A girl in India who donated money she had been saving to buy herself a bike to victims of the devastating floods in Kerala has been told by the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturer that she will receive a free bicycle each year of her life from it in recognition of her kindness.
What has been described as the heaviest monsoon in a century has led to more than 350 deaths in the state in south-east India in recent weeks, while 800,000 people are said to have been displaced.
Over the past four years, a young girl called Anupriya living in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu had managed to save a total of 9,000 Rupees (£101), which she planned to spend on a bicycle.
But when she saw the plight of people in Kerala on TV, she decided to donate the money to victims of the flooding.
To put the amount Anupriya donated into context, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has said that people seriously injured in the floods will receive a payment of 50,000 Rupees (£561) from the government.
The story was picked up by a local newspaper and subsequently went viral on social media yesterday.
On Twitter, it was spotted by Indian business Hero Cycles, the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturer in terms of numbers of bikes produced, and which promised her a brand new bike for her gesture.
But there was more to come. The company’s chairman and managing director, Pankaj M Munjal, said she would be given a free bicycle for every year for life.
Things have moved quickly since that tweet yesterday, with Anupriya taking delivery of her new bicycle today.
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5 comments
Yay! Finally something nice happening. Some faith in humanity returned.
Hopefully the family give the 'old' bike to someone who can use it whom otherwise might not have been able to purchase. absolute win, win all round.
having saved up my paper round money in a monthly saver when I was 14 so I could get a bike for my 16th (mum scraped by in those days so it was the only way I was getting one) I'm not so sure I could make that sacrifice having nearly having my fingers ripped off every week by some little shit of a terrier, so big raps to her/family.
Great piece of news, such a selfless act and rightly being rewarded.
I cannot even begin to comprehend of giving 4 years worth of savings for the benefit of others. Complete strangers who would not even know where the money came from. Totally selfless act of generosity.
Couldn't have put it better myself, and so good that the bike company recognised her sacrifice.