Blind beggar hoists tricolour
By IANSSunday, August 15, 2010
KOLKATA - As hundreds of people Sunday took part in Independence Day celebrations, a club in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district bestowed the honour of raising the tri-colour on a teenaged blind beggar.
Bablu Sheikh, the blind beggar who stole the show in the flag-hoisting ceremony organised by the Beharampore youth club, was overjoyed.
The 16-year-old earns his daily bread by begging on the streets of Beharampore, 200 kms from Kolkata.
“It feels great. I am very happy with this honor. This independence day will always remain a memorable day of my life,” he said.
“We know Bablu from a very young age. He earns his living by begging. We always try to help him. This year we decided that the flag will be hoisted by Bablu only,” said Bapi, a club member.
