I know you sigh everytime you read a piece of news on the paper or surf the net. There is no dearth of crimes today and honestly, I don’t want to be the one to talk about the chilling ways it’s been done. TV channels are ‘breaking’ that enough.
But I certainly want to be the one to tell you about the rare occasions when humanity breathes and infuses life in all of us. Yes, today is one of those days.
Aloke Kumar, an Assistant Professor from IIM Calcutta, recently took to Facebook to share everything that transpired after his son met with an accident and it’s faith restoring. Read his entire post here.
My son met with an accident.
Abhishek, whilst returning from a visit to the Parsee Fire Temple at Metcalfe St, Lal Bazar. While dismounting the flyover at Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, opposite to Virginia House, was hit by a public bus, which was speeding.
He was thrown off his Vespa two-wheeler and hit the road with his helmeted head.
He completely blacked-out for 5 to 7 minutes. In the meantime, passers-by and pedestrians gathered and got him back to senses. He was offered water. His vehicle twisted was lifted physically from the main road and parked in the foot-path. Some offered to take him to SSKM Hospital but he requested them to :
Call his father on his mobile. Reach him Home in a Taxi. Many called 100 for Police.
They rushed him Home and one of them offered to stay until I arrived. I took him to Sri Aurobindo Seva Kendra where he was attended. A CT Scan of the brain was done.
Xray of his rib cage, which was hurting. They started treating him and NOT insisting on Payment First. 24 Hours have passed and he is recovering.
His iPhone was intact.
Not a single rupee missing from his wallet.
Not a single item of value missing.
My home full of antiques was NOT robbed.
The Police was polite and courteous.
When I told them that we will not be able to report to the Shakespeare Road Police Station they did NOT insist. Friends from automobile helped to lift the two-wheeler and park it in a nearby safe place.
Who were these people who first came to his help,
called the police,
called me,
reached him home,
paid the cab out of their pocket?
I DO NOT know any of them.
This is Calcutta I always knew.
This is Calcutta I stayed behind.
This is Calcutta I love.
And as Mrinal Sen said in his film :
“…eia bichitra sahar ka lok hai Bhuvan Shome”
Thank You All.
We lose innumerable lives on roads due to accidents and mishaps every day because help doesn’t reach in time. Imagine the change it’ll bring if every passerby thinks like these kind people did. The world will be a better place to live in.