Pragren D'Sa - Endeavours to Save Lives Battling Odds

By Sharad Raj

Mangalore, Aug 29: When the world is full of people who are eager to help one another in anticipation of some returns, here's a selfless soul who has been saviour of many a lives devoid of any wish to seek fame, name or money.

Pragren D'Sa, a resident of riverside area, Kudru, Maravoor near Bajpe is a perfect example of good samaritan, who has saved many people from drowning. Though passed only his SSLC examination, his ability to help people in danger is above all degrees. D'Sa is the man the people of the surrounding area of Kavoor and Bajpe think of when a news of people drowned is heard of. His humble speech belay his masculine appearance.

From saving lives of four sailors in Shedde near Kuloor to saving a person from death when he drowned at the Gurupur river near Adyapady, the list is endless. His saving feat continuous quietly without any
wish to be recognized. He feels responsible for lives is what he expresses as the reason behind fearless pursuit.

"At the tender age of twelve years, I was an expert swimmer as we people staying in Kudru take to swimming like fish into water without any teachers. There were occasions that I have saved lives of people
when firemen have failed to deliver, says D'Sa with a tinge of pride. It does not matter to me how deep the quarry or how violent the river is, I can find the exact location where the drowned person can be
located, he informs.

Speaking about his role in the rescue and relief operation of May 22 air crash, D'Sa says, I ventured into area with the blazing fire and fog thick smoke and helped spray water on the crashed plane standing
on a tree as well carry bodies into the ambulance. I quietly left the location after I finished my work, he adds.

However, D'Sa has a grouse that government has not so far come forward to offer jobs to needy like him and that the bribe rules the day. He has been trying to get into fire department for long and has not been
able to join the service for lack of money. This saddens me as I can work under any condition and very effectively work towards saving lives, he says.

He is keen only on a job in fire department as he feels that the job suits his instinct. I am hopeful that one day I will be able to join the fire service, he says. Averse to name or fame, the only wish of D'Sa is to be employed as a fireman. However, as he is aging his resolution breaks down at times and he feels he is ready to take up any job the government provides. Having lost of his parents, he is a bachelor for he feels that it is very difficult for anyone to live with him as his is a tough life.