Chennai’s Young Heroes: One Sacrifices Life, One Paints to Help

19-year-old Imran sacrificed his life for Chennai flood victims, while 12-year-old Pranav generating funds for them.

A flood-affected man waves to a coastguard chopper in Chennai. (Photo: AP)

On December 1, as the rains ravaged through Chennai, 19-year-old J Imran rose to the occasion and decided he will get out on the streets to help people. Son of a mineral water supplier, the Class 12 student was known to be socially responsible and help his father in the business after school. As soon as he got the opportunity to step out, he went to nearby Kargil Nagar and supplied food and water to the needy for three days.

By the morning of December 11, Imran was dead. After tirelessly working for three days, Imran caught high fever on the night of December 4. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was given an injection. When he fell unconscious, he was taken to Stanley Hospital, on Saturday morning he breathed his last.

The doctors at the Stanley Hospital told us that the reason for his death was either a reptile or insect biting his leg. He did not complain about any pain or infection. His death came as a shock to us. He was a very happy boy and was very respectful to all of us. Everyone just has good things to say about him.

<b>Abdul Razak, Imran’s Uncle</b>

J Imran’s father Zafar is proud of his son.

S Pranav (Left) and J Imran (Photo: TNM)

If one son did his parents proud by risking his life for helping people, another young Chennai lad, 12-year-old S Pranav is using his talent in art to help people.

Pranav started scribbling on walls when he was five-years-old. “We never stopped him from scribbling on the walls. Slowly, he began drawing and painting, said Dr Senthil Kumaran, Pranav’s father.

Last week, Pranav told his father that he wants to sell his artwork and contribute money towards flood relief. He immediately supported his son and encouraged him to go ahead with the idea.

A woman reacts after seeing the body of her son. (Photo: AP)

For the past two weeks, the school was closed so I started working on my paintings on the Chennai floods and the people affected by the floods. I also made paintings on popular landmarks which were badly flooded.

S Pranav, 12-year-old Painter

His art collection was titled “Art from the Heart” and about 45 paintings were exhibited at Crowne Plaza in Adyar on Sunday. “All the money that we got through the sale of the paintings will be given to ‘The Chennai Rising Initiative’ of The Hindu,” said Dr Senthil.