Knowledge | Posted by Zarni Kyaw
A series of videos showing a Bengaluru man, who claimed to be a former tech professional and had worked in Frankfurt and later at a leading tech firm in the city, seen begging on the streets of Jayanagar went viral on social media.
The man, clad in a red T-shirt and visibly dishevelled, shared his story in the videos shared by Sharath Yuvaraj on Instagram. According to the techie, the loss of his parents and girlfriend pushed him into alcohol dependency, which spiralled out of control, leaving him homeless and reliant on begging for survival.
When Sharath asks the man, "What is your qualification?" He replies, "I am an engineer. I was working at Mindtree in Global Village. When I lost my parents I started boozing, sir."
In the video, he spoke passionately about topics like meditation, philosophy, and science, even referencing Albert Einstein and David Hume.
Sharath shared three videos of his encounter with the man.
Sharath initially encountered the man on JSS College Road in Jayanagar 8th Block, though others reported seeing him drunk in Jayanagar 4th Block days earlier. Despite Sharath’s attempts to offer assistance, the man reportedly refused any help.
In subsequent posts, Sharath revealed that he had reached out to NGOs, but a doctor involved in the case stated that intervention could only happen with police involvement.
In the final part, reflecting on his life, the man said, “Religion, caste, all those things...look at what I’ve become. I need to read more.”
In a story on Instagram, Sharath said, “We are searching for the person every day in Jayanagar's surroundings, and we aren't able to find him. We will meet the Bengaluru city commissioner and Jayanagar police on Monday and seek their help to trace this person. Let's hope the best tracing him is our first task.”
The series of videos has triggered a widespread conversation online, with users expressing sadness in the comments section of the posts.
The story has not only drawn attention to the techie’s tragic fall but also sparked a discussion about addiction, mental health, and the fragility of professional success.
Ref: Once a techie in Frankfurt, now begging in Bengaluru: Man shares story in viral videos (indiatoday) Photo Credit-Instagram
