A Beacon of Humanity: Par Excellence Human-Interest Story ..... The Legacy of Rabi Singh and the Spirit of Arihanth Ashoka By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao (As narrated by Dr AV Manohar Rao)

 A Beacon of Humanity: Par Excellence 

Human-Interest Story

The Legacy of Rabi Singh and 

the Spirit of Arihanth Ashoka

‘GREAT LOVE, CONSISTENCY, COMPASSION, 

DEEP HUMAN VALUES’

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

(As narrated by Dr AV Manohar Rao)

{{Published in Metro India under the Title 

'Humanity at the Gate: 

A Watchman who  became Family' on December 3, 2025}} 

In today’s fast-paced world, where individualism often overshadows empathy, every now and then emerges a story that restores faith in humanity. This is one such story, a real and deeply touching narrative that unfolded just few days ago in Hyderabad. It is not merely a story of grief, but of goodness, unity, compassion, and the invisible strength of human values. It is the story of a humble man, Rabi Singh, and the extraordinary warmth shown by the residents of Arihanth Ashoka Apartments and their neighboring community.

Eight years ago, a young, soft-spoken 21-year-old from Ranchi, Jharkhand, stepped into Hyderabad with nothing but hope, a willingness to work, and an honest smile. His name was Rabi Singh. He joined a security services firm for a modest salary. But what he lacked in material possessions, he made up with sincerity, dedication, humility, and genuine warmth. Wherever he was posted, he left an imprint, not merely as a security guard, but as a human being who cared.

The residents of Arihanth Ashoka Apartments recognized this earnestness and soon ensured that he was permanently placed with them. From then on, he was not just a watchman. He was caretaker, helper, guide, and above all, family. Understanding his humble background, the residents decided to pay him a little extra, compensating for agency commissions, and offering a special allowance. Over time, Rabi became not just the beloved caretaker of the 27-flat Arihanth Ashoka Apartments, but also a familiar, trusted, and respected figure for the entire Street Number 4 community in Ashoknagar, comprising nearly 230 families.

With his gentle manners, reliability, and affection, Rabi Singh became everyone's 'Blue-Eyed Boy.' Meanwhile, destiny had its own timetable. Just as quietly as he had entered their lives, his time was destined to end too soon. Death does not discriminate. At the age of 29, when life should have been blooming, fate intervened tragically.

Late one night, around 1 AM, 83-year-old Subba Rao, President of Arihanth Ashoka Apartments, received a phone call from Jharkhand. The voice of an unknown person on the other end broke the heartbreaking news that, Rabi Singh had been in his hometown attending to his hospitalized mother when he met with a fatal road accident. He had died on the spot.

Moments later, grief reached his little family too. Rabi’s wife, Pushpa, carrying their two young children, five-year-old Rudr and two-year-old Trisha, stood at Subba Rao’s door, sobbing in disbelief. The children, too innocent to understand, cried alongside their mother. In that moment of speechlessness and shock, Subba Rao, though grieving, rose to collect his strength, and his community awakened.

It is worth mentioning that Arihanth Ashoka is largely a community of senior citizens, many over 80 years of age. Yet, in that hour of need, age was no barrier. The elders acted wisely. They quickly reached out to the younger residents nearby, knowing that collective compassion was the key. Soon, help began to arrive. Kolluru Srinivas Prasad, a young executive living in the opposite apartment, responded immediately to the late-night call. With grace and selflessness, he stood beside Subba Rao and shouldered himself much of the responsibility, not out of duty, but out of humanity. Age and youth walked hand in hand, led by compassion.

The first decision taken was both urgent and humane. That was, Pushpa and her children should reach Jharkhand immediately, to see Rabi’s body before the funeral. Air travel was the only viable option, though costly. But the cost did not matter, but only kindness did. Without hesitation, residents pooled together ₹60,000 overnight. They booked tickets for Pushpa and the children on the earliest available flight, which incidentally had three vacant seats. kept some cash with Pushpa (Wife of Rabi Singh).  

The Humane and Compassionate with all his concern, the neighbor, Srinivas Prasad personally drove them to the airport. Meanwhile, Subba Rao contacted his friend, a senior executive with Indigo Airlines in Bangalore, requesting special care for the family when they landed in Ranchi. The reason was for them traveling by flight was strange experience and that too at a tragic time. They reached their place in time. It was not just help. It was dignity. And dignity is the purest form of love.

The Human-Interest Story in this is simply Great and at every stage there is a message and lots and lots of learning points. Firstly, on knowing the tragic incident, instantly, with no exception, all residents-both owners and tenants-of the Arihanth Ashoka Apartments as well as a neighboring resident, volunteered and with their munificent on the spot contributions, came to the rescue of Pushpa (and her children) wife of their watchman cum security cum caretaker Late Rabi Singh.

This story is not merely about financial help. It is a shining example of human values: respect, gratitude, belongingness, and emotional responsibility. Over the course of the next few days, both owners and tenants, young and old, even children of residents living abroad, reached out to support and contribute. They considered Rabi’s family not as outsiders, but as their own.

Rabi had joined them as a bachelor. He married Pushpa, also from Jharkhand, and was blessed with two beautiful children, Rudr and Trisha, miraculously both born on the same day and date. They lived in a room on the terrace of the apartments, not as tenants, but as extended family. Their birthdays were celebrated by all residents every year, just like grandchildren of the community. One resident, a schoolteacher, had lovingly taken care of the children since they were two months old, allowing Pushpa to work part-time and support the family's income. That was not charity. It was shared humanity. It showed that kindness is not always loud; sometimes, it is quietly lived.

The Association sent a message to Rabi’s family assuring them that they were always welcome to return and live with them, if they chose to. The entire Street Number 4 community, including Member of Parliament Dr Lakshman, expressed their willingness to extend help and support. Strength, in times of grief, is not found in words, but in shoulders offered to lean on.

Dr Manohar Rao, my brother-in-law narrated this Human-Interest Story. He mentioned that, the Residents Welfare Association of Street Number 4, consisting of over 230 families, has long been known for its initiatives of cleanliness drives, security, cultural celebrations, supporting neighbors in distress, and now, proposing Group Insurance for all watchmen, caretakers, and support staff, a visionary idea with immense potential to become a model for other communities and perhaps even a national movement. ‘Role Model of Community Unity and Strength’ indeed.

In a remarkable twist, it was revealed that just a week before his death, Rabi had sent his 23-year-old nephew from Jharkhand to take charge of his duty temporarily, almost as if he had sensed something. His humility and sense of responsibility were so deep that even unknowingly, he ensured his adopted family, the residents, would not face inconvenience. Perhaps, some souls simply know when their journey is about to pause.

This story teaches us something profound, that greatness does not always wear a uniform, hold a title, or command attention. Sometimes, it stands silently at a gate, smiles politely, remembers names, cares for people, and becomes part of a family not by blood, but by heart.

Mother Teresa once said, ‘THERE ARE NO GREAT ACTS, ONLY SMALL ACTS DONE WITH GREAT LOVE, CONSISTENCY, COMPASSION, AND DEEP HUMAN VALUES.” This story is living proof. And perhaps, this is how communities become families. This is how humans become truly humane. This is how humanity survives, flourishes, and inspires.