The Police Officer Who Built a Wall of Humanity

For Assistant Sub-Inspector Bapan Das of Kolkata Police’s Special Branch, service goes beyond duty. After losing his cousin due to the lack of donated blood, Bapan resolved to dedicate his life to helping others. What began with organising blood donation camps soon expanded into something that would bring warmth and dignity to hundreds of people in need.

Noticing the homeless at railway stations and bus stands shivering through the freezing North Bengal winters with little more than torn clothesbarely anything to keep themselves warm, he decided to act. Starting In in his hometown of Siliguri, he created a clothes bank called Bhalobashar Bazaar, a market where anyone in need could walk in and pick clothes for free. Later, in his city of work, Kolkata, he extended this mission under a metro flyover in Dunlop, setting up Manobotar Dewal—the Wall of Humanity.

Every day, Bapan rides across the city on his bike, collecting donated clothes and arranging them neatly at the wall. Here, the poor and homeless can choose freely, selecting not just one, but as many clothes as they needwhat they need, but and also what they like, their favourite colours and outfits included.

Balancing his full-time police role with this mission, Bapan spends much of his free time, sometimes 12 hours a day, organising camps, distributing clothes, and helping the helplessneedy. His tireless efforts have earned him recognition and accolades from across the world. But for him, the true reward is simple: “People are for the people. Work like this doesn’t need money, it just needs willingness and time. If we take out a little time, we can put smiles on the faces of many”, he says.

Aditya Birla Group is proud to partner with The Better India in sharing stories of such individuals who act as #AForceForGood.