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My name is Dr. Jitender Singh Shunty. It was 1995, and I was standing at a crematorium with a few friends when I witnessed something that stunned me. A man, his eyes hollow with grief, was being beaten for stealing half-burned logs from a pyre. I rushed to stop the men beating him and asked the man why he was stealing the logs. It turned out that his son had died, and he didn’t have the money to cremate him. The shame and pain in his eyes pierced my heart. How could anyone be denied the dignity of a proper farewell?
I left that crematorium with a lifelong mission burned into my soul: I would try and ensure that no one, no matter their circumstances, would be denied final rites.
I left everything behind so I could do 'sewa'
I had a successful business at that time. Life was comfortable and I was well-respected in the community. But once I saw that there was something more important than profit, something that called me to do sewa (service), I left it all behind and dedicated myself fully to helping those who couldn’t afford even a basic cremation.
It wasn’t easy. At first, it was just me and a few volunteers, driving through the streets of Delhi, answering calls for help from families who couldn’t afford to give their loved ones a proper sendoff. We didn’t have much except the will to help, but word spread and soon we were overwhelmed by calls.
Once I started helping people this way, I wanted to do even more
I was driving home one night when I saw a woman pushing a cart. On that cart lay the body of her mother-in-law, covered with a sheet. She told me she had no money for an ambulance, and that the hospital was charging too high a fee to transport the body. My heart broke upon hearing this. Soon after this incident, I bought an old van and started a free funeral-van service as well.
It wasn't long before I saw that it wasn’t just the dead who needed help—there were many who were struggling to stay alive
Hospitals charged exorbitant fees for emergency transport, leaving many unable to access life-saving care. We stepped in, providing free ambulances to ensure no one would be denied the chance to reach a hospital in time, especially people living in slums. Over time, we expanded to cover Delhi NCR with a fleet of ambulances, funeral vans, and even mobile mortuary boxes, helping families store bodies until relatives could arrive for the last rites. We also organize regular blood donation camps, especially during health crises like dengue and malaria, where platelets and blood are in high demand
I won’t lie—this work has come at great personal cost, but I won't stop
My personal life has taken a backseat for as long as I can remember now. I haven’t taken vacations, spent weekends away, or even celebrated holidays like others do. Instead, I spend my days and nights answering calls, driving vans, and organizing cremations. There are times when I haven’t slept for days, but this mission drives me. How can I say no to someone in need when every call could mean saving a life or providing dignity in death?
In the years since Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal was founded, we have grown exponentially in our impact. To date, we have ferried over 85,000 patients in our ambulances, handled more than 95,000 bodies, and performed over 76,000 cremations. We’ve also organized over 200 blood donation camps, donating more than 65,000 units of blood to those in need.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fear was at its peak, I didn’t stop
With PPE kits, under the blazing heat, we cremated over 4,800 bodies. I fell ill multiple times, as did my family, but we kept going. The honor of serving others, especially when the world seemed to be falling apart, was worth every sacrifice. My son Jyot played a key role, leading disaster management efforts, and our organization was recognized nationally when I received the Padma Shri in 2021 for our work during the crisis. Yet, for me, the real reward is knowing we can provide a final act of dignity.
Your contribution will directly support several critical services that are essential to maintaining dignity in life and death:
• Cremation Costs: Covering the expense of wooden logs, materials, and labor for dignified last rites.
• Funeral Vans & Ambulance Services: Providing free transport for the deceased and emergency services for those in need.
• Preservation with Mortuary Boxes: Offering temporary body storage in cases where relatives need time to arrive.
• Ash Immersion: Transporting ashes to Haridwar for proper immersion in the Ganges, completing the sacred ritual.
• General Operational Costs: Funding vehicle maintenance, fuel, and day-to-day operational expenses to keep these services running 24/7.
With rising costs due to inflation and the increasing number of people who rely on us, your support is vital. In recent years, the demand for our services has surged, from handling 10-15 cremations a month to over 100, with peak times during winters and crises. Additionally, maintaining our fleet of ambulances and funeral vans is essential to reach those in need.
