An 80-Year-Old Coolie Has Been Helping Migrants For Free. We Need More Selfless Heroes Like Him

Coronavirus

An 80-Year-Old Coolie Has Been Helping Migrants For Free. We Need More Selfless Heroes Like Him

coolie
Illustration: Mitesh Parmar

The last couple of months of lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic has been a period of great suffering for the country’s economically disadvantaged sections. But, on the other hand, it has also given rise to a number of everyday heroes, without whom the world would be a much darker place.

One such hero was spotted at Charbagh Station in Lucknow last week.

An 80-year-old coolie, who even at his age, can carry up to 50 kg on his back for long periods, has been on the receiving end of heaping praise for the way he has helped migrant labourers carry their luggage free of cost over the last couple of weeks.

The coolie, whose name is Mujibullah, also helped distribute water and food among the struggling migrants, who boarded the Shramik Special trains. To make ends meet, the octogenarian works up to 10 hours, and must walk around six kilometres every single day.

His income, like that of many others, has taken a hit during the lockdown. But the energetic coolie doesn’t seem to mind so much.

“Many people including doctors and police personnel are contributing in the fight against COVID-19. I also render 8-10 hrs of service every day,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

“What I am doing is nothing compared to the problems faced by the poor migrant workers…. They have no money… we must help them in whatever way we can,” he told the Deccan Herald.

His energy and will to help the struggling labourers, even at his age, also caught the attention of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who sent him a note of appreciation. “Your selfless service will always be remembered,” the letter says.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to leave parts of the country under lockdown, it’s stories like this that keep the hope alive. As we enter another period of uncertainty over the state of the economy, and as world leaders struggle to figure a way out of this situation, it’s clear that we could do with more people like Mujibullah in our lives.

The last couple of months of lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic has been a period of great suffering for the country’s economically disadvantaged sections. But, on the other hand, it has also given rise to a number of everyday heroes, without whom the world would be a much darker place.

One such hero was spotted at Charbagh Station in Lucknow last week.

An 80-year-old coolie, who even at his age, can carry up to 50 kg on his back for long periods, has been on the receiving end of heaping praise for the way he has helped migrant labourers carry their luggage free of cost over the last couple of weeks.

The coolie, whose name is Mujibullah, also helped distribute water and food among the struggling migrants, who boarded the Shramik Special trains. To make ends meet, the octogenarian works up to 10 hours, and must walk around six kilometres every single day.

His income, like that of many others, has taken a hit during the lockdown. But the energetic coolie doesn’t seem to mind so much.

“Many people including doctors and police personnel are contributing in the fight against COVID-19. I also render 8-10 hrs of service every day,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

“What I am doing is nothing compared to the problems faced by the poor migrant workers…. They have no money… we must help them in whatever way we can,” he told the Deccan Herald.

His energy and will to help the struggling labourers, even at his age, also caught the attention of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who sent him a note of appreciation. “Your selfless service will always be remembered,” the letter says.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to leave parts of the country under lockdown, it’s stories like this that keep the hope alive. As we enter another period of uncertainty over the state of the economy, and as world leaders struggle to figure a way out of this situation, it’s clear that we could do with more people like Mujibullah in our lives.

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