“When you help someone, you don’t think of his religion or sect; saving a life is human and a duty. Religion also teaches that human life is the most precious thing in the world.”

This is what Farhan Alam, a young lawyer and social worker from Prayagraj, who saved Ramshankar by giving him timely CPR  when the former suffered a heart attack during the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, said. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency treatment done on someone who se breathing or heartbeat has stopped.

Last week’s incident came to light when a video of Farhan Alam administering the life-saving procedure on Ramshankar went viral on social media. In the clip, Farhar is seen applying pressure with both hands on the chest of an unconscious Ramshankar as his wife and child are seen crying.

Later it was revealed that Farhan Alam had saved the life of Ramshankar, a devotee who had come to Maha Kumbh.

Speaking with Awaz-the Voice, Farhan Alam said this was not unusual for him. “It was a part of my responsibility that I performed well. The important thing is that I tried reviving him through CPR and Allah helped me.”

Farhan Alam training RPF personnel

Remembering the incident, he said, “I was posted at the railway station, but one of my colleagues Muhammad Arshad told me about the passing out of a devotee on the walkie-talkie. I rushed there within a few minutes. He was unconscious and his breathing had stopped. I quickly started the CPR procedure. After a few moments of hard work, he started breathing; his heart was beating. As the wave of life ran through Ramshankar, it also rejuvenated the people around – onlookers and most importantly his child and wife.”

Farhan Alam is working with UNICEF on behalf of the Prayagraj-based NGO HAQ that works on child rights. Along with HAQ, he is also the founder of Prim Rose Siksha Sansthan.

Farhan’s interest in volunteering as a social worker comes from his late father Dr. Noor Alam. In 1994, he trained the Railway Protection Force personnel in emergency medical assistance procedures.

However, Farhan Alam says saving life is always a challenge; so it was in the case of Ramshankar. “I can do my best with all the courage I have. The rest is Allah's will”.

Farhan Alam told Awaz-The Voice that before the Maha Kumbh, he trained  Railway Protection Force jawans led by Inspector Shiv Kumar Singh in the run-up to the Mahakumbh. He imparted them training on administering CPR. This was part of the preparations for the Mahakumhb which is expected to be visited by a record 45 crore people.

Farhan Alam says that the Maha Kumbh Mela is the center of the faith of Hindus, but we all respect it and the residents of Prayagraj are ready to take up every kind of responsibility for its smooth conduct as “All devotees are our guests.”

He says being from Prayagraj it’s “our responsibility and duty to protect them till they return from the Kumbh Mela. I believe that this is the Maha Kumbh of brotherhood and communal harmony. There are also Muslims here who volunteer to serve crores of devotees. Muslim volunteers work day and night with great pride to help the devotees.”

Farhan Alam during a training session

Farhan Alam told Awaz-The Voice that at the Maha Kumbh Mela, there is no difference between Hindus and Muslims. "No one stopped us from serving because of our religion nor did anyone object. We, the people of the city, consider it our social and human responsibility to serve the visitors. We all work with the spirit that we should tackle problems that devotees might face. Volunteers have no religion; they are in the service of humanity.”

Later, Farhan Alam met Ram Shankar in the hospital in Prayagraj. All those in the hospital came to meet and thanked him for his act. However, Farhan Alam was happy to see Ramshankar's smiling countenance.

Interestingly, Farhan Alam also shared a video clip in which he is seen administering CPR on a devotee at a religious festival on social media.

Speaking as a volunteer, Farhan Alam told Awaz that this incident demonstrated to common devotees how much preparations have been done by the administration for the Mahakumbh.

People are praising Farhan Alam for this deed and calling him the real hero of Mahakumbh