‘All The Orphans Are His Valentines’

Berhampur: Love is the underlying emotion of Valentine’s Day. Some people share love, while others like Ratikant Behera spread love.

The mushy romance that the day is associated with is not his cup of tea. But he is making full use of it by selling roses to couples in love and others.

Ratikant Behera, a first year Library Science student of Berhampur University was so moved at the sight of children begging on the streets that he thought of an ingenious way of spreading love among them.

Along with his friends, Ratikant has been selling roses on Gopalpur beach and other areas to raise money for orphans.

Ratikant has been at the job since February 6. He wants to donate all the money to the orphans living in Utkal Bala Ashram at Berhampur.

“I really have to cajole and convince people because many of them don’t believe me. They think it is a ploy to earn money to buy a gift for my girlfriend. But that is not my purpose. My cause is noble. This is the time of love and the orphans are also entitled to it. It has been missing from their lives. So if I can do something to bring a smile on their faces, why not?” he told a local daily.

Ratikant is always encouraging his friends to spare time for the needy and has succeeded to a great extent. Many of his friends help him in selling roses. His contention is that we spend time with our loved ones every day, so there is no reason why we cannot take out some time for the poor.

He has sold more than 70 roses so far. Many people spurn him but there is an equal number that appreciates his initiative.