The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Fragrance of humanity

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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fragrance of humanity

B.V.S. Bhaskar

Ranga Rao started performing last rites of orphans after he attended a friend’s funeral

—Photo-S. Rambabu

‘Poola Rangadu’ Ankem Ranga Rao.

Amalapuram: There is a saying that ‘Charity begins at home’. It is true in the case of Ankem Ranga Rao of this busy town. He is a florist. His charity is not in giving flowers free of cost to some temple or church. He does not give flowers free of cost to anyone either. His charity is different. It is with a human touch. Ranga Rao who is locally known as ‘Poola Rangadu’ at clock tower centre is a humanitarian who took up the cause of cremating unclaimed bodies and orphan’s bodies in Amalapuram town.

Just a phone call or a tip of information is enough for Ranga Rao about an orphan’s body.

He will go there, leaving his routine business to his worker in the shop.

He makes enquiry about the financial condition of the orphan to take up the last rites. Ranga Rao makes arrangements for cremation and pays the amount for conducting the entire ceremony.

Ranga Rao started this five years ago when he attended a friend’s funeral , his sons were fighting for their contribution for cremating their father’s body.

Then he took up the cause and performed last rites of his friend. From that day he started keeping aside some money for this purpose.

He has the habit of contributing little amount daily towards poor feeding. .

“My profession may be different I just want to do this service as helping the poor is serving the God. I see God in them. I want to inculcate this habit to my children also”-says Ranga Rao humbly.

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