NEW DELHI, June 1: The British prime minister Boris Johnson has honoured Prabhu Natarajan, a native of Kerala, with the UK Points of Light Award for his Covid relief efforts last year. During the pandemic-induced lockdown in the UK, Natarajan and his son delivered food to hundreds of people in need while dressed as superheroes, Santa Claus and, most recently, as the Easter bunny.
In March 2020, Prabhu Natarajan, along with his wife and son, had moved to the United Kingdom just when the novel coronavirus pandemic was sweeping the world. And soon after he moved, the UK, like many other countries around the world, went into lockdown, affecting his job prospects as well. However, the same lockdown has brought him glory and acknowledgement for his efforts from none other than the British Prime Minister himself.
The 34-year-old, soon after he arrived in Banbury, dedicated himself to supporting the community in response to the pandemic. According to the UK PM Office, Natarajan delivered over 11,000 chocolates, treats and other food items to hundreds of families across the town. That’s not all. He also established a food bank collecting and delivering food parcels to the people in need. And for these efforts, especially at a time as challenging as the pandemic, the British government has honoured Natarajan with the UK Points of Light Award.
Natarajan lost his father, 11 family members and nine best friends to Covid in the last 22 days in India, he said. He dedicated the award to the people he had lost to the infection. “If you want to live a happy life, take care of people around you,” Natarajan said, adding “a smile and an act of kindness wins everything.”
He thanked PM Johnson and others who thought he deserved that award. “It’s not an individual effort. I have got immense support from my wife Shilpa Balachandran, my son Addhu (Advaith Prabhu) and the amazing people of the whole of Banbury,” Natarajan said, adding “With their amazing support only was I able to do everything.”
Johnson, in a personal letter, addressed to Natarajan thanked him for all he had done in the last year to bring moments of happiness to the families of his town.
“You have single-handedly delivered over 11,000 treats to people across the town, which is a staggering achievement. You have delighted local children by doing your deliveries in a superhero costume, but the true hero is you!”
Banbury MP Victoria Prentis, who also recognised Prabhu as an Unsung Hero in North Oxfordshire in December 2020, said he was a true unsung hero and a credit to the Banbury community. “His selflessness and generosity have given residents a real boost during such a difficult year. He is very deserving of this Point of Light Award. I look forward to meeting him in the coming weeks to thank him personally for his efforts,” Mrs Prentis said.
(Manas Dasgupta)