A life of service: Dignity to the dead, knowledge to the living
In a quiet part of Puthur, Tiruchy, one family has quietly dedicated over two decades to acts of deep compassion and cultural preservation.
For more than 20 years, P Vijayakumar, a yoga master, along with his wife V Chitra and daughter V Keerthana, has been performing the last rites for unclaimed and destitute individuals, those who die without family, identity, or support.
Cremation grounds, often avoided and solemn, have become places of service for this family.
Despite social norms that traditionally exclude women from such spaces, both Chitra and Keerthana have stood by Vijayakumar.
Their involvement initially faced resistance, but the family remained committed to what they saw as a sacred responsibility.
During the devastating second wave of COVID-19, when fear and stigma kept even families away from their deceased loved ones, this family took on the task of ensuring proper burials, bringing dignity to those otherwise forgotten.
Vijayakumar’s compassion extends far beyond cremation grounds. For 25 years, he has maintained a public library outside his home, open to all, day or night.
With over 25,000 books, the library functions on trust; there is no librarian, no fees, and no restrictions.
His belief is simple: that access to books can transform lives. His efforts were recognised by the Rotary Club of Tiruchy in 2014 and again in 2024 with the Arivuchcholai Award.
Equally passionate about culture, Vijayakumar has turned part of his home into a museum of Tamil heritage.
The collection includes traditional tools, household items, and even ancient manuscripts, many of which have disappeared from modern life. Visitors, including students and researchers, often come to learn from these carefully documented exhibits.
His interest in history also extends to philately and numismatics, with a vast collection of stamps, coins, and currency notes that reflect political, social, and cultural changes over time.
Supported by Chitra, who balances her legal profession with community work, and Keerthana, a B.Com, LLB (Hons) student, the family continues to live by a shared belief that every life deserves dignity, every mind deserves knowledge, and every culture deserves preservation.
Image Credit: Rafikahamed96, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You may also like
Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trichy_rockfort_temple_with_kaveri_bridge.jpg
Recent Posts
- How Hypothalamus is redefining medical nutrition in IndiaIn just one year, Hypothalamus has generated ₹35 lakh in revenue, without massive teams or big marketing budgets.
- RBI holds repo rate at 5.5%, raises FY26 GDP outlook to 6.8%The RBI also expanded the Ombudsman Scheme to rural cooperative banks.
- How the Water Wheel is changing lives in rural IndiaIn 2015, Habitat for Humanity India introduced the water wheel to 500 families in Aurangabad.
- How Hypothalamus is redefining medical nutrition in India
What’s new at WeRIndia.com
News from 700+ sources
-
Horoscope today October 3: Sun in Libra boosts love and relationships, Moon in Aquarius trine Mercury brings emotional clarity
-
New 2025 wealth stats reveal how Americans are saving, spending, and stacking cash – where do you stand?
-
Globalisation isn’t dying, it’s changing amid Trump tariffs: American economist John Phillip Lipsky
-
OpenAIs Sora soars to No. 3 on the U.S. App Store
-
‘UN nod must for any troop deployment in Gaza, Ukraine’: India
-
USA cricket crisis worsens as USAC files for bankruptcy
-
WeRIndia – A News Aggregator
Visit werindia.com for all types of National | Business | World | Politics | Entertainment | Health related news and much more..