Bhuj Beggar's alms fund Rs l.15 Crore? pigeon tower

Beggar's alms fund Rs 1 lakh pigeon tower

BHUJ: Popat, a mentally challenged beggar, has spent nearly 40 years beneath the famous chhatris dedicated to valiant Rajput warriors of Kutch. But soon, Popat will have a concrete tower with his name engraved on it, and that too as its donor.

Priests of a famous Shiva temple in Bhuj will oversee the construction of a chabutro (pigeon-tower), which will cost Rs 1.15 lakh that pan-handler Popat has collected in the last 40 years in alms.

While Popat may not be able to even identify coins and notes, temple priest Mauni Baba has maintained a separate account of the money he has been paying for his tea since 1973.

"Popat has been coming to the temple daily since 1973. After the darshan, we offer him tea. Despite being mentally challenged, he never forgets to pay. But I have been maintaining an account of his contribution and it has swelled to Rs 1.15 lakh," said Mauni Baba of Biharilal Mahadev temple.

"We decided to immortalise Popat by engraving his name on the chabutro as the donor," Baba added.

Popat, who loiters around town, spends most of his time at Dhobi Talan near the royal chhatris. Recently, some kindhearted people arranged for his eye surgery that was performed by a Bhuj opthalmologist, Dr Sanjiv Upadhyay.

Chabutros are a common sight in villages across Gujarat, and have a deep sociological and religious significance.

These are concrete towers a few feet high, with enclosures where birds can nest in niches.

There's also a place to keep grains for the birds. Locals say Popat never forgets people who give him alms.

Unable to communicate, he lets out a screeching sound upon seeing them.