This & That Saga and Serendipity. Memoirs and Musings.Prof. Aloke Kumar
Prof. Aloke Kumar
Abhishek, my son.
Abhishek, my son.

A post that was quoted widely over national Media: Electronic, Print and Digital. Was Quoted in over 1200 Media points. Had more than 1 Million Viewers.

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NDTV announced:

IIM Professor Salutes Spirit Of Kolkata After Strangers Help Injured Son

Professor Kumar's son was hit by a speeding bus while riding his two-wheeler.

Professor Aloke Kumar's heartwarming Facebook post has collected over 11,000 reactions and more than 2,800 shares - and still counting.

In the all-too-familiar scenario of people walking past accident scenes without helping victims, a father's post about strangers saving his son after a crash has touched a chord with many. "This is Calcutta I always knew... This is Calcutta I love (sic)," says Aloke Kumar, a professor at IIM Calcutta, in his heartwarming post. Since being posted on June 12, the Facebook post has collected over 11,000 reactions and more than 2,800 shares - and still counting.

In his post, Professor Kumar writes his son, Abhishek, was hit by a speeding bus while riding his two-wheeler. Even though he had his helmet on, he hurt his head and blacked out for a few minutes. That's when passersby gathered to help him.

"He was offered water. His vehicle twisted was lifted physically from the main road and parked in the foot-path," writes Professor Kumar. Upon his insistence, Good Samaritans dropped Abhishek home and someone even waited with him until his father reached home.

Professor Kumar eventually took his son to a hospital. "They (doctors) started treating him and NOT insisting on Payment First," writes the professor, adding that even the police were "polite and courteous".

"Who were these people who first came to his help, called the police, called me, reached him home, paid the cab out of their pocket ? I DO NOT know any of them. This is Calcutta I always knew," he says in his post, thanking everyone who helped his son.

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My facebook post alone had 12000 Viewers, 1413 shares and 3000 Comments after which I had locked the post.

Abhishek, whilst returning from a visit to the Parsee Fire Temple at Metcalfe St, Lal Bazar, while dismounting the flyover at Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, opposite to Virginia House, was hit by a Public Bus, which was speeding.

He was thrown of his Vespa two-wheeler and hit the road with his helmeted-head. He completely blacked-out for 5 to 7 minutes.
In the meantime, passers by and pedestrians gathered and got him back to senses. He was offered water. His vehicle twisted was lifted physically from the main road and parked in the foot-path. Some offered to take him to SSKM Hospital but he requested them to :

Call his father at his mobile
Reach him Home in a Taxi.

Many called 100 for Police.

They rushed him Home and one of them offered to stay until I arrived. I took him to Sri Aurobindo Seva Kendra where he was attended.
A CT Scan of the brain was done. Xray of his rib cage, which was hurting. They started treating him and NOT insisting on Payment First. 24 Hours have passed and he is recovering.

His iphone was intact.
Not a single rupee missing from his wallet.
Not a single item of value missing.
My home full of antiques was NOT robbed.

The Police was polite and courteous.


When I told them that we will not be able to report to the Shakespeare Road Police Station they did NOT insist. Friends from automobile helped to lift the two-wheeler and park it in a nearby safe place.

Who were these people who first came to his help,
called the police,
called me,
reached him home ,
paid the cab out of their pocket ?

I DO NOT know any of them.
This is Calcutta I always knew.
This is Calcutta I stayed behind.
This is Calcutta I love.

And as Mrinal Sen said in his film :
"...eia bichitra sahar ka lok hai Bhuvan Shome"

Thank You All.

Read my post on Facebook.

And there were thousands.

And many more...