Labour of love: MP’s guard ferries 10 elderly rickshaw-pullers on Ultorath
Times of India | 16 July 2024
Kolkata: A 45-year-old Kolkata Police assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Bapan Das, pulled hand-drawn rickshaws, carrying 10 elderly rickshaw-pullers, through the city streets on Monday to celebrate Ultorath. He also presented them with sweets and clothes.
Currently deployed as a police security officer for Dum Dum MP Saugata Roy, Das has been offering rides to the rickshaw pullers on the Rath Yatra days since the last nine years.On Rath Yatra, he offers them rides at his hometown in Siliguri. On Ulto Rath, he does the same in Kolkata. “God resides in humans and I believe in working for the humanity. While the nation celebrates pulling of Jagannath’s chariot, I carry those who ferry people round the year,” said Das, who has been in the service for 24 years.. On Monday, he walked through Poddar Court, Lalbazar Street, Bowbazar, and Burrabazar to offer rides to the rickshaw pullers during his breaktime.
For rickshaw pullers like Rameshwar Yadav, Babulal Roy, and Zuber Ali it was a different experience altogether. “People photograph us or hire us for pre-wedding shoots. But seldom do we find anyone who offers rides to us,” said Yadav, who has been pulling rickshaws at Poddar Court area for 40 years.
Das had distributed masks and sanitizers dressed as Yamraaj during Covid pandemic and organised mass feeding of poor and needy.