By Azera Rahman,
New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) For the scores of weeping relatives of the victims of the India-Pakistan friendship train blasts that killed 68 people and injured over 50, Ashok Randhawa is an angel of mercy.
From keeping the relatives, both Indians and Pakistanis, informed about the victims, to arranging for food and water, and even laying out mattresses and quilts in a tent in the Safdarjung Hospital premises here, Randhawa is doing his best to help.
"There is nothing greater than service to humanity. I don't know and care even less whether these people are Hindus or Muslims or of any other caste. All I know is that they are suffering and I am trying to help them as much as I can," Randhawa, 42, told IANS.
A shopkeeper in Delhi's Sarojini Nagar market and president of the Traders' Association here, Randhawa is also the son of a social worker mother. Following the 2004 tsunami that took hundred of thousands of lives, Randhawa had rounded up funds for survivors.
"We started with a boot polish campaign in Connaught Place here, whereby we polished people's shoes. We collected Rs.70,000 in a day! We requested all the markets in the NDMC (New Delhi Municipality Council) area to contribute Rs.5,000 and all the money went to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," he said.
His life, however, took a turn when Delhi was rocked by a series of bomb blasts in October 2005.
"I was in my shop just five minutes before the blasts ripped through the Sarojini Nagar market. As I carried the lifeless and limbless bodies in my arms, I realised that life is unpredictable and I should do whatever little good that I can today," he recalled.
Thereon started his social campaign and no matter what the tragedy is, be it the fire that broke out in the trade fair in Meerut in 2006 or the more recent Samjhauta Express blasts on Feb 18, Randhawa rushes in to help in any way he can.
"People say I am mad. My friends tell me to concentrate on my shop and not waste money, but I will not give this up. My wife, who was initially not very keen, is now my right hand in everything I do," said Randhawa, the father of a 15-year-old boy, Lakshya.
As he takes yet another phone call from a distressed relative in Pakistan and consoles him, home-cooked food arrives for those sitting in the tent. "I say, do good and only good things will happen to you," he said.
At least 12 victims were rushed to the Safdarjung Hospital Monday morning from Panipat, 100 km north of Delhi, after two coaches of the Attari Special train were bombed by terrorist Sunday night near Diwana station.
