On Saturday, Alok Singh, 32, a professor at NM College in Vile Parle, had planned a dinner with his wife on her birthday. he left university shortly after working hours, Tell your colleagues that you were going out to dinner. His colleague Sudhir Trivedi, who lives in Nalasopara, accompanied him as they normally traveled together.
“But even before he could prepare to go out for the night, the family received a phone call informing them of Alok’s death, turning the day of celebration into one of mourning”said Lalita Singh, a neighbor of Singh’s family.
Singh was stabbed to death while traveling on a Borivali-bound train on Saturday night, allegedly by a passenger after an argument over getting down at Malad station.
Singh, a resident of Kurar Village in Malad (east), had been working at NM College for the last two years. He had lived in Malad since childhood with his uncle Sunil Kumar Singh, a retired BMC school teacher.
Singh entered the teaching profession seven or eight years ago, starting his career at an international school in Andheri.
While teaching, Singh completed his BEd and passed the state government’s Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Before joining NM College, he worked as a teacher at a Malad-based college, teaching mathematics to students of classes 11 and 12. Last year, he was appointed as a permanent professor at NM College.
“He was selected in two colleges as a permanent professor in Thane and Vile Parle, but he preferred to work in NM College in Vile Parle and accepted the offer,” said a relative of Singh.
Singh’s father, Anil Kumar Singh, is part of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s security team and was in Delhi for preparations for the Republic Day parade when he was informed of his son’s death. Singh had gotten married two years ago and his wife is studying BEd.
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“All members of this family are well educated, most of them in the teaching profession, whether here in Mumbai or UP. It is impossible to believe that any of them could be involved in an altercation that could lead to a fatal attack,” said a family member.
The entire Pratap Nagar Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) building in Kurar Village mourned the untimely demise of Alok Singh, known in the community as a kind-natured person, a dutiful son and a loving husband.
On Sunday afternoon, as Singh’s body was brought to the facility, residents of the nearly 20-story building gathered in silence, some standing with the family in the quadrangle, others watching from their windows.
His sudden death under shocking circumstances left the neighborhood in disbelief.
Sadhna Singh, a resident of the building, said: “We often used him as an example to our children on how to behave. He was always very respectful of others. I cannot understand how someone so soft-spoken could be fatally attacked in an altercation on a local train.”
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She added,
“After his marriage, he had set another benchmark for how to be a loving and respectful husband.”
His wife, Pooja Singh, 28, an aspiring teacher, was insolvent and repeatedly asked her relatives how she would get on with her life. It had only been two years since the couple got married.
“Pooja was from our native in UP. While preparing for B.Ed., Pooja was also taking online classes,” Sadhna added.
Neighbors remember how Singh had celebrated his wife’s birthday at midnight on Friday with a cake and the neighborhood children.
“Sunil Kumar’s daughter is also a school teacher. While some other cousins are teachers in Mumbai or UP. The family laid a lot of emphasis on the education of children, irrespective of gender,” said a relative who traveled from Lucknow.
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Kapil Patil, former MLC from Mumbai Teachers’ Constituency, who visited the family, said the tragedy reflected the growing stress among commuters.
Kripashankar Singh, former Minister of State for Home Affairs, said: “Mumbai has witnessed gang wars and other related problems. But the general public was never in danger, especially in local trains. A person who resorts to such an attack has to be abnormal in some sense.”
Almost the entire staff of NM College, including principal Dr Parag Aajgonkar, visited Singh’s residence to pay their respects.
“It is incredible and very sad to know that a person of such a gentle nature died like this. Forget about answering to anyone, he would never raise his voice in the classroom,” said one of the teachers.