Kolkata

This is the story of human bond, trust, and love that transcends the boundaries of religion, financial status, and genetics. When Sujeet Haldar of Kolkata passed away on March 31 after a prolonged illness, his wife revealed his last wish. He wanted Anwar Ali, a social worker, who had looked after him in the absence of his daughter in his sickness, to lit his funeral pyre, the responsibility of a son among the Hindus.

Anwar Ali, a marble mason who hailed from Hoogly and lived in a rented house as Haldar’s neighbour, had supported the old couple in all ways throughout Haldar’s sickness – from donating blood – their blood groups matched- to take him to hospital for checkups, Anwar was always around to help them.

Now it was up to Anwar, a Muslim, to accept Haldar’s last wish. He only consulted his father who told him not to hesitate.

Anwar lit the pyre of his father Sujeet Haldar and performed all the rituals associated with the death of a Hindu as a dutiful son. Bequeathing the status of a son to someone is a huge honour among the Hindus and Anwar lived up to the estimation of his character by the dead man. 

The couple also has a daughter Chetali who is a scientist and lives in Cyprus. She was married recently and had left the country soon after.

All through her father’s poor health due to an incurable disease, Chetali couldn’t return home and it was Anwar Ali, who lived close to their house and became the support of the dying Sujeet and his wife. 

Anwar Ali with Sujeet Haldar's wife looking into old pictures

According to family sources, once Sujeet needed blood, and when no one else's blood group matched Anwar Ali's did and he donated. This incident brought Anwar Ali closer to the family and Sujeet Haldar would freely reach out to him whenever he needed.

In turn, Anwar cared as much about Sujeet Haldar, as perhaps he would care for his biological father. He became the support of Sujeet's old age. Whenever Sujeet was unwell, Anwar would take him to the hospital. Whenever they needed blood, Anwar would donate blood.

The bond between Haldar and Anwar was growing with each passing day. Meanwhile, Sujeet expressed his wish that after his death his “Muslim son Anwar Ali” should perform lit his funeral pyre, an honour reserved for a son. After Sujit's death, his wife expressed this wish to Anwar Ali and other relatives. Everyone was surprised but Anwar Ali respected his last wish.

Tanmoy Bhattacharya, a member of Rushra Lions Club, said that the late Sujeet Haldar was a resident of Delhi. He was living with his wife Shipra Devi in ​​his new home in Srirampur after retirement 

“Sujeet Babu was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. He needed a male member of the family to take him to the hospital when the lockdown due to Covid-19 started. I told social worker Noor Ali about Sujeet’s condition and that he needed help,” he told the local media.

Noor Ali sent Anwar Ali to the family. Anwar helped Haldars'- right from helping the sick Haldar to visit hospitals to emotionally supporting the family. Sujeet Haldar passed away Tuesday and knowing that his daughter wouldn’t be able to come for his cremation, he bequeathed that Anwar should perform her last rites.

Anwar fulfilled the last wish of a man he had looked after like his own. Anwar Ali said, “I do not believe in caste. I have my parents and five siblings at home. I took permission from my father before fulfilling Sujeet Haldar's last wish. He said I must do it.” He said he would perform all the post-death rituals like observing a Shraada, monthly and yearly commemoration of the dead, as per the rules.

He has always stood by the helpless people. If a patient needed treatment, he volunteers to take him to the hospital and drop him back home. He has been doing this for the last 25 years.

It seems two years ago, there was a discussion about his association with the family of Sujeet Haldar and he told them that he considered Sujeet Babu a member of his family 

Anwar Ali, a social worker, said he was taking four people from the state to a private hospital in Hyderabad for eye treatment in the last week of May.