Delhi’s crematorium controversy is proof that caste still divides India even in death

In Delhi’s Mehrauli, a conflict over final rites has reignited debates about caste discrimination that continues to plague Indian society decades after constitutional protections were enacted. When 40-year-old Pawan, a member of the Valmiki community, died after prolonged illness on April 5, his family’s grief was compounded when a priest told them to use a separate cremation area designated specifically for Dalits.

Despite objections and heated arguments, Pawan’s body was ultimately cremated in what his family describes as “filth” behind the main cremation grounds.

“We have not been treated well. Even after death, caste is being searched,” lamented Ratan Lal, Pawan’s father. “The pandit refused saying that this is a place for the Jat, Bania, Gurjar and Pandit communities…the country has become independent, are we not free? Are Valmikis not free?”

Watch this report to understand how the controversy represents a stark contrast to Dr B R Ambedkar’s vision of a caste-free India.

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