Home of the dead is now a park for the living in Gaya
In most cities, popular spots for a brisk morning jog or a leisurely evening stroll are parks with lush greenery, or a riverside path. In the town of Karimganj, in Bihar’s Gaya district, hundreds of people now take their daily walks surrounded by dead bodies.
A 150yearold graveyard, used for burials by the local Muslim community, has been transformed over the last year into a wellmaintained park. The transformation, effected with no support from the State government, but by donations from local residents and grassroot politicians, has become the talk of the town.
“There is no park in this locality of ward number 25 and 26. This graveyard falls in between. Ever since this graveyard has been renovated, and more than 2,500 trees and plants have been planted here, people throng in large numbers for the morning and evening walk,” said Zameer Alam, secretary of the Karimganj graveyard.
Five years ago, the graveyard was in a very poor condition, without any boundary wall or water connection, and was a haunt of antisocial elements. Now, there are all facilities, including wellkept pathways and lighting, so that visitors are able to safely stroll around as late as 10 p.m. There are seven staff members, including a gardener.
The average daily footfall is nearly 250, and is expected to rise as summer arrives. The two wards have a total population of 55,000, of which 16,000 are Muslims.
Spread over six acres of land, the graveyard is looked after by a 13member committee. Last year, the then Minister of Minority Affairs Jama Khan visited the graveyard, and offered financial help, which the committee refused.
The graveyard has two sources of income: burial fees, and donations.
“This is the only graveyard where you can find people even when there is no burial going on,” said Abrar Ahmad, deputy secretary of the committee.