Sometimes, it’s only when a chapter ends or a relationship comes to a close that we realise the quietest, most unassuming people in our lives often hold the biggest place in our hearts.That’s exactly what happened when a video from Bengaluru’s Bishop Cotton School went viral, where a peon rang the school bell for the very last time after many years on the job on his retirement, and the entire school was in tears.
‘Das uncle ’ rings school bell for the last time after 38 years
At Bishop Cotton School in Bengaluru, a beloved staff member known affectionately as “Das uncle” rang the school bell for the final time after nearly four decades of service. The heartfelt farewell was shot in a video shared on Instagram by user @amikutty_, showing students and teachers gathering to celebrate his last day on duty, where Das Uncle can be seen visibly emotional as students count the bell’s rings, clap, and cheer him on for one final time.The video went viral on social media and had crossed 19 million views and 1.2 million likes within days of being posted.The caption on the original post read, “After 38 years, Das uncle rang his last bell, the man who marked every morning, every memory at Cottons. His smile, his quiet dedication, his presence, all part of the school’s heartbeat. Today, as he rang his last bell, we celebrate him, Das Uncle, who made time itself feel familiar.”Perhaps the most moving reaction came from Das Uncle’s own son, who commented on the post, writing, “For decades, he has been the heartbeat of this school, the trusted hand that kept the rhythm of learning steady.” He went on to add a line that was especially moving, “Every bell he rang was a promise kept, a signal that time would pass safely, that change was coming on schedule, and that someone responsible was always watching over us.“
Social media gets teary-eyed
The comments section quickly filled up with people recalling their own school’s unsung staff members. One user wrote: “Just realised, thousands of Das uncle’s rang their last bells across India, unseen, uncared for, unsung!! Congratulations, you are definitely lucky.” Another commenter reflected on his personal memories with Das uncle, “The number of times I have troubled him to ring the bell! He was always so kind to me, never said a word.“