Healthwire Bureau
New Delhi, January 25-In continuation of the tradition of awarding distinguished citizens of the country who have accomplished exemplary deeds by serving humanity, this year too Modi government awarded 19 unsung heroes with Padma Shri for their great work in various fields.
Mohammed Sharif (80), or ‘Chacha Shareef’ was conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award in the category of ‘Social Work (service-last rites)’ for “performing the last rites of thousands of unclaimed dead bodies for the last 25 years.”
For 25 years, Sharif performed the last rites of 25,000 unclaimed bodies he found in and around Faizabad.
An apostle of communal harmony, he has never differentiated on the basis of religion and performed the last rites in accordance with the religious practises of the deceased-burying the Muslims and cremating Hindus.
He is bicycle mechanic by profession and still struggles to make ends meet.
