Bipin Ganatra
Bipin Ganatra is an electrician from Kolkata. He is also an unofficial volunteer firefighter and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017 for his unfailing dedication in helping fight fires in the city.
Inspiration
As a child Ganatra used rush after fire engines when he heard them and would start helping the firemen when he reached the scene of fire. In 1982 Ganatra then only 12 years old lost his elder brother Narendra to a freak fire accident which occurred when a spark fell on fuel while his brother was busy on the motorcycle in.His brother was admitted to hospital for many months but finally succumbed to his injuries.[1]
Once when he was working as a mechanic in a school he received information that an big bank was on fire. He helped carry water pipes from a nearby pond to the scene of fire. The bank manager of the building came running out of the building stopped remembered something he had left and went back into the building and never returned back.This heart rending visual ,inspired him to continue on his approach.[2]
Life
Bipin Ganatra,originally from Gujarat, has been offering his services as a fireman in the city of Kolkata where a total of 347 people died and 1,749 were injured in some 2,000 fires in 2014.He is professionally an electrician and earns a very meager sum of money borrowing fro his friends help him keep up his unlikely life. He also helps the police manage traffic.[3]
Ganatra does not have any formal training with regards to firefighting .He started out by helping firefighters do odd jobs but now has risen to the level of a professional firefighter. He has been present in the scene of virtually every fire that has occurred in the course of his life time.[4]
Through his life Ganatra has attended to over 100 fires. He monitors the news constantly on TV and informs the fire department if a fire breaks out. Despite his contributions to the force he travels separately to the site by public transport .In recognition of his efforts the fire department has given him a rare steel volunteer card and a khaki uniform.[5]
References
- ^ "West Bengal: Unofficial firefighter Bipin Ganatra to get Padma Shri". The Indian Express. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ Biswas, Soutik (6 March 2016). "The Indian man who chases fires". BBC News. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ ANI (26 January 2017). "Meet Padma awardee Bipin Ganatra who chases fire to protect people". India.com. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "Padma Shri winner: After losing his brother to fire at age of 12, this man has spent his life as voluntary fire fighter | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "West Bengal: Unofficial firefighter Bipin Ganatra to get Padma Shri". The Indian Express. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.