Nobody took notice of a young man who worked as a volunteer for several days from September 1 at the collection and distribution point of flood relief materials at KBPS Press, Kakkanad. Even when some women who were around for relief tasks gave orders, the youth quietly obeyed them.
It was back-breaking work at the KBPS Press, unloading and loading heavy consignments, but the young man enthusiastically carried out all the tasks assigned to him.
However, later, when his real identity was revealed, all others at the place were in for a pleasant surprise – he was none other than an IAS officer, Kannan Gopinathan. He was the District Collector of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Kannan had applied for leave and rushed to his home state after learning about the floods. He wanted to do all he could to help flood victims and engaged in volunteer work. He initially reached Alappuzha and carried out relief activities there. Later, he headed to Ernakulam.
Other volunteers at KBPS Press recognized Kannan Gopinathan only when Ernakulam District Collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla and Sub Collector Pranjal Patil visited the place. However, the Collector of Dadra and Nagar Haveli shrugged off all the attention and continued with his work.
Nobody had recognized Kannan in Alappuzha even when the Collector there belonged to his own batch.
Many volunteers soon approached Kannan for clicking selfies, but he did not oblige them. A native of Puthuppally in Kottayam, Kannan is an IAS officer of the 2012 batch.
