Thanks to the tremendous power of social media, several local sellers who had been struggling financially due the pandemic have got the help they needed to survive. As ‘Baba Ka Dhaba’ turned into a movement, people like Agra’s Kanji Vada Uncle to Mumbai’s Joshi Uncle have been able to stand back up on their feet again.
Yet again, people online have come together to show support to Kolkata’s Sunil Pal, a painter who sells his paintings for a mere Rs 50 – Rs 100 on the roadside. One can find him on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Golpark.
Journalist Aarif Shah took to Twitter to share Sunil Pal’s story. The painter is in his 80’s and is struggling to survive after he was abandoned by his children. Currently, he is facing a lack of customers. Have a look at the tweet here:
This is an artist, Sunil Pal. He sells his paintings in Kolkata, Gol Park near Axis bank. He is in his 80's & has been abandoned by children. He's struggling to have customers. His work cost only around 50-100 Rs.
Please buy paintings. Help him so that he can earn some money pic.twitter.com/O4usEFLD3l
— Aarif Shah (@aarifshaah) November 7, 2020
As the tweet went viral, several people extended their support to Pal. While Richa Chadha retweeted the tweet, actress Sayani Gupta said she’d look out for him. A few others expressed their desire to send him art supplies and set him up with e-commerce platforms!
Will look for him ❤️
— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) November 8, 2020
Hey! We at @ArtLoungein would like to buy his paintings and send him some art supplies to encourage him to make more. How can we get in touch with him (we are in Mumbai)
— Anika (@anika_gupta) November 7, 2020
If you’re up for it, I’m happy to offer a platform to create a store.
— Praval (@Praval) November 9, 2020
Thank you for doing this. By now the word’s gone around and he’ll get some help.
To others, look out for such folks in your neighborhood and help them. People struggling under your very nose.
— Digen Verma (@GullieBoi) November 8, 2020
NGO’s can help him to sell his paintings .We can do our part by retweeting , to help dear uncle .Also in covid19 crisis , it must be very difficult phase for him and many more. Please help dear uncle in whatever way one can .
— Dr Madhuri Arora (@MadhuriArora8) November 7, 2020
Such elderly should be helped, but like Babka Dhaba, do not buy them with money, buy their paintings and give them some financial help voluntarily by giving them work. https://t.co/n0IdKy9jnT
— Arusha Rathore (@arusha_rathore) November 8, 2020
Definitely buying one soon… https://t.co/5x11yKfCY3
— farah khatoon (@itweet_faru) November 8, 2020
Dear @aarifshaah , I’d like to buy some paintings from Sunil ji. But I’m not from Kolkata, Please let me know.
I encourage others to do the same 🙂 https://t.co/FyD2YI9Yys
— Adivi Sesh (@AdiviSesh) November 8, 2020
Indian friends in Kolkata please help a fellow citizen. He’s an artist and does beautiful work. Details below. 👇🏽 ❤️ https://t.co/XDjQeyyCLn
— Meera Vijayann (@meeravijayann) November 8, 2020
This is the power of social media. I saw this post on FB and shared. People started extending support from as far off as Canada. But what happened after Baba ka Dhaba incident I doubt if anyone would want to get involved on his behalf. Do help him directly if you can 🙏#Kolkata https://t.co/Zd7y2Qysic
— Nasreen Hindustani (@NasreenKhan) November 8, 2020
We hope that Sunil Pal gets the help he needs and is able to see better days!