Michel Pinto

Micheal Pinto

It had been on my mind to meet The owner of Micheal Pinto.They are the coffinmakers cum arrangers for dead bodies of the Christians.I don’t know the exact word to use, so I am sorry if I have used the wrong phrase.Today I had some work at Bandra, and I passed Mahim and told the Taxi chap to stop , and I took my chance to meet the great man himself.


I met the son instead, Dion Pinto, as Danny Pinto the father was not around.I introduced myself and told him I want to write an article on them, and when he asked which newspaper, I told him it is for a we site called Indus.He said he knows very well about it, and sometimes reads it.I have requested him to join Indus, and he has promised me he will.What he told me fascinated me.


They are open day and night.They have 5 branches all over Mumbai.And each branch has 3 to 4 Hearses.

They had a dozen coffins ready.Coffin costs like 1500 to 15000.The bodies ,if male are shaved, make up put, and bathed and dressed in the best of the suits of the deceased, with a tie.Jeans are not allowed on the dead body, body has to be dressed Formal.

The burial grounds allow you just a year and a half to 2 years maximum and then u have to take away the bones.Rent is like 2000 a year or so.(Well everything costs money).They put salt etc so that the body decomposes faster.


After a year and ah alf, the bones are collected by them and the family members who too are present, so that they don’t dig the wrong grave and give someone else’s bones.The bones are then taken to the church, and kept in a ‘niche’ as they call it, a small place on the wall.That too costs some money.


Nowadays most Christians take the coffin to the electric Crematorium, and burn the body , and the ashes brought to the church.The Christians celebrate the dead, not mourn like us.And the richer ones hold a party of wine and food for the dear and near ones.


Prominent Deaths = Danny Pinto has done for Pramod Mahajan, taking the body from Hinduja hospital to KEM for Post Mortem and then to the crematorium.

Mother Teresa – Danny was called to Calcutta for her death, and he did the embalming and everything for her.

ONGC – They had a rig blow up some time back, and they did all the bodies ,which were charred and collected from the sea.

Charity Work – During the Train Blasts of Mumbai two years ago, they sent all their dozen odd Hearses to the accident sites and shifted the dead and theinjured to hospitals.
And for poor Christians its free or very subsidized.


Their Famous Slogans – All this is the brain child of Danny.Here are some samples

1) Everyone Dies for Our Service
2) Last Stop Shop
3) Dead Centre of Town ( This is outside their Shop, the pic I will post later)

Competition – Yes even in this trade there is competition.Literally Cut Throat .So they are open 24 x 7.The whole family is involved in this trade.Danny looks after the finances and billing, Dion for the local work, and Dion’s mother of overseas bodies, and outstation bodies too.


Dion and I got very friendly, and he offered me a nice cup of tea, and told me meet my Dad , he will love a humourous guy like u, and give u more details, as I have joined just a few years back.

Dion said people often ask us if u are not afraid of the spirts of the dead, who may comeback to haunt you.He said, and u can write Kamalji, that We are more scared of the living , than the dead.The Living ones cause us more harm, buy bargaining, somethings cutting our money from the Bills.The dead are so cooperative literally.

Most probably I will meet Danny tomorrow, and I think he will make a very interesting blog , with loads of information, and fun.Dion said he is very funny, and when he is free he thinks all these funny one liners, which are a trademark in humour in themselves.Sample this

When u drop Dead , Drop In

We are the last persons to let u lie in peace.

Mr.Danny, after we meet I promise u one thing, neither will I ever forget u, but then again, neither will u forget me.Till we meet.


KAMAL MAHTANI

My friend Kamal
Totally surprised at topic.. I know you write well.. so htas off to another topic and writing so well
It really is an interesting profession.. I have watched some time backa serial on this on hbo so slightly familiar with background. Like you say its cut throat competition. For us its the pyre. Locally only one funeral home caters to it. When both my inlaws passed away we used services of the electric crematorium. My husband send just one press of the button. But still while performing last rites it requires the son to place agni (fire) on chest of deceased. my husband said that was extremely difficult to do.
Sorry if i went to emotional side. You can see why I appreciate your writing as you have given it on a lighter side even a heavy topic as this.
Somehow these topics puts everything on perspective. To think we need only 6 feet or less for a final resting place but fight over so much more during lifetime.
Looks like Mr.Pinto also has a sense of humor. I think its absolutely pertintent to have that sense of humor to survive and to make a living (?) in this field. Thanks for the interesting write up.. looking out to Mr.Pinto 's as well:)

Kamalji
Quite informative information.
The funerals of Christians used to hold a very different spell on me in my childhood.
As our home was & still just in front of a graveyard in Ajmer.


It is surprising that there are two graveyards which are totally surrounded by big colonies there & Dead never troubled us though the statutes of angels on some of them used to fascinate us as kids ;no haunting ,nothing .

When some one was brought there for burial there used to be big procession of people and dead body was brought on high Bugghi in usually black coffin. The sisters & nuns from local convent & churches used to come in school buses & all other people on their own vehicles. We used to watch with much curiosity ,the way fathers in long robes & sisters in black robs used to move & usually chanting very calmly.

On 2^nd November the relatives use to come & pay their regards to departed souls by lighting candles & it was also a very fascinating scene . And on no.of times our festival ddEppawali was also concided with 2^nd nov & than it seemed that the departed souls are also celebrating Diwali with us.

Kamalji,
there is competition everywhere in every field....even in the field of coffin makers...and the jobs related to it...it is pure business...
true that we are afraid of the living members than the departed souls...
Informative post...

sriniketan

Dear Kamalji,

Hum aapse naaraz hain. No no please let me explain. Where are the photos of rain drenched Mumbai? I am eager to see my Maher/Maika during monsoon.

Now to this thread. Micheal Pinto is known for his sense of humor. He was interviewed by no less than Kushwant Singh who asked him his secret. His answer " Life is short. Smile when here."

He has come up a lot of humorous punch lines. His shop came on way to Shri Siddhivinayak Temple. My brother & I would literally peep out of Dad's FIAT car to catch a glimpse of his one-liners.

Thanks a million for taking time off your Mataji's cooking & your hols to get us this interview.

Regards,

Corallux

Dear Kamalji,
u brought back the memories of watching the interview of Mr.Pinto taken by Kushwant singh.
great write up bringing all the information of coffin makers .
Regards
raji

Originally Posted by anandchitra

My friend Kamal
Totally surprised at topic.. I know you write well.. so htas off to another topic and writing so well
It really is an interesting profession.. I have watched some time backa serial on this on hbo so slightly familiar with background. Like you say its cut throat competition. For us its the pyre. Locally only one funeral home caters to it. When both my inlaws passed away we used services of the electric crematorium. My husband send just one press of the button. But still while performing last rites it requires the son to place agni (fire) on chest of deceased. my husband said that was extremely difficult to do.
Sorry if i went to emotional side. You can see why I appreciate your writing as you have given it on a lighter side even a heavy topic as this.
Somehow these topics puts everything on perspective. To think we need only 6 feet or less for a final resting place but fight over so much more during lifetime.
Looks like Mr.Pinto also has a sense of humor. I think its absolutely pertintent to have that sense of humor to survive and to make a living (?) in this field. Thanks for the interesting write up.. looking out to Mr.Pinto 's as well:)

Dear Chitra,

Very well said.Yes it is difficult when u have to put the body in the crematorium, i remember when Dad died, and we had to send the body inside, thinking this is thelast time i will be seeing him in flesh.The emotions that run cannot be described,.

And then u think it will be so hot inside the fire, but time heals or lessens the wounds.Thats life, where we all have to go one day.and as u rightly said, we all need just 6 feet of land, thats it, and what not we do in life , all of which weleave behind.

When i started to blog 2 yrs back, i was a very serious writer, phosophical,abd it was after a few months i changed to this humour track.We can make the same impression on the reader but in a lighter form, why bore others with our problems.

I called the father ,Danny Pinto today but he was busy with some dead bodies, and tomm being Sunday, he has tole me to call him between 10 and 3 pm.I told him i am a big fan of his, which is the truth, and it is because of blogs i have become a reporter of sorts.HAHA.And i am, not scared to even intereview Bill Gates if i have to.

So wait for tomorrow, when i meet the big man himself, that should be interesting.Regards.kamal

Originally Posted by jaishree9

Kamalji
Quite informative information.

The funerals of Christians used to hold a very different spell on me in my childhood.
As our home was & still just in front of a graveyard in Ajmer.



It is surprising that there are two graveyards which are totally surrounded by big colonies there & Dead never troubled us though the statutes of angels on some of them used to fascinate us as kids ;no haunting ,nothing .


When some one was brought there for burial there used to be big procession of people and dead body was brought on high Bugghi in usually black coffin. The sisters & nuns from local convent & churches used to come in school buses & all other people on their own vehicles. We used to watch with much curiosity ,the way fathers in long robes & sisters in black robs used to move & usually chanting very calmly.

On 2^nd November the relatives use to come & pay their regards to departed souls by lighting candles & it was also a very fascinating scene . And on no.of times our festival ddEppawali was also concided with 2^nd nov & than it seemed that the departed souls are also celebrating Diwali with us.

Dear Jaishree,

Thanks for the info.Yes the spirits will celebrate Christmas and Diwali together.

And Jaishree , For pinto to have so much humour in such a serious job, speaks very well for the man.And some readers here have pointed out that even Khuswant Singh has taken his intereview, and now I will take his intereview.

How strange ? Khuswant is my idol, and I want to belike him, have a weekly column in a national newspaper, and here I am interviewing the same person he did ! A Coincidence.

Lets see if Khuswant’s interview is better or mine, the readers can tell, though I have not read Khushwant’s .

Regards.kamal

Originally Posted by Sriniketan

Kamalji,
there is competition everywhere in every field....even in the field of coffin makers...and the jobs related to it...it is pure business...
true that we are afraid of the living members than the departed souls...
Informative post...

sriniketan

Dear Sri,


Yes the living are more dangerous than the dead.How ironic but true.

Competition is there everywhere.HAHA.Regards.kamal

Kamalji

Glad for u that u also interviewed the same person your ideal writer did.
I haven’t read much of Kushwantsingh, though I know about his "Train to Pakistan"
I read a short story about his granny & birds (sparrows) I don’t remember the correct heading in my daughter's 12 Cbse English syllabuses. A good one.
So for me your writing is quite impressive as it is.