By Sumiran Preet Kaur
Shiv Kumar Sharma (name changed) of USA regrets that he was not there with his brother during his last moments. He missed the last rites of his brother in India as he himself was unwell. Distance separated them in death as in life and this became his life long regret…
Though funerals are moments of grief, they cannot be avoided. But what if one does miss it- like Shiv Kumar Sharma. Well now even death has come in sweep of technological advancement. By the end of August crematorium ground Antim Niwas, Noida sector 94, will have facilities where the funerals can be watched online – live. And distance will never be a problem for bereaved people who, for unavoidable reasons, are not able to attend the last rites of their dear ones. You can now pay the last respects digitally.
The internet service is expected to start before September. BSNL will be the service provider. Antim Niwas, that comes under Noida Lok Nayak Manch, already has special CCTV cameras installed since 2008 to record the funerals. The facilities at Antim Niwas are one of its kinds in entire Northern India.
“We came across a sick and paralytic person who could not attend the funeral of his only son due to his failing health. This is when we got the idea to install the cameras and also have internet connection so that they can be watched live. Though the internet service is still to start we already have recording facility. Initially we had just six cameras. Now it is increasing. Those who wish to get the funeral recorded just have to play Rs 300 for DVD and the charges for watching it online will be around Rs 3000 initially. This will decrease as number of people registering for this service will increase,” says Justice O.P Garg (Retd), chairman of Antim Niwas.
The high resolution Japanese cameras installed near the main entrance and pyres can pan, tilt and record from different angles. They are connected to DVR system (Digital Video Recording) which is controlled manually by a person in a separate control room. The person also edits the recording. DVR operates with the help of an optical mouse.
This DVR system can record, display and transmit video over internet. The DVR is the main unit which connects with cameras, monitors and internet. Using MS Explorer 6 or higher version one can watch the video remotely anywhere in the world. For video monitoring from remote location, DVR is connected with the internet which requires static IP and high speed connection (minimum 256 kbps). Those who wish to see it from distance should have internet connection with MS explorer 6 or above. For accessing, Lok Nayak Manch will provide user id and password to the person for accessing the specified camera. As and when the person wants to view the operation in progress, he has to enter the DVR IP address in the browser. The total project cost them above 7 lakh rupees.
The idea of recording the events of the last rites came to Mahesh Saxena, general secretary of Noida Lok Manch. Manch is also planning to make the performing of last rites environment friendly. “It is the only shavdahgrah in Noida. Every month, apart from earning Rs 7,000 to 8,000, about Rs 50,000 comes from donations. The money is being saved for a proposed CNG gas funeral chamber. It would be eco-friendly,” points out Mahesh Saxena.
You also have such facilities for recording and watching it online in Sidhpur, Gujarat which is run by Shri Saraswati Muktidham Trust. You can watch the funeral online with Yahoo Messenger.
So are people really going for this recording facility and internet service ? “We got the last rites of our relative recorded. We have couriered the CD to my brother-in-law living abroad. Though I have not seen many people going for this facility as it is a recording one would not like to keep, but you never know under what circumstances the need of recording might arise. It is surely a welcomed move and more funeral grounds should have this recording facility,” says bereaved Rajiv Kapoor, a call centre employee, who recently lost his relative.
The 13 acre crematorium is well maintained and has greenery all around. Lok Nayak Manch has made the last rites not only people friendly but also environment friendly- and in both cases technology has come to the rescue.
