In April 2022, Kolkata traffic sergeant Prakash Ghosh drew public appreciation after a photograph showed him helping an eight-year-old boy with his studies while on duty near Ballygunge Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in south Kolkata. According to Kolkata Police, Ghosh learnt from the child’s mother, who worked at a nearby food stall, that the family was homeless and the boy was struggling academically.
After discovering that the mother had been unable to secure her son’s admission to a government school despite her efforts, Ghosh took it upon himself to support the Class 3 student. The photograph, taken by a local journalist and later shared by Kolkata Police on Facebook, prompted praise from social media users. The incident highlighted the role of empathy
A Policeman Who Went Beyond His Duties
Traffic policing requires officers to manage busy roads, regulate vehicles and maintain public safety, often while standing outdoors for extended periods. However, Sergeant Prakash Ghosh, who was frequently deployed near Ballygunge ITI in south Kolkata, found another way to make a difference while carrying out his responsibilities. According to a post shared by Kolkata Police, Ghosh began speaking to the mother of an eight-year-old boy who lived in difficult circumstances.
The woman worked at a nearby food stall and told the officer that the family was homeless and that her son was not doing well in his studies. She had tried to enrol him in a government school, but her efforts had not succeeded. Learning about the child’s difficulties, Ghosh decided to help him with his education. A photograph taken by a local journalist captured the officer standing beside the boy as he worked in a notebook beneath a tree. The child was seated on a plastic sheet, with his school bag and pencil box beside him, while Ghosh kept watch nearby.
The image offered a glimpse of an informal learning arrangement in an ordinary public space, where the officer’s concern for the child’s progress extended beyond his regular duties. Rather than treating the family’s circumstances as someone else’s responsibility, Ghosh chose to offer practical support.
A Photograph That Struck a Chord
The photograph was subsequently shared on the official Facebook page of Kolkata Police, bringing attention to Ghosh’s gesture. The image showed a simple but meaningful interaction between a uniformed public servant and a child trying to keep up with his studies despite difficult living conditions. The officer’s presence provided the boy with someone who could encourage him and supervise his learning.
The response on social media reflected the appreciation many people felt for the gesture. One user commented, “Great job,” while another described Ghosh as an “Exceptional, good Cop, but above all good human being.”
These reactions highlighted how acts of compassion by people in public service can resonate with communities. The incident also drew attention to the challenges children may face when homelessness and financial insecurity disrupt access to education. For a family without stable housing, ensuring that a child has a secure place to live, study and attend school can be particularly difficult.
The article published by NDTV on 14 April 2022 did not establish that the boy subsequently secured admission to a government school, so no such outcome can be confirmed from the available account. What it documented was Ghosh’s decision to help the child study while continuing to perform his traffic duties. His intervention demonstrated how support from an individual can provide encouragement in circumstances where a family is struggling to meet a child’s educational needs.
A Wider Example of Compassion in Public Service
Ghosh’s gesture was not the only reported example of a Kolkata traffic officer helping children facing educational barriers. In September 2021, traffic officer-in-charge Prasenjit Chatterjee had helped children living in a slum who could not afford smartphones or access the online classes introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The pandemic exposed significant inequalities in access to education, particularly among children from economically disadvantaged families who lacked digital devices, reliable internet connections or suitable places to study. These circumstances showed how barriers to learning can extend beyond a child’s willingness or ability to study. In Ghosh’s case, the family’s homelessness and the unsuccessful attempt to secure government school admission formed the immediate context for his intervention.
The two incidents illustrate how public servants can recognise needs within the communities they serve and respond with practical assistance. At the same time, individual acts of kindness cannot replace the responsibility of public institutions to ensure that every child can access education. Children experiencing homelessness need sustained support, including access to schools, learning materials, safe living conditions and the social services required to help them continue their education.
Ghosh’s actions are best understood as a meaningful example of personal initiative, rather than evidence that the wider challenges facing vulnerable children have been resolved.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that empathy becomes meaningful when it translates into action. Sergeant Prakash Ghosh’s gesture reminds us that public service is not limited to enforcing rules or carrying out official responsibilities; it can also involve recognising another person’s difficulties and offering support with dignity. His decision to help a child who was struggling with his studies reflects the values of kindness, inclusion and shared responsibility that strengthen communities.
However, the story also raises an important question about the support available to children whose families face homelessness and financial hardship. No child should have to struggle for access to education because of their family’s circumstances, and no parent should have to navigate these barriers alone.
While individuals can make a difference, governments, schools and communities must work together to ensure that vulnerable children receive sustained educational support and opportunities to build a better future. Acts of compassion deserve recognition, but they should also inspire collective efforts towards lasting change.
What can communities, public servants and local authorities do to ensure that children facing homelessness and poverty receive the education and support they deserve?
Also Read: How Kushal Raj Chakravorty Left Corporate Career To Educate 10,000 Children
