Editor's Note

A Line of Work

Kanu Dutt, the subject of our cover story, did not 'choose' his career of being a mortician. Nor did he accidentally just fall into a livelihood like so many people do. The defining moment of his life was a moment of tragedy- the death of his son. It is something of an aberration for a father to have to bury, or cremate, a son. Evidently his son's last wish was that he be cremated by his father. This very painful event led him to devote his entire life to cremation. He didn't do this for money- in fact he refused payment even when offered. Why did Kanu Dutt choose this course of life for himself? Could it be that his career has a mortician was a kind of ritual, a lifelong attempt at redemption? Did his livelihood become a tribute to his dead son? Only a straightforward account is given here. Psychoanalysis- no matter how rich the possibilities- is not within our scope.

Kanu Dutt is just one of the people featured who defy laws of microeconomics by giving away money while they themselves struggle to make ends meet. There is a lady who runs a school out of her own pocket while she can barely pay the teachers. She even struggles with her own finances. Motivations for such things are very personal. We can describe them, we can admire them, but we cannot fully explain them.

Abak Hussain
From the Insight Desk

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