Cemeteries often evoke fear and unease, but for Neelamma, a remarkable woman in Mysuru, they have become both her home and her workplace. For the past 20 years, Neelamma has resided and worked in the Lingayat Cemetery located in Vidyaranyapuram, Mysuru, breaking traditional gender roles and demonstrating extraordinary dedication.
After losing her husband, Neelamma chose to stay in the cemetery and take on responsibilities typically performed by men, such as digging graves and assisting with last rites. Despite her personal tragedy, she found solace in maintaining the cemetery, where cleaning graves serves as an emotional and spiritual cleansing for her.
Respected by the local community, Neelamma does not demand payment for her services but accepts whatever is offered by those performing last rites. This selfless approach has earned her admiration and respect.
Managing the 5-acre cemetery with her son, Neelamma takes pride in her work. “With this work of grave digging, I needn’t be at the mercy of others for work. I dig graves, and they pay me. In 2005, I used to receive Rs 200 to dig one grave, but now I receive Rs 1000 per grave,” she said, noting that it takes her about three hours to dig a grave.
Despite receiving numerous accolades, Neelamma finds it challenging to balance attending recognition programs and continuing her graveyard work. Her son, Basavarajendra Prasad, feels proud of his mother’s recognition. When asked if she feared ghosts, Neelamma’s response was profound: she believes one should be more scared of the living than the dead.
