Every time Indian cricket team play an international match and Jasprit Bumrah comes to bowl, a small time auto rickshaw operator in Uttarakhand gets excited. Not because he is a fan of the cricketer, but as Bumrah is a member of his family. His grandson in true words.
The 84-year-old Santokh lives in rented house at Kiccha in Udham Singh Nagar district (Uttarakhand) and is struggling to make both ends meet. But after watching his grandson Jasprit in action, his eyes shine and heart gets filled with joy. Making him forget his misery temporarily.
Advertisement
The poor financial condition of the elderly person has forced the district administration to start process of providing the needy person some help. The administration are presently preparing documents for providing financial assistance to Santokh Singh.
The bad days for Santokh Singh started after he left Ahmedabad over a decade back. He came to Kiccha and spent his money is running an auto rickshaw business. The venture failed and presently the grand old man of Bumarh family is facing tough time.
Santokh Singh rues, “I lost my son Jasbir Singh, father of Jasprit, in 2001. Cricketer’s mother Daljit, possibly got hurt that I failed to take care of them after they suffered the loss. But, I was struggling here and not in any position to help them.“
Bumrah’s grandfather and uncle Jaswinder Singh (48), who is physically handicap, live in a rented house in Kiccha. They have not paid their room rent since the past three months. The family owns an auto. Santokh Singh lost contact with Daljit after coming to Uttarakhand. He came to know through media about Bumarh making it big in Indian cricket.
Satpal Singh Kamra, a resident of Kiccha, says, “Santokh lost his wife in 2010 and the elderly person and his handicapped son are now passing through deep crises. They manage to survive by keeping their auto moving on road. As Santokh is too old to drive now, so he has kept a driver.”
The rented room contains basic facilities. An old television is the only luxury in the house. The cable connection gets disconnected regularly due to non payment of the monthly bill. Most of the time the payments are cleared when any cricket series, in which India features, begins.
Kiccha’s sub division magistrate Naresh Durgapal says, “We are preparing documents to provide the family financial help under the Chief Minister relief fund. I have asked Santokh Singh to furnish details.“
Santok Singh wants to meet and embrace his grand son and grand daughter Juhika Bumrah before he dies. A sentimental grandfather says, “Jasprit has made our family and India proud. I want him to become the world’s number one bowler.”
