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He pays, you drink
 What guts! That is exactly what you will think of Mahendra Bhandari, who is one of the proprietors of Bhandari and Sons, dealers in electrical appliances in
Chennai.
This man has a shop in the middle of one of Chennai's most crowded streets in one of the most crowded areas - Govindappa Naicken Street in Town.
And he has installed a bubble top outside his shop - on the parement - to supply water to the public.
It is a big thing in Chennai these days if you are willing to spare a glass of water to a stranger dying of thirst in the heat. There are some kind-hearted people who keep a pot of water outside their house and help at least a few of their fellow beings.
But what set Mahendra apart is that he buys water - with a hi-tech dispenser - to supply it free to others. "I have been doing this for the last two years," he says very matter-of-factly.
 Seeing that he was doing a great public service, the water supplier - Fresh Water - offers the Rs 35 cans for Rs 25! "They said you are doing this for a noble cause and so we won't charge you so much," explains
Mahendra.
There is an umbrella over the bubble top that has the
Khaitan logo. Mahendra said earlier he had a Coca-Cola umbrella but Khaitan approached him to offer an umbrella and get some mileage out of the effort.
Local shop staff, people from nearby streets, the hordes of shoppers all stop at the water can for some sweet, refreshing water.
Mahendra hardly has time to think with people thronging his shop to buy electrical goods. He had recently broken his right arm and had it in the Puttur cast. But he was moving around the shop - filled from ceiling to floor with electrical goods - and lifting items with his left hand even though he has a very alert and obliging staff. They come running the minute he yells for them,
"Sollunganna."
But Mahendra does not simply sit at the 'kalla' and give directions. He is in the thick of
action, picking up goods for the customers, helping them select, calling up his brother's shop for some item and haggling with a customer - all at the same time. In the middle of all this activity, you would hear him shout, "Bottle La Thanni Pidikkakoodathu," in his accented Tamil and you will find that he has been
watching those drinking water outside also.
"I don't mind people drinking even 20 glasses of water but if they take it in a bottle, they will waste it by using it to wash their face or something like that," he says earnestly and adds that some of the rickshaw-pullers there tend to do that.
 Yes. Water is not a commodity you can afford to waste in Chennai. Nor is it something that you can pay to distribute free to others. But Mahendra does it! What is more, seeing his noble service, a few other shop-keepers in the area called him up for details and have now installed water cans outside their shops.
That is called leading by example. Mahendra deserves all the praise one can heap on him for the unconditional service he is doing to society.
Mahendra's alert staff do not keep anyone waiting for water. Even as they are dealing with the customers, they quietly change empty cans and ensure there is uninterrupted water supply.
"We use about 20 cans a day. During the weekdays you will find a long queue of
school students fighting for the glass. You can imagine how much I spend in a month for this, but I am happy to do it," he says and a rare grin appears on his ever-serious face.
Inadvertently, he has been able to carry a lot of people with him and inspire them to do good too - the water supply company reduced its charge;
Khaitan provided an umbrella in that treeless street; other shop-keepers were inspired to set up water cans...
Methinks, if Mahendra has any political ambitions, I think the man is ready to run for an election. He will win it hands down: He has great leadership quality and he cares for the fellow human being. Won't that be an ideal politician?
S
Chitra
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