Having lost his business and vehicles in the Kedar tragedy, a travel agent hailing from village Bijli Gajiwali of Haldwani has restarted his life from scratch again. Neck deep in debt, this youth had decided to end his life in Haridwar when he met a Samaritan from the holy city who assisted him come out of the debt and leashed a new hope to the family.
The senior superintendent of police of Nainital also came to the rescue of this man and tightened the noose on the debtors adopting unfair means to harass the youth and his family. The travel agent’s wife and mother who had once thought of poisoning themselves see a ray of hope and continue to live on.
“Koi dikkat ho to batana mere bhai”, these words of Naveen Chauhan, a resident of Jagjeetpur proved as god sent messiah’s for Anup Kandari during his first meeting with him in Haridwar in 2004.
Naveen’s family friends had come to Haridwar in the taxi of Anup and just out of courtesy Naveen had offered a helping hand as a thankful gesture, if in need. Recently on 24 May when he came to end his life in Haridwar, he decided to contact this stranger Naveen once before taking the final step and that changed the course of his life.
Speaking to the Pioneer Anup said, “I had got married a month before and the money lenders had started pressurizing me to repay the debt lest they would lift my wife. Frustrated and broken I came to Haridwar to jump in ganga river but thought of once telling my story to Naveen who had smilingly offered me help three years ago and phoned him.
He introduced me to the SSP of Nainital who took action against the debtors and got me free from their clutches. Four days before I started my life again driving a new car.”
Anup had a big name in travel business. In 2012 had lost a heavy amount in business while taking a travel deal in Nepal. Following which the Kedar tragedy took away his remaining assets and earning modes.
The debtors had charged the interest rate of 10 to 20% which brought him cranium deep under debt. To repay the debt, he sold his house and vehicles. After his marriage, they also threatened to lift his wife and send him to jail for bouncing of their cheque amounts which he had not been able to pay.
Narrating his incident Anup further said, “I was taken to the office of the senior superintendent of police of Nainital Sweety Agarwal by Naveen who ordered Vanbhulpura thana SO Neeraj Bhakuni to investigate the matter and solve my problem.
When the debtors were called to the police station, it came to SSP madam’s notice that lakhs of rupees had been taken by the debtors on principal amount. My voice was heard by God's lady messenger and she got my cheque returned and made me debt free.”
With tears welled in his eyes, Anup thanked the holy river ganga and the city which initiated his path to freedom from debt.