Serving the people with chhabeel, he serves his God

Tribune News Ser vice

Amritsar, June 9

He has been organising chhabeel (a free drinking-water service) near the MC car parking of Dharam Singh market for over a month now, everyday quenching the thirst of heat-beaten tourists and devotees, who throng the Golden Temple by the hundreds. The killing day temperatures would not have any effect on the spirit-to-serve of this 60-year-old good Samaritan.

Amar Singh is a vendor, who sold bangles near the Dharam Singh market until he decided to put up a chhabeel. “There are so many people, who cannot afford to buy bottled water and the MC drinking water facilities are not functioning much around here. So, looking at the soaring temperatures and the need to provide cool, drinking water facility, I began putting up the chhabeel. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and since one month now I have been continuously serving the people,” he said. With little to no contribution from the shop owners nearby and bearing the cost of the chhabeel all by himself, Amar Singh says that he is just doing his duty. “I am a man of faith and believe in doing my karma. You don’t have to donate a large sum of money or save a dying man to find your God, but small deeds like quenching people’s thirst is my way to serve the Almighty. During the day time, hundreds of people throng my stall as they find respite from the heat and watching their smiling faces, I too get contented. Sometimes, these people contribute towards the chhabeel, but I am not doing it for any money, only as my service towards humanity,” he says.

Starting his day at 7 in the morning, arranging for the raw materials, he ends his day late at night. “For a month now, that’s what is keeping me busy. I get a little help from volunteers, passersby, but mostly I like doing it on my own. I think the government should spent money on installing more drinking water facilities as people sure need it, especially during summer.”