The Man Who Performed the Last Rites of 25,000 Bodies

After losing his son, Mohammad Sharif gave dignified last rites to 25,000 unclaimed people and received the Padma Shri.

The death of a child is one of the biggest tragedies any parent can face. For 87-year-old Mohammad Sharif, a bicycle mechanic from Uttar Pradesh, this pain changed his life forever.

In 1992, Sharif's eldest son, Raees Khan, died in an accident. His body remained unclaimed for several days. By the time Sharif learnt about the tragedy, only his son's shirt and a tailor's note were left. His son's body had been left on a railway track and was even eaten by animals. The heartbreaking incident deeply affected him.

After this, Sharif decided that no unclaimed person should be left without dignity after death. He began visiting hospitals, police stations, railway stations and mortuaries every day to check for unclaimed bodies. If no family came forward within 72 hours, officials handed the body over to him for the final rites.

Sharif arranged cremations for Hindus and burials for Muslims, following their religious customs. He never cared about caste or religion and often said that humanity comes before everything else. In the early years, many people laughed at him, but he continued his work with dedication.

Over the last 27 years, Sharif has performed the last rites of around 25,000 unclaimed people. He carried bodies on his bicycle or pushcart and often used donations to continue his mission.

His selfless service was recognised in 2020 when the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in the Social Work category. Sharif, who thought he had been called to the District Magistrate's office for some mistake, was instead welcomed with flowers and informed about the prestigious award.

Mohammad Sharif, now known across the country as "Sharif Chacha", continues to inspire people with his message that kindness and humanity are more important than caste, religion or wealth.