Humanity, though conspicuous by its absence in today’s consumerist society, has not entirely lost itself on the sands of time. And the city’s Sahid Nagar Banik Sangh has recently set an example to be emulated by others.

The Sahid Nagar business community rose to the occasion when an old beggar, who eked out his living in the Sahid Nagar market area for over the last decade, met his end a few days ago. The beggar from Buguda in Ganjam district who was abandoned by his family members was living on alms by sitting at a corner in the marketplace. He did not disturb anyone and accepted whatever came to his begging bowl

He considered the Sahid Nagar market as his home. Eyewitnesses and sympathisers like Binod Behera and members of the Sahid Nagar Banik Sangh reveal that a faithful monkey was only a prized possession of the lone beggar. The monkey never parted company with his master till it passed away recently. Heartbroken, the old master sat glued to his seat pining after his trusted friend.

For the beggar, the loss of his companion was too unbearable. Recently, he died as if in quest of his beloved monkey friend. The news spread like wildfire and members of the Banik Sangh assembled and performed the funeral rites of the man in Puri and observed eleven days of traditional rituals wishing a peaceful final journey of the soul. They lent their prodigal purse for feeding over one thousand people on the eleventh day.

Such an endeavour by the Banik Sangh has become the talk of city-dwellers that humanity is not dead even today.