Councillor Ganesh Kulal who performs last rites of unclaimed bodies selected for Mangaluru Press Club’s Person of the Year award

He was inspired to do the last rites of unclaimed bodies after watching his father, Shivappa Moolya, do the same.

Councillor Ganesh Kulal from Derebail South West ward will receive the ‘Person of the Year’ award from Mangaluru Press Club in recognition of his social work, particularly for performing the last rites of over 1,500 unclaimed bodies in Mangaluru.

The award for the year 2024-25 will be presented during the Mangaluru Press Club Day celebration on January 26. The award carries a cash prize of ₹10,001, a citation and a memento.

Mr. Kulal was selected for the award by a committee headed by Mangaluru Press Club president P.B. Harish Rai.

Mr. Kulal, 55, has been doing the last rites of unclaimed bodies for over 25 years without any commercial interest. He has been taking unclaimed bodies from the Government Wenlock Hospital to the graveyard and performing the last rites. He was inspired to do the last rites of unclaimed bodies after watching his father, Shivappa Moolya, do the same. He learnt the customs involved and started performing the last rites from the age of 30. Initially, he faced resistance from his family members, but his mother Umavati wholly supported his noble initiative.

During the first and second waves of COVID-19, Mr. Kulal performed the last rites of over 150 persons at graveyards in Bolar and Nandigudde. He ran a camp for 30 poor and outstation labourers, who were affected because of the lockdown, and provided food three times a day for several days.

Apart from doing the last rites, Mr. Kulal has been helping needy persons get treatment for health problems. With the support of his wife Yashoda and son Mishant, he has also taken up the work of building houses for the homeless.

Mr. Kulal, who does not have a house of his own, has studied till class 8. He continues to stay in the family home in Marigudi temple at Urwa. His relatives serve the deity. The house in which his family stays is provided by the temple.