In philanthropy, most help within their means, but few go beyond their capacity to help the ones in need! Clarilda Sharon is in conversation with one such Samaritan, Girish Pant, the savior of the Indian Emigrants in UAE and stranded seafarers.

Hailing from the land of the gods, Uttarakhand, Girish recounts having a rough childhood. He used to board crowded buses to reach school and was often denied a lift on his way back home, as hardly anyone would stop to help him.

But the boy possessed an innate tenacity, which perhaps supports his philanthropic efforts to this day. “I come from a family of Indian freedom fighters, which made me take every setback positively. So, when someone approaches me for help, I do for them what I would do for my brothers and sisters.” In 1988, during his 8th grade, he took a resolution to help people regardless of who they were and where they came from. He started small, unknowing that one day, he would help over 5000 people in more than 15 countries.

The trigger factor

Hailing from the land of the gods, Uttarakhand, Girish recounts having a rough childhood. He used to board crowded buses to reach school and was often denied a lift on his way back home, as hardly anyone would stop to help him.

But the boy possessed an innate tenacity, which perhaps supports his philanthropic efforts to this day. “I come from a family of Indian freedom fighters, which made me take every setback positively. So, when someone approaches me for help, I do for them what I would do for my brothers and sisters.” In 1988, during his 8th grade, he took a resolution to help people regardless of who they were and where they came from. He started small, unknowing that one day, he would help over 5000 people in more than 15 countries.

Ordinary yet extraordinary

How could a commoner have helped evacuate 2500 students from Ukraine during Russia’s attack on the country while being based in Dubai? It all started when four helpless students stuck in Ukraine reached out to him. Heeding their call for help, he connected the dots, sprung to remote action and created over 15 WhatsApp groups in different regions in Ukraine, with nearly 100-200 students in each group. He facilitated as a mediator between the embassy and students, coordinating with External Affairs in guiding them. “I was connected with the distressed students over WhatsApp and would send them advisory details from the embassy and other important details to ensure they were always informed. I also worked with the embassy in arranging food and aid.”

The difference in time zone was a challenge but never a hurdle for him to function. “I hardly slept during the first few nights. I made sure I was available to respond to their needs irrespective of the time difference”. Thanks to timely government intervention and his efforts, many students safely made their way back to India and the rest to the countries neighboring Ukraine.

The troubles that plague people are not merely external circumstances; some are internal battles too. Girish was a guiding mentor, providing mental health counseling and moral support to many that felt defeated against life’s odds.

Known as the messiah to the seafarers in UAE, he has helped repatriate 1000+ seafarers of different nationalities apart from Indians, including Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, and more. Moreover, he has not only united families but alerted the concerned authorities about the issues, so they do not recur and victimize anyone else. Read more