Mhow’s Mahant Baba feels the dead have their rite too!

A caring relative of the dead--that’s how Mahant Baba is lovingly called for carrying out the last rites of Hindu and Muslim beggars as per their religious rituals.

Updated on: Feb 28, 2015, 16:42:49 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Indore

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A caring relative of the dead--that’s how Mahant Baba is lovingly called for carrying out the last rites of Hindu and Muslim beggars as per their religious rituals.

Believe it or not, Mahant Anand Giri of Mhow, about 23 kilometres from the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh (Indore), is well versed in the Koran and the Bhagwad Gita. He buries a Muslim beggar by reciting Fatiha and consigns a Hindu one to flames with all funeral rituals.

He is doing this “service”(as he calls it) for the past 10 years. “I have performed the last rites of 150 Hindu beggars and about 20 Muslim ones so far,” he says, adding, “They are just like my family.”

That’s the reason why he organises Gita recitation for Hindu and Shab-e-baraat for Muslim beggars after the last rites

But what’s his drive and how does he meet the expenses?

The Mahant says he owns an ancestral sweet shop at Mhow and spends a major part of its earnings to this noble cause. There is a short story behind his mission.

“On January 17, 2006, some beggars went to muktidham ( a religious place) in Mhow for performing the last rites of their fellow beggar. But, they had no money. Someone told me about this and something forced me to perform the last rites of the beggar. I can’t forget that pleasing feeling, that joy unspeakable …and then it became the mission of my life. Every time I perform my duty, I get the same intense joy.”

But, he admits that things are getting costlier now. A last rite would cost him R1300 in 2006.

“Now I have to spend somewhere between R2,700 and R3000,” he says. “But, the rising cost can’t stop me from doing the divine work,” he says with a spark in his eyes. Badshah Khan , a local businessman, says his commitment makes all to bow to him in reverence. “We love him and are proud of him,” Khan says.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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