India's Unsung Heroes

Bangalore: Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam honored six extraordinary individuals and an organization from across India at the diamond jubilee celebrations of Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, reported The Indian Express.

Kalam said in his address "When I heard the sabha's theme for celebrations was 'celebrating life', I did not understand what they meant but after meeting these men, I fully understand it."

The ‘diamond award’ included a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, a five-ft tall lamp, a shawl, a citation, a trophy and the sabha's icon. Sabha president V Shankar said the awardees were selected by mark of their devotion to duty and their commitment to their respective pursuits. “Most of them are unsung heroes who have gone about their work despite suffering and poverty. Some have been in the glare of publicity but kept their focus,” as reported by The Indian Express. The organization that was felicitated was Pune NGO Horizon for peace and progress.

The six unsung heroes are:

T Mahadev, a public undertaker from Bangalore, for dignity of human body:

Mahadev was felicitated at the function by Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.

Mahadev has a great story to tell. He is an undertaker in the city of Bangalore who ferries unclaimed bodies and organizes their funeral. He has organized funeral of over 42,000 human bodies so far. In November 1999, he was awarded the Chief Minister's Gold Medal by then Chief Minister of Karnataka, S. M. Krishna. Mahadev was discovered by a local magazine. This thoughtful man provided burial ground to thousands of dying unclaimed bodies.