'Little Shiv' collecting funds to become doctor

Varanasi, June 4 (UNI) Wielding a trident and 'damroo', a kid painted in blue and sporting a plastic snake on his neck -- perched on an artificial bull akin to Lord Shiv, is drawing crowds on the majestic riverfront in this city considered to be His abode.

Lord Shiv, also known as 'Neelkanth,' consumed poison for public welfare, this nine-year-old is dabbling in the religious impersonation of the revered deity to raise funds for actualising his dream of becoming a doctor.

A class II student from Sangli (Maharashtra), Shankar is the son of landless labourers Shanta and Damu, presently in Varanasi, to earn a livelihood.

''He aspires to be a doctor, but we cannot afford it. He has thereby embarked on a mission of raising funds to realise his dream,'' said Shankar's parents.

''He is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiv and this is why he has started the fund raising exercise from Varanasi, the 'Shiv City'. We will later travel to other religious hotspots for financing the actualisation of our son's dream,'' they added.

Perched on the white bull just like Lord Shiv is on his mount 'Nandi,' Shankar is the darling of the crowd, including the daily visitors to the bustling riverfront and the foreign tourists, who are not missing any opportunity to take back the keepsake photographs of the 'Little Shiv.' A chat with the 'boy' is even more interesting. While he regrets leaving his Parvati on the Mount Kailash, he is equally assured his son Ganesh will take care of his mother. ''Mera Beta Ganesh Parvati ki raksha karega,'' he joked when questioned by the street children about his mythological family.

As countless devotees throng the holy city to offer prayers at the Shiv temples, this small Shiv hardly misses an opportunity to watch films of Aishwarya Rai and visualise the willow mastery of his favourite cricket star Sachin Tendulkar.

''Woh (Sachin) humare desh ka gaurav hai aur ye chota Shiva uska chela hai Bahut Achcha hota agar Sachin aur Aiswarya shadi kar lete,'' quips Shankar reiterating his vow to become a doctor one day for alleviating the sufferings of the masses.

UNI