Balangir, April 22: A working day in the life of Dharmendra Kumbhar starts and ends on the premises of a crematorium. Rather than shudder at the sight of a burning pyre, for Dharmendra, it has been all in a day’s work for the past 40 years.

Hardly a glamorous profession, Dharmendra has lived on the grounds of a crematorium here and has been assisting his father since his childhood. After 35 years of service at the crematorium, his father Sudam Kumbhar was cremated here too. To continue with what his father did for so long, Dharmendra took over.

And he had no visible compunction when told he too would be cremated here.

A temporary employee at the Balangir municipality for this purpose, Dharmendra gets a meagre salary. Even while his father was alive, he had cremated more than 500 bodies.

“When I was a child I used to ask my father why people bring the bodies here and my father used to reply: they are coming here for a long sleep,” recalled Dharmendra.

“Although I now get Rs 2,000 per month from the municipality, I am happy because the joy I get in my job makes up for the meagre salary,” said Dharmendra.

When Dharmendra grew up, he assisted his father in cremating bodies, shaping wood for the pyre and finally helping to collect the mortal remains.

Although he is presently shifted from crematorium premises to a nearby dwelling after his father’s demise, he can’t forget the experience he had as a child. Without assistance, Dharmendra has helped cremate 1,000 bodies. Asked if would like to change his occupation if given the opportunity, he said he would not the task left behind by his father.

“I am not going to quit this job under any circumstances. I am emotionally attached to this work and will continue to serve people through this work at any cost,” said Dharmendra.

“I hope my children will also succeed me after I am cremated here. That is my wish,” he added.