash
28-2-2018.
[1] NewsToday, Corpse found inside Church in Chennai; Chambers built to store bodies, Posted on December 27, 2018 by P T Usha
[2] https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/12/27/corpse-found-inside-church-in-chennai-structures-built-to-store-bodies/
[3] Indian Express, Unauthorised multi-tier vault sealed in church premises in Chennai suburbs, by Sahaya Novinston, December 26, 2018 03:35 pm; Updated December 26, 2018 03:35 pm.
[4] http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/dec/27/unauthorised-multi-tier-vault-sealed-in-church-premises-in-chennai-suburbs-1917220.html
[5] DECCAN CHRONICLE, Chennai: Church officials in spot for illegal disposal of dead, Published Dec 27, 2018, 4:39 am IST, Updated Dec 27, 2018, 4:39 am IST
[6] https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/271218/chennai-church-officials-in-spot-for-illegal-disposal-of-dead.html
[7] The Frisky, Burial or Cremation – What is the Right choice, Danielle Granger, December 17, 2018.
[8] https://thefrisky.com/burial-or-cremation-what-is-the-right-choice/
[9] Times of Malta, The trial that led to cremation’s legalisation in the UK, Sunday, December 9, 2018, 11:34.
[10] https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20181209/life-features/the-trial-that-led-to-cremations-legalisation-in-the-uk.696309
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