THE HINDU CREMATORIUM, BRIXTON,
JOHANNESBURG
This Hindu crematorium built in 1918 was the first ever brick crematorium
on the continent of Africa. It was through efforts of Mohandas K. Gandhi
(who later became the Great Mahatma) in his capacity as lawyer, that the
Hindu Community obtained suitable land for the crematorium. The money for
the crematorium was donated by the Hindu Community. Many small donations
were received from many rural and urban areas of the Transvaal. The
crematorium, built by Messers Damania and Kiladis, consists of a small barrel
vaulted rectangular oven with an attached chimney. It is built with a rough red
face-brick and is a fine example of decorative brickwork. The Hindu
Crematorium was declared a National Monument on 24 September 1995 by the
democratically elected Government of National Unity on its first Heritage Day.
Transcription of English section of National Monuments Plaque:
HINDU CREMATORIUM
THIS STRUCTURE, ERECTED IN 1918, WAS THE FIRST BRICK-BUILT
CREMATORIUM IN AFRICA. M. K. GHANDI, ACTING AS LAWYER FOR THE
HINDU COMMUNITY, OBTAINED SUITABLE LAND FOR THE CREMATORIUM.
MANY DONATIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM BOTH RURAL AND URBAN
AREAS IN THE TRANSVAAL. THE CREMATORIUM, BUILT BY MESSRS
DAMANIA AND KALIDAS, IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF DECORATIVE
BRICKWORK.
