Stepping in where others fear to tread

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Earthquake in Gujarat (2001), tsunami in Chennai (2004), floods in Bihar (2008) are some of the unforgettable disasters in our country.

While many of us shed tears and felt sorry for the victims, 48-year-old Bhawanesh Kumar Deora in Chennai was like a few persons who picked up their bags, collected aid and entered the disaster zones with courage and hope to rescue the suffers.

The ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude motivated Bhawanesh to collect nearly 21 tonnes of dress, packaged foods and other basic essentials from various households in Chennai within two days to send to Gujarat.

“I couldn’t simply sit in my house watching the heartbreaking scenes of earthquake victims in Gujarat on TV. I cried for a few minutes. I prayed and went out to get the support of friends and relatives for the rehabilitation work,” he said.

When Bhawanesh was leaving to Gujarat, his wife Sushma was full of tears. “She was worried that she couldn’t accompany me to help the people. I was touched by her emotional assistance at the time,” he reveals.

He was one among the first who rushed to the sea and pulled out dozens of men and women from what would have been their graves on the beach. He alerted the local media houses and hospitals about the deaths and those living. Working on the seaside day and night for about two days, Bhawanesh returned home tired.

“My mother Navarathan Kavur Deora asked why I returned so soon. She asked my wife to dump some food on the plate and send me out to help more people,” he said, narrating how his family members always encouraged him to serve society. When Bhawanesh was on the seaside, his daughter Shalini was collecting milk and bread to be supplied to the rescued persons.

If you are surprised by Bhawanesh’s generosity, there is more to read. He reunited a Chennai girl, who was smuggled to Belgium 20 years ago, with her biological mother who lived in a slum. His shopping complex — Swadeshi Koil, on Walajah Road — has only ‘made in India’ products and they range from shampoos and flags to eatables and herbal concoctions.

He has organised health camps in various villages, awareness camps on polio and chikungunya and the list goes on. Join Bhawanesh to assist others, his phone number is 9385363537.

Do you know any ‘angel’ working for the betterment of society in your neighbourhood? Call/message us at 9840927465