Jagdish Chaudhary

Jagdish Chaudhary was the Dom Raja of Varanasi, head of the Dom community that has for centuries tended the funeral pyres at the city’s cremation ghats. He was named for the Padma Shri posthumously in 2021 in the field of social work, from Uttar Pradesh ^[1].

Keepers of the flame

Chaudhary was born on the banks of the Ganga in Kashi on 18 May 1974 ^[2]. His father died when he was only ten, and he was supported by his two brothers and four sisters ^[2].

By tradition, the Doms of Kashi became keepers of the funeral fire after a curse from Lord Shiva, and the first Dom Raja is said to have taken the truthful King Harishchandra as his helper ^[2]. No matchstick is used at the ghats; every pyre must be lit from the sacred fire that has burned for centuries in the Dom Raja’s hearth ^[2]. For Hindus, cremation at Varanasi is believed to free the soul from the cycle of birth and death ^[2].

Head of the community

Chaudhary led the Doms, whose members take turns at the ghats according to a roster; the Dom Raja settles disputes at the ghats and takes the largest share of duties ^[2].

He was also a well-known social worker in Kashi ^[2]. Beyond his own family, he supported some 5,000 Dom families in financial need, was always ready to help, and encouraged education in his community and beyond ^[2]. He lived simply ^[2].

Jagdish Chaudhary died on 25 August 2020 ^[2].