Impeccable and true lives are lived selflessly serving others

No one should die at the tender age of seventeen. This is no age to bid adieu to world, to leave behind all unfulfilled aspirations, desires and dreams. Living life to its fullest, he embraced death to save eighteen precious lives. Seventeen years old Swayamsevak Manoj Chauhan's last rites moved entire city of Indore to tears on August seventh, 2005. Once again, the city drowned in the tears of inconsolable relatives of all those, who were pulled out from clutches of wrath of water by this young brave heart. Everyone in the Maruti Nagar of Indore was broken hearted and went without food for two days.

The tale goes back to seventeen years, when unprecedented rains filled lower settlements on Saver road in Banganga area of Indore. After heavy rains water increased and it's wrath was catastrophic in Maruti Nagar, filling homes and with it's force taking away beds, utensils and even small children. Without waiting for help from administration Manoj, who conducted regular RSS Shakha in basti (hamlet), gathered his friends, Baban Pandey and Suresh Batha. These brave hearts quickly collected empty tin canisters, bamboo sticks and tubes to be used as tools against the mighty flood water. They took charge of this gruesome situation and set out to saving lives with sheer grit.

Manoj was taking small children to safety, when a voice whispered in his ears, it said..."Manoj, valves of your heart are damaged, you must stay away from water and don't over stretch yourself. Otherwise things can prove fatal." But slowly the voice of caution was overpowered by emotions of a song, sung at shakha...

"सेवा है यज्ञ कुण्ड समिधा सम हम जलें।"

This means....."In the fire of service we want to give ultimate sacrifice."

Manoj took no time and chose the path of service to humanity and benevolence. He continued to strive hard for the victim families from four in the morning to twelve in the night. His diligence was overloaded with compassionate embellishment in such a way that, next day he kept on making a list of essentials for affected families and continued delivering rations and other items.

Shri Gopal ji Goel, the then Jilha Karyawah remembers,"Manoj's frail body gave up due to hard labor. He was admitted in hospital for acute Pneumonia, where he left for heavenly abode in two days. Alas, the battle was lost. Benevolent Manoj is survived by a specially abled father, Umrao Singh ji, a mentally challenged brother Sonu, grieving beloved mother and obliged people of Indore, who continuously prayed for his life.

Shrimati Shanti Devi, a resident of Maruti Nagar says, "That child was a messenger of God, he saved my seven years old grandson from certain death." His devotion for humanity was unparalleled, which revealed from the fact that a list of necessary items for victim families was recovered from his pocket, when he breathed his last.

The child welfare council decided to honor Manoj Chauhan after two years of his demise on Republic day of 2007 for his exceptional velour. The renowned chartered accountant of Indore, Sri Radhey Shyam Somani ji and Dr.Shailendra Jain get overwhelmed with emotions remembering Manoj. It was there persistent efforts in the form of letters to The President of India and related paper work which won him this august award. The then Jilha Sewa Pramulkh recounts "though Manoj missed prestigious elephant ride at Raj Path on Republic day, but he rides on, in hearts of every resident of Indore as a symbol of respect."

Contact : Ashok Adhikari

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