Among tales of humanity
emerging from rain-battered Chennai is a story of a Hindu couple who have named
their newborn after a Muslim who came to their rescue when the crisis blew them
over.
Chitra and Mohan - a Hindu
couple - were stranded in Chennai due to heavy downpour in and around the city.
Like them, there were more than 400 families who were left stranded as the
water entered their home in Urappakkam area.
However, as Yunus heard and read about people crying for help on instant
messaging apps and news channels, he and his group of friends decided to
reach out to the stranded people.
Even after failed
attempts to get help from various agencies went in vain, this team of
youngsters brought boats for rescue, even when boatmen were reluctant. Yunus
even opened up two of his flats to people in distress.
It took four hours
to find a vehicle to carry the boats to Urapakkam. Yunus told media, “There was
no power and people were hanging on trees and building slabs calling out for
help. Near a petrol outlet there, we found two families in neck-deep water.
Only after we got them into the boat we knew one among them was pregnant and
her due date was just two days away. She later gave her name as Chitra. She was
under panic, especially after the boat almost toppled when it hit a uprooted
tree. I told a story that conveyed a message that money is nothing but a piece
of paper until it helps someone,” Yunus recalled.
Soon afterwards, she was taken to a hospital in
Perungalathur, where Chitra delivered a baby girl on Saturday. A day later,
Chitra and her husband named the child 'Yunus'.
Recalling the effort
by Yunus to keep Chitra strong, Mohan said that they will never forget the
lesson on wealth Yunus taught them on the boat, and promised to share part of
his salary with the poor and the needy each month.
The couple had
sent a WhatsApp message to Mohammad Younus:
“Hi Sir, this is
Mohan from Urappakkam. My wife Chitra has successfully given birth to a girl
baby. We have named our girl as ‘Yunus’ sir. We take pride in this and we want
you to come and make her one day you are free. Also we will not forget the
theory of money you taught us on boat. You are our leader and our government
sir. Hereafter I will give 50 percent of my salary to the poor only and help
needy. You are great.
Mohamed Yunus then said, “What can be a greater bliss? I’m in Cuddalore
right now helping relief operations there and will soon visit the young Yunus
once I am back.
“There were around
800 people crying for help, stranded amid the flood water. It was a huge task
to rescue such a large number of people but I with my three friends was able to
save them. This is a part of my duty towards my nation.” Yunus added.
Yunus not only saved these these people but later he supplied food
packets to the flood victims.
“We have delivered more than 1,000 food packets from our own money to
the people in need and we will continue doing whatever we can for the flood
victims,” Yunus told ABP News in a telephonic conversation.
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