A P Bapu Haji has only acres to give away

MALAPPURAM: “There is nothing worth  writing about me” says A.P. Bapu Haji, an octogenarian landlord who has been on a land donation spree for years. For Haji, 84, who hails from Adakkakundu village near Kalikavu in Malappuram, donating vast areas of his own land is nothing but sharing the grace of God with fellow beings. He hates publicity for that.  

Haji is busy with the works of old care homes for the aged and downtrodden,  which are being built in three acres of land he donated. Haji has spent nearly Rs 1 crore  for the Hima care homes named ‘Sneha veedu’ for the elderly who have nobody to look after.  Ten  such homes are nearing completion in his village.

The story of Haji is moving. In 1974,  he donated five acres of land for setting up a high school in his village. Last year, he gave away 15 acres of land for a charity organisation to set up a post-graduate study campus near Kalikavu. Haji and wife lead  a humble life with farming and have no children. There are many labourers around him  to look after his farming. “I consider that this is my duty,” Haji sums up his charity acts.

Haji was recently in the news when the head of CRPF inspector Harjinder Singh, posted in Kalikavu as part of the elections, called on him to praise him for his exemplary services.