Good Samaritan

A man living in India has been recognized by a US based organization for his compassion to animals.

Kukku Bakhshi was honored with the Shining World Compassion Award for feeding over 250 stray dogs a day.

His day begins at 4 am, as he packs his bags with biscuits, buns and milk packets and leaves for his destination on a rickshaw to feed stray dogs. “I carry 60 bowls with me to give them milk, biscuits and buns. I buy 30 litres of milk and several packets of edibles a day,” Bakhshi said. “I spend nearly Rs 1000(approx. $20 US) daily to feed these dogs. While sometimes people donate some eatables, mostly I arrange these on my own largely through the pension of my father,” he added.

His love is reflected in the fact that he has assigned a local bakery to prepare special biscuits for dogs, that contains sulphur. Only son of his parents, Bakhshi is unmarried. “A few years ago, I lost my mother and now I stay with my father and take care of him,” he said.

His love for animals is all too evident as you make your way to his house through a street in Kareempura Bazar. You come across bowls of milk and biscuits which he has kept for dogs. He has given shelter to seven cats, five parrots and a dog in his home. And clean beddings for all of them. As he reaches near the parrots, they start shouting, “Kukku… kukku….” He gives big bowl of milk with “desi ghee ki choori” and eggs to his cats. “All of them recognise me and have become my friends,” he said.

Bakhshi received $1,000 and a plague from the Non Government Organisation.

Expressing gratitude for Poonam Kalra, founder of another NGO Hope, and the USA NGO, Bakhshi said, “I am pleased that someone recognised my service to lesser mortals.”…

I have no doubt that he will use the money to help the dogs in an ever greater capacity. I can’t think of a more deserving man than Kukku Bakhshi to have been honored with this award.