Boobalan…….Tussi Great Ho Yaar!!!

This is a true incident that happened nearly 12 years ago. I was travelling to Bangalore from Chennai. I reached the Chennai Central Railway Station at 10pm to board my train to Bangalore. I generally travel light and I carry only that much baggage which I can lift myself. When travelling single, I have never employed the services of porters, but that day was a different story. As soon as I alighted from the auto-rickshaw in Chennai railway station, one physically handicapped, frail young man, one of the thinnest six footers I have seen, came limping towards me. He was partially handicapped. But, I was surprised when he asked me if he could lift my baggage if I paid him Rs 20 ( Half an US Dollar in 2007)!! He was not a licensed porter and he did not have a badge. His spirit humbled me and I accepted his offer. I handed over my suitcase. He lifted it, alas, he could not walk more than 10 meters or I was too moved to see the way he went about carrying my suitcase. I immediately unloaded the suitcase from his head, and paid him Rs 20. Even though he had not completed his contract, I appreciated his will to work and earn rather than resorting to begging in streets (which many physically handicapped people resort to).

The story did not end there. The guy had another friend who also seemed handicapped and who came limping to me and said that he will carry my suitcase, which his friend couldn’t carry. I was a little disinclined to this offer. He told me that he wouldn’t charge me anything as I have already paid his buddy. I had no option but to give him the opportunity to earn his own bread, but I said I would pay him, albeit again, for his good intentions. So went the story and the second guy, who called himself Boopalan, and who was also partially handicapped, started walking towards platform no 3, carrying my suitcase. Boopalan walked few more meters but I could see that Boopalan was sweating and panting. I suggested to him that I will pay him there and will take back the suitcase. He was unimpressed by my offer and considering it as an insult to his self respect, Boopalan walked even faster. It was absolutely heart-rending to see him do the job in spite of physical handicap. He was so thin that it appeared as if it had been months since he has eaten.

It was absolutely heart-rending to see him do the job in spite of so many physical handicaps. He was so thin that it appeared as if it had been months since he has eaten.

I asked him how much does he make in a day for his living. He replied that he makes around Rs 50 (a little more than an US Dollar in 2007) and even in that frugal earning, he has to pay Rs 5 or 10 to the local policemen as bribe. At this juncture, I couldn’t control my emotions and my eyes moistened. I pitied the state of law and order in our country, where there is bribery and extortion from policemen even from such hapless souls who are willing to work and earn rather than do illegal activities. Boopalan was walking in front of me and I was closely following him, feeling completely overwhelmed by his gumption and energy. But the mother of all acts of kindness was yet to come.

Boopalan was walking in front of me and I was closely following him, feeling completely overwhelmed by his gumption and energy. But the mother of all acts of kindness was yet to come.

A few steps ahead of us in the platform, a blind man was walking with the help of his walking stick, swinging it all around him to probe for way. As we crossed this blind man, Boopalan, who was carrying my suitcase in his head holding it with right hand, suddenly took hold of the blind man’s walking stick and asked him where would he want to go. The blind man replied that he wished to go to S3 coach. Without second thoughts, Boopalan smilingly said that he would hold his stick and asked the blind man to follow him by holding the other end of the stick. I was flabbergasted. Scores of people were in the platform and most of them did not bother even to give way for the blind man. Had it not been for Boopalan act of kindness, I would also have not bothered to care for that blind man but rather be focussed on reaching my coach, and boarding the train on time. But here is one guy, physically handicapped himself, vehemently refusing to take money without doing work when I offered, carrying my suitcase on his head and walking with great difficulty, but having a heart bigger than the biggest and helping another blind man to find his way through the crowd. I admired this man. I was humbled. I was on my knees. I saw a Hercules in Boopalan. He seemed to me as a man of extraordinary moral values and resilience par excellence.

But here is one guy, physically handicapped himself, vehemently refusing to take money without doing work when I offered, carrying my suitcase on his head and walking with great difficulty, but having a heart bigger than the biggest and helping another blind man to find his way through the crowd. I admired this man. I was humbled. I was on my knees.

It was a revelation, a sight to watch, a lesson which a thousand classrooms won’t teach what I learnt in those five minutes from Boopalan. I learnt that how ever much difficulty I am in, I must always work and earn honestly and ethically and how ever much physically incapacitated I become, whenever possible I must treat, guide and help people who are less privileged than me. This is what Boopalan taught me in 5 minutes and he showed that it is possible to be like that. I promised myself that Boopalan would join my list of inspirational leaders who have shaped my life and my soul.

As a token of respect, I emptied my purse and gave all the money I could find in it. It was a two months pay incentive for him for his good work and a good heart!! He possibly had never seen so much money at one time and his hands were trembling when he received it. I wished I had more cash to give him. As he left me, there was a lump in my throat and heart.

It has been 12 years since this incident happened. Boopalan continues to be my role model and hero.