Tribute to Sir Frank Peters

Sir Frank Peters

Sir Frank Peters is not only soliciting help for children in homes, schools and madrassahs through his noble and ongoing anti corporal punishment campaign, but he’s now spearheading another equally honorable campaign to feed stay dogs and their puppies.

My father, a freedom fighter and former Headmaster, if he were alive today, would be standing to attention, and saluting him. He held views similar to those of Sir Frank and he, too, could not tolerate any mistreatment of elderly persons, animals, or children. My sisters and I were never victims of corporal punishment and our dogs were always treated humanely and most probably enjoyed better lives than most.

The name Sir Frank Peters is becoming household and undoubtedly is known to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni and most probably in every educational institution throughout Bangladesh now for his incessant persistence in trying to make people aware of the damage that corporal punishment does to children and the long term dastardly affects this has upon them and the nation.

My family and I have been reading his caring and insightful reports for a number of years now and so far agree with all he’s written. It’s always refreshing to read a report that calls a spade a spade, doesn’t pull punches, and doesn’t mind whose toes he threads upon and make their owners squeal, if his ultimate goal is to benefit Bangladesh, as it seemingly is.

There’s been many reports about Sir Frank’s efforts to abolish corporal punishment in all settings and now with his latest efforts that demonstrates his enormous humanity and compassion to feed stray doges, there will be many more.

Many of the beggars in Gulshan now give donors smiles because of him. He’s been a major influence in the Gulshan begging community for a number of years. He’s a very popular figure there. Some beggars he’s known since they were young children and he’s even been invited to their weddings!

Within the Gulshan begging community he’s known as “Bondhu Hashi” (smiling friend). This name was given to him out of respect many years back. When he first arrived in Gulshan, the beggars greeted him with fake tears in their eyes, rubbing their stomachs, and a put-on wailing voice. God love him, he wouldn’t have any of it! – He was no ordinary regular tourist to be played with!

Although he was unable to speak Bangla, he would repeat the words ‘hashi... hashi’ and demonstrate with a smile. Those who gave him a smile in return were rewarded with taka, those who didn’t, received nothing. Soon they learned.

The word spread throughout the begging community and all those who approached him thenceforth, gave him a smile! He gave many of the children chocolate, soap, toothbrushes and other little gifts. If a child were to request something and he promised he would deliver, they were able to pick it up at Color Point photo studios in Gulshan 2.

Apart from giving the beggars cash he frequently took photographs of the mothers with their babies and young children and told them to return the following day to Color Point to pick them up. Remember, this was pre mobile phones time, when very few people owned cameras and certainly not beggars.

Regularly, he provided the mothers with what all mothers would appreciate, a photograph of their loved ones. It became, perhaps, their most valuable possession.

He once said he sometimes rushed out of his home, forgetting to take cash with him. Being confronted by members of the begging fraternity – his fan club – he would indicate he had no money, the beggars would understand, and walk away smiling.

“It was as if they were giving me their smiles on credit. I always paid my debts!” he laughed.

Immediately upon reading his feed a stray dog report I set up a system in my home as he had suggested and I urge all your readers to do the same.

I was ashamed and extremely disappointed I hadn’t thought of this or done this before. No doubt my family and I had put a lot of food into the bin that would have been appreciated by, and would have been nourishment for, stray dogs.

Thank you Sir Frank Peters. I am sure Almighty Allah will justly reward you for pointing out our errors and making us more thoughtful towards the needs of others, both human and animal.

Eng. Ismail Islam

Banani, Dhaka.