We all dream about the day we grow old and live a more relaxed life without working, just enjoying the retirement. But in the case of Raja Singh Phull it didn’t happen. According to a facebook post, Raja Singh, the 76-year-old is an Oxford graduate of 1964 batch. But now he is forced to live on the streets of Delhi. He spends his daytime at a visa center next to Shivaji Stadiuma Airport Metro Station and get ready at a Delhi government’s “sauchalya”. During night time he spends his time at the railway station. Begging was never an option for Raja Singh because he is a man of steel and he doesn’t compromise on self-respect.

His day starts with getting ready at the Delhi public toilets where he ties his turban with the help of a pocket mirror which he carries with him. Then he will have a cup of tea and if he manages to get some money, he affords a biscuit for breakfast. This old man even survived without food on somedays. “You are not well and there is no earning you will go without a square meal,” quips the old man in immaculate English with a chaste diction as described in the Facebook post.
So why is this Oxford graduate is going through this rough phase? Well its story we often hear about how children leave their parent in old age homes.
Well, it’s the same story with Singh as well. But his children didn’t even drop him at old age home. He has two sons and both of them married to “foreign” women and settled down in UK and USA leaving this old man alone.
On the request of his brother Singh came back to India when he was in his late sixties. Singh and his brother tried various businesses. His brother was more into drinking , Singh managed to work hard for the sake of his sons.
He broke his sweat everyday to give best life to his sons but they left him alone and homeless in Delhi. “I did a lot of hard work and sent two of my sons for studies abroad,” Singh said.
One thing that singh has not lost after his wife’s death is values and self-respect. He belives that you should own something if you deserve it. “I earn and buy my food. For Langar, I need to contribute. If I’m unable I have no right to eat there,” Singh said. At times there is no work and Raja Singh is forced to depend on community kitchen at the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara and “bhandaras” at Hanuman Temple.
“God should never force me to beg,” Singh said.
Raja Singh has a cell phone but he cannot get a SIM card because of Aadhar card and permanent address is required.
In the facebook post he mentioned that he is willing to work if ab opportunity comes where he gets a place to stay.
Well, it’s the story that no parent would want to hear or go through.