Rajkot: While many conservation efforts have been burnt to ashes along with the precious wood in Gujarat’s traditional open crematoriums, a Keshod-based farmer turned innovator is hellbent on deleting an age old saying from Gujarati books — ‘Sheth Ocha Lakde Nahi Bale’ ( Master will need more wood according to his influence!)
Rough estimates project consumption of around 400kg wood in single cremation, while to grow one tree that would yield 100-150 kg wood will require at least 15-odd years. Such calculations made 56-year-old Arjun Paghdar see the annual colossal loss of greenery through wastage of logs in every pyre. He created a covered furnace that consumes only 25 percent of the wood for cremating a body compared to the ones used currently in crematoriums.
On his way to install a fifth such furnace next week, the innovator has also been awarded for his revolutionary venture last year. The covered furnace Paghdar has made is designed scientifically keeping in mind the human body parts that need varied temperature levels to burn during cremation.
Talking to TOI, Paghdar said, “I was 14 when I went for my uncle’s cremation and what I saw there remained etched to my memory. Thereafter, whenever I accompanied a funeral and suggested using less wood for the limbs, I was always chastised by the elders. But I didn’t want to give up on my theory and finally, utilized my observation to make this eco-friendly furnace.”
It didn’t happen overnight. Paghdar must have visited crematoriums a thousand times to understand the body structure and heat requirement and made the first such furnace in 2015 which he installed in Keshod.
He has continuously upgraded this furnace since 2015 and at present these furnaces are working in Keshod, Bhamnasa (Junagadh), Kodinar, Padli (Devbhumi Dwarka) and the fifth is to be installed at Alidhara of Junagadh district on November 8. Paghdar also got a railway pass and commuted daily to Junagadh crematorium for a month to convince people to use his furnace.
Awarded by National innovation foundation in 2019 in a function organized at Grambharti in Gandhinagar for ‘National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge’, the innovator recounts the hurdles he crossed including getting a body for trial and convincing people while making the first prototype.
All rituals as per tradition can be followed in this covered furnace, said the innovator who was funded by Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) of Rs 2.5 lakh to upgrade his model in three instalments with the help of Ahmedabad-based GIAN (Gujarat Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network)
“This furnace is environment friendly and consumes less wood. It could be costly for one time but saves the environment. It also provides space to complete Hindu rituals which is not possible in electric furnaces,” said GIAN CEO, Anamika Dey.
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Scientific design
The covered furnace has been designed scientifically keeping in mind the temperature required by various body parts. It has been designed such that it doesn't let heat escape but stays trapped inside the furnace. According to him, about 250 to 400 kg wood is required in every cremation, which can be cut to 70 to 80 kg wood with his furnace.
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The differences
Unlike current models that keep a body between piles of wood, Paghdar’s furnace allows a gap between body and woods, so that it provides more oxygen to the fire and consumes less wood with more heat. He also used the technique of ceramic furnaces after he studied kilns techniques.
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Speciality of this furnace
Door in front and rear to perform rituals
Inner side of top cover is filled with Cera-wool material used in ceramic furnace
Cera-wool can tolerate temperatures up to 1,500 degree
Blowers and nozzles are provided in entire design to release hot air