Mohammed Sharif
{{short description|Indian social worker}}
{{for multi|the Guantanamo Bay detainee|List of Afghan detainees at Guantanamo Bay|other people|Muhammed Sharif (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{infobox person
| name = Mohammed Sharif
| image =
| caption = Shareef at the Maati Ratan Samman Samaroha
| occupation = Bicycle mechanic, social worker
| other_names = Sharif Chacha
| birth_place = Ayodhya, India
| awards = *Padma Shri (2020)
- Maati Ratan by Shaheed Shodha Sansthan{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}
}}
Mohammed Sharif, popularly known as Sharif Chacha, is an Indian bicycle mechanic and social worker from Uttar Pradesh. He is known for performing last rites for over 25000 unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies.{{Cite web|author=Arshad Afzaal Khan|date=Nov 8, 2021|title='Last rites samaritan' Shareef Chacha from Ayodhya gets Padma Shri {{!}} Lucknow News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/last-rites-samaritan-shareef-chacha-from-ayodhya-gets-padma-shri/articleshow/87591189.cms|access-date=2021-11-12|website=The Times of India|language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/society/article/meet-padam-shri-winner-mohammad-sharif-who-performed-last-rites-of-25000-people/545031|title=Ayodhya: Meet Padam Shri awardee Mohammad Sharif, who performed last rites of 25,000 unclaimed bodies|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=Times Now}} He was conferred with India's fourth-highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2020 for his contribution in social work.{{cite news|title=From Arun Jaitley to Karan Johar: Here's full list of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri awardees 2020|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/from-arun-jaitley-to-karan-johar-heres-full-list-of-padma-vibhushan-padma-bhushan-padma-shri-awardees-2020-798169.html|date=25 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=Deccan Herald
}}{{Cite web|title=Meet Padma Shri Mohammad Sharif, who performed last rites for 25000 unclaimed dead bodies|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-meet-padma-shri-awardee-mohammad-sharif-who-performed-last-rites-for-25000-unclaimed-dead-bodies-ayodhya-up-2918981|access-date=2021-11-12|website=DNA India|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Padma Shri to UP man Mohammad Sharif who cremated over 25,000 bodies|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/doval-meets-uzbek-tajik-nsas-ahead-of-af-meet-in-delhi-today-336047|access-date=2021-11-12|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}
Biography
Sharif's eldest son, Mohammed Rais Khan, was murdered in 1992 on his way to Sultanpur.{{cite news|title=With no Religious Bias, Mohd Sharif Has Cremated 25000 Unclaimed Bodies
|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/with-no-religious-bias-mohd-sharif-has-cremated-25000-unclaimed-bodies-1353740.html
|date=27 February 2017|access-date=26 January 2020|website=News18
}} With his unclaimed body lying on the road, it was devoured by stray animals.{{cite news|title=Padma for Sharif Chacha: UP's unsung hero
|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/padma-for-sharif-chacha-ups-unsung-hero/articleshow/73625761.cms
|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=The Times of India
}} After this incident, Sharif started performing the last rites of the unidentified dead bodies. He visits police stations, hospitals, railway stations and mortuary for unclaimed bodies. The bodies are handed over to him by police only after nobody claims it for 72 hours.
Sharif gives last rites to every unclaimed body as per their religion. He performed last rites of over 25,000 unclaimed bodies in and around Faizabad.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/padma-award-2020-muslim-bhajan-singer-langar-baba-sundarban-doctor-among-padma-award-winners/articleshow/73617764.cms|title=Muslim bhajan singer, 'Langar Baba', Sundarban doctor among Padma award winners|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=The Times of India}}{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/republic-day-2020-unsung-heroes-in-padma-shri-award-list-798149.html|title=Republic Day 2020: Unsung heroes in Padma Shri award list|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=Deccan Herald}} Though he faced financial difficulties many times, he carried his activities of performing the last rites after collecting donations. He also appeared in Satyamev Jayate.{{cite news|title=Sharif Chacha's Padma has special significance|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/sharif-chachas-padma-has-special-significance/1718032|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=Outlook}}
Awards
Sharif was conferred with Padma Shri in 2020 for his contribution in social work.{{cite news|title=Full list of 2020 Padma awardees
|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/full-list-of-2020-padma-awardees/article30656841.ece
|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=The Hindu
}}{{cite news|title=Padma Awards announced; posthumous honour for Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj
|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/padma-awards-announced-posthumous-honour-for-arun-jaitley-sushma-swaraj/articleshow/73616751.cms
|date=26 January 2020|access-date=26 January 2020|website=The Times of India
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Social Work}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharif, Muhammed}}