Where a cremation ground serves as a place for study

By Sanjay Ghamande

It is a strange sight indeed - groups of students busy cramming for impending examinations as bodies burn nearby on the funeral pyre.

Students from the eastern parts of the city seem to prefer the quiet of the Bhadreshwar cremation ground in Gujarat's principal city to their cramped homes.

"We have no other place to study in, so we come to this cremation ground. It is very quiet here and nobody disturbs us," Vishwanath Batunge, a law student said.

The cremation ground, spread over about half a kilometre along the banks of the river Sabarmati, has seen over the past three decades many people studying to become doctors, lawyers, engineers and accountants.

Ankur Garange, another law student, said his home was too small and the large joint family living there distracted him from studies. "The university library is far away, nearly at the other end of the city." Garange said.

As soon as the annual examination dates are declared, students from the Chhara Nagar and Kuber Nagar areas flock to the Bhadreshwar cremation ground. About 15 to 20 students can be found engrossed in their books while dead bodies are cremated nearby.

Yashodhar and Alkesh, both preparing for the Class 12 state board examinations, are regular visitors to the cremation ground. They said they did not waste any time at the ground, except some time off for eating.

"It is considered a taboo to eat in a cremation ground, but we cannot afford to walk six km back home for lunch. We bring our lunch boxes along," Yashodhar said.

Students say they are not distracted by people who come for the cremation. "They do not make much noise and leave as soon as the rites are over," said Alkesh.

Kantilal Tamayache, 50, a doctor, rues the fact that the neighbourhood still does not have a better alternative for students.

"We used to walk a long way to reach the ground as we didn't have bicycles then. We had represented to the authorities for a library or reading room. It is unfair that nothing has come up even after so many years," he said.

The long-standing demand by students that the administration open a public library or a reading room in their neighbourhood has remained unheeded.

"The municipal corporation does not have any space for building such a facility in the locality," said here's EX. Municipal Councillor Suryaben Patel.

"The people will have to raise funds for maintenance even if the space is provided," she added.

there is one small library runing by 'BHASHA RESEARCH CENTRE, BARODA'.with help of well known bangali author MAHASHWETA DEVY and Dr. GANESH DEVY. they are trying to help this community.