Do at least one good deed a day, says social worker

Girish Pant seeing off the stranded sailors he helped at Sharjah International Airport

Do at least one good deed a day - is the motto of Girish Pant who is hailed as the saviour of those in need for poor workers or stranded seafarers. Indian expat Pant, who works in the finance department of a UAE-based company, believes in only one religion - humanity. Born and raised in New Delhi but originally from Pithoragarh - Berinag in Uttrakhand, India, Pant is a voluntary social worker who empathises with poor labourers trapped or defrauded by employers, stranded seafarers, or for that matter anyone genuinely in need. He helps them by "legally" sorting out issues, mostly with the help of the Indian consulate.
Pant has been in the UAE from 2008 and has helped out about 500 people of different nationalities, mostly who were stranded seafarers (100-200) or workers left in a lurch by employers. He has also personally repatriated bodies to India, helped workers get outpasses, and even counselled and prevented a few contemplating suicide.
Helping people in distress is a family trait says Girish Pant, whose grandfather was a freedom fighter of India and whose father is known as a good Samaritan of his town.
Girish has lost count of how many accident victims he has helped while in Delhi where he worked a decade ago. "I would feel pathetic how people would just surround the victim and just stare on him or her without helping out."
From helping people left stranded on road due to car breakdowns or accidents to dealing with cops, counseling friends out of depression, Pant wants to be of help to all, as that is what gives him 'contentment and happiness'.
"I was jolted by the suicide of my cousin, who took the extreme step as he was heavily under debt and didn't want to share his problem with anyone. "It was hopelessness and depression that drove him to take this step on December 25, 2013. That hit me hard and from that day on I took upon myself to try and help out whoever I can and however I can."
In 2013, when floods ravaged his home city Uttrakhand, Pant personally visited the city, with contributions from the people of the UAE. He travelled 38 hours in risky mountainous region with 400kg of relief material to personally deliver aid to the affected people.
The same year, since he was a part of Uttrakhand association in UAE, he received news of a seafarer's dead body that had to be handed over to his family in India. "I offered to personally hand over the body because I felt what if something like this happens to any of my family members. Wouldn't I rush to help then? So I do not differentiate on the basis of religion or nationality, for me humanity comes first. The moment I get a call for help, I rush." Since then, Pant has helped repatriate a number of bodies of Indians back to their home country, many a times personally.
In 2015, twenty-three workers of a contracting company were left in a lurch after their owner fled the country 50 days ago without paying the workers. They were forced to live inside a bus for over a fortnight with little access to food and water.
Pant stayed in touch with the workers from day one, providing them with food, water and other necessities from his own house. He visited them each and every day after his work hours and also got in touch with the officials at the Ministry of Labour, Dubai Police Human Rights Department, and the Indian Consulate in Dubai who he says were 'very cooperative' in the case.
Pant has helped over 100 stranded seafarers by officially taking help of the consulate and other UAE authorities and personally by going to meet them, providing them moral support and counseling.
Pant says that we get this gift of life only once so why not make the most of it by helping others because that will keep you alive in the hearts of people forever and ever. "It is not a big deal when you work for your self or your family, but what adds value to your life and makes you great is when you sacrifice your comfort for strangers. And it is not tough. You just have to place yourself or your family in the victim's shoes and you will know what to do," Pant told Khaleej Times.
Pant believes that it is your willingness; determination and positive approach that will make your life successful and help you bring about a positive change in the lives of others too. "Do it for others and do it without any motive of any personal gain," he adds.
"I am lucky to have come to this amazing country, the UAE, that has visionary leaders who treat everyone equally. The systems here are very efficient and it is indeed on its way to become the world's happiest city.
"My message is that don't sit with the problem or moan about it. Take charge, try to find a solution and make effort. Stay positive; share your problems with people who care and you will be able to emerge as a winner in this life."
Pant has also helped a number of expatriates come out of a trap of fake employers, get their passports back from their sponsors and reach back to their motherland India.
He believes that nobility and happiness lies in helping, honouring and reaching down and lifting people up.
"I have had first-hand experience in my life - the pain, financial crunch and the helplessness of being unable to fulfil my dreams - and that's why I do not want anyone else to go through it. Therefore, I serve people in need as I would serve my own family, because I can feel their pain.
"It's by God's will and my parents love, sacrifice and blessings that I am able to help out people and I feel it is a great blessing to be in a position to help people. It is a gift from God that He has allowed me to be in a position to help people out. My purpose of life is to work relentlessly for humanity, make my country proud and make some difference in the lives of people to the level that after I go, I still remain in people's hearts."
saman@khaleejtimes.com
'Be the patron of your life'
Pant believes that it is your willingness; determination and positive approach that will make your life successful and help you bring about a positive change in the lives of others too. "Do it for others and do it without any motive of any personal gain," he adds.
"I am lucky to have come to this amazing country, the UAE, that has visionary leaders who treat everyone equally. The systems here are very efficient and it is indeed on its way to become the world's happiest city.
"My message is that don't sit with the problem or moan about it. Take charge, try to find a solution and make effort. Stay positive; share your problems with people who care and you will be able to emerge as a winner in this life."
Pant has also helped a number of expatriates come out of a trap of fake employers, get their passports back from their sponsors and reach back to their motherland India.
He believes that nobility and happiness lies in helping, honouring and reaching down and lifting people up.
"I have had first-hand experience in my life - the pain, financial crunch and the helplessness of being unable to fulfil my dreams - and that's why I do not want anyone else to go through it. Therefore, I serve people in need as I would serve my own family, because I can feel their pain.