Indore scribe keeps date with b’days of over 8,000 people to spread happiness

It was February 15, 1991, and Hemant Sharma of Indore had turned 15 that day. To the youngster’s dismay, no one wished him. It hurt him so much that he turned his hurt into a passion of collecting people’s birth dates.

It was February 15, 1991, and Hemant Sharma of Indore had turned 15 that day. To the youngster’s dismay, no one wished him. It hurt him so much that he turned his hurt into a passion of collecting people’s birth dates.

Hemant Sharma not only greets people on the birthdays but also posts messages on social media platforms. (Arun Mondhe/HT)

Sharma not only greets people on the birthdays but also posts it on social media platforms.

“I do not want anyone to remain unloved on their birthday so I also publicize it so that they get the maximum number greetings,” he says.

“Everyone feels happy when greeted. It is my hobby and passion now. People love me as thousands of people in touch with new people, ” says Sharma, who works as a journalist in Indore.

Over the years, he has build a record of birthdays of more than 8,000 people, including politicians, police and administrative officials, professions, social activists and other influential people in the state.

He posts details of each person on his Facebook page, Twitter handle and WhatsApp.

Sharma has been conveying birthday messages for the last 22 years. When there were no mobile phones he used to visit people in their houses to wishes them on their birthdays.

With the advent of technology, things are a bit easier thanks to the reach of social media, he says. “I still go to people’s houses to greet them on their birthday, especially close family members and friends.”

There are many who thank Sharma for what he has been doing for so long.

“I call him sanchar purush,” says Raja Sharma, a fellow journalist and a friend.

“Many people move out of the city or state, but we all reconnect on the person’s birthday. It is rejuvenating,” he says.

Additional superintendent of police (east) Rakesh Singh says he feels great every year when he gets thousands of messages from residents of Indore and across the state. “ My mobile is flooded with messages and I feel excited. This is all because of Hemant Sharma,” he says.

A senior police officer posted in Indore, however, says that Sharma’s initiative is good but sometime it infringes on the personal space of a person.

“ You don’t want many people to know about your birthday as you want to celebrate it quietly but after your number goes viral on Facebook and WhatsApp, people call you up throughout the day, which is irritating,”

he says.