Sundarbans (West Bengal), Dec 8(ANI): French author, Indophile and philanthropist Dominique Lapierre has kept up his humanitarian tryst with India and in recognition to his mission, the residents of Bhangur in Sundarbans felicitated him during his annual visit to their village on Tuesday. For the people of West Bengal, the celebrated French novelist is a messiah whose novel ‘City of Joy’ depicting the saga of a western priest who rediscovers his faith in Kolkata’s wretched slums went on to become a best seller.

Lapierre was on his annual visit to the Southern Health Improvement Samiti (SHIS), a self-help group, where a grand felicitation programme was hosted in his honour.

He expressed his concern over the degrading situation in the Sundarbans, which has been facing the wrath of climate change and has become the most threatened place.

“I am trying to write a book on the Sundarbans, to tell the world that this is a very beautiful place. But due to the change in climatic conditions it has become the most threatened place, which needs peoples’ concern,” Lapierre said.

Thousands of poor villagers and patients of the SHIS turned up to greet him.

Haripada Mondal, a villager who came to see Lapierre, said that he has been of a great source of inspiration and help to the people of Sundarbans.

“I have come to see Dominique Lapierre. I had Tuberculosis, he helped us by donating funds to the SHIS. I have been coming to SHIS since 1980. I come here to meet Dominique every year. He has also participated in the programme that we have organized today,” Mondal said.

Lapierre visits the SHIS every year to take note of the review of the health care services. (ANI)