In a heartwarming gesture, Kolkata Police gifted a violin to an elderly man who recently went viral on social media for playing melodious renditions of famous Bollywood songs on his instrument. The man, identified as Bhogoban Mali, was seen in the viral video clip playing Bollywood songs like “Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh” and “Diwana Hua Baadal” on his violin at an empty street in Kolkata. The video was widely circulated on social media.
Mali, who resides around Kolkata’s Girish Park area, took the internet by storm in June 2021, with the person who shared the clip urging netizens to come forward and help the man. Sharing the information, music director Savvy Gupta wrote, “His name is Bhogoban Mali, he resides somewhere around Girish Park what I came to know.., One-time help won’t work for these artists if someone can do something for the long run that will be a real help I guess. Not only for him for all the talented artists like him”
Mali was subsequently provided financial assistance by the Community Policing Wing. In photographs that Kolkata Police recently posted on their Twitter handle, Kolkata Police Commissioner Soumen Mitra can be seen talking to Mali and giving him the violin. The violinist can be seen observing the instrument.
Social media users showered praises on Kolkata Police for their kindness towards the elderly man.One social media user sought Mali’s details in the comments, expressing his wish to donate some money to him.
In another comment, a netizen claimed that a group of NRIs in the United Kingdom plan to have an online violin session with Mali regarding a football match, adding that Mali will be performing the theme song of the match on his violin. Showering praises on the “magic” of social media, which brought Mali’s talent to the fore, he urged people to use this medium to help each other during difficult times.
The Kolkata Police’s post has received over 630 likes on Twitter till now
