By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: A tall, lean and thin man riding bicycle and street dogs following him is a common sight for many people residing in Masakchak and other adjoining localities of city. Meet this man in his early sixties. He is Sourabh Banerjee better known by his nick name Babai Da in Satish Sarkar Lane where his house is located.
A die hard animal lover his infatuation is seen to be believed. Love for pet dogs many might feel is nothing uncommon. However Sourabh’s love for stray dogs is simply different. He has not only provided shelter to number of street dogs in his house but also provides food to number of them in his area regularly.
It could be surprising for many to know for rabies prevention he has got number of street dogs vaccinated from his resources. As per a rough estimate Sourabh has ensured vaccination of nearly 100 street dogs so far. He makes it a point to bring injured, ill and incapacitated street dogs of his area to his house and provide them necessary treatment.
Though Sourabh is a man of meagre resources however financial constraints has not deterred his spirit of serving animals. Apart from street dogs his house is also shelter of pigeons and other different birds. Sourabh just needs an information he is always there to help any stray cattle in distress because of illness or injury.
It is more than thirty years now he has been silently serving animals by providing them food and shelter besides addressing their health issues. Sourabh earns livelihood through private tuition. His family includes his wife Polly Banerjee and mother Sabita Banerjee who is in advanced age. The three married sisters who are elder to Sourabh stay outside at places of their in-laws.
Life of Sourabh revolves around stray animals and birds. He devotes sizable portion of his time every day in feeding and looking after stray animals. At relaxation time during lockdown Sourabh used to peddle around in his locality as well as adjoining localities with bread in his bag for feeding street dogs and other stray animals.
Talking to view19.in he said feeding and serving animals gives him immense pleasure. Animals and birds, Sourabh says used to attract him from his childhood days. However his urge to feed and take care of stray animals became strong since more than three decades back he brought home an injured puppy for nursing, he informed. Sourabh said serving animals and birds became his passion in course of time as it gives him immense satisfaction.
Sabita Banerjee, mother of Sourabh said excessive love of her son for animals and birds made her as well as other family members slightly uneasy initially. However influenced by his emotional attachment with animals and birds their love for innocent creatures also increased gradually.
Polly Banerjee, wife of Sourabh echoing almost similar feelings said initially after marriage it was really surprising for her to see his emotional bonding with birds and animals. Unknowingly she also picked up his passion with passage of time Polly said adding at present she also cannot think of life without animals and birds.
Endeavour of Sourabh has received support of some animal lovers. Dr Ratna Mukhrejee, former professor in department of Psychology, T. M Bhagalpur University besides Chandana Dasgupta, cousin of Sourabh are among such animal lovers. Both of them financially support him in meeting expenses of feeding street dogs and treatment of injured stray animals.
Motivated by Sourabh few youngsters in his locality helps him in locating injured animals and also in treatment. Deb Chatterjee a neighbourhood boy is among such youngsters. Abhinav, an employee of Gramin Bank yet another animal lover also extends support to Sourabh whenever he is in need of physical help for looking after injured stray animals.