Rail Rattan–Rakesh Sharma: A Global Symbol of Compassion in Indian Railways

A name that redefines service, trust, and human dignity in Indian Railways

In Indian Railways, where thousands serve passengers daily, a few rise above duty to define what true service really means. Shri Rakesh Sharma, Station Manager at New Delhi Railway Station, is one such personality whose commitment, empathy, and dedication have earned him not just accolades, but the love and gratitude of countless passengers, both domestic and foreign.

Where most unclaimed belongings end up forgotten as ‘Lost Property’, Shri Sharma has turned this into a sacred mission of service. Personally tracing and returning belongings with documentation and integrity he has created a world-class example of railway humanitarian service.

An International Benchmark in Public Service

So far, 1,686 passengers have had their lost belongings returned by Shri Rakesh Sharma, including 40 foreign nationals from 18 countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Argentina, South Korea, Ukraine, Kenya, UAE, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, and more.
This record speaks not only of efficiency, but of humanity beyond borders.
Items Recovered & Returned:
Laptops, iPhones, trolleys, smartwatches, wallets, tablets, earbuds, gold and diamond jewellery along with a total of ₹22.17 lakh in cash and foreign currency.

Foreign Currency Highlights:

US Dollars: 2,106
Chinese RMB: 2,200
Chilean Pesos: 1,600
Saudi Riyal: 1

Year-wise Service Record

Year Items Returned
2016 2
2017 25
2018 19
2019 75
2020 88
2021 129
2022 291
2023 390
2024 476
2025 196 (so far)

Awards & Honours

• Rakesh Sharma has been honored by many respected institutions and dignitaries for his extraordinary service:
• Special Jury Award – 2022 (EXIM)
• Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar – 2023, by Hon’ble Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw
• VIP Guest Outstanding Service Honour – 2023 (Riddhi Parivar Foundation & Sur Jhankar Cultural Society)
• Samaj Ratan Award – 2024 (KKMC)
• Prerna Deep Samman – 2025 (By NBT & Lt. Governor of Delhi)
• “Aaj Ka Sitara” – NDTV (With ₹1 lakh cash award)
• Titled “Railway Messiah & Crisis Hero” – NDTV Special Feature
• Appreciated by GM, AGM, COM, DRM, Member Traffic/Staff, and Hon’ble MoS Railways
• State-wise Distribution of Returned Items
• Delhi – 313, Uttar Pradesh – 287, Punjab – 237, Haryana – 161, Bihar – 87
• Maharashtra – 63, West Bengal – 56, Rajasthan – 45, Jharkhand – 39
• And passengers from other states like Himachal Pradesh, MP, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, Assam, Telangana, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Ladakh, etc.

Return of Precious Jewellery

Gold Chains – 2
Diamond Rings – 4
Mangalsutras – 2
Silver Anklets – 2
Other Rare & Valuable Items – 10+

Dedication Before the Digital Era

Even before the era of printed mobile numbers on tickets, Shri Sharma used to personally purchase tickets and help passengers reach their destinations — a service driven not by policy, but by human values and compassion.

Pride of Indian Railways, Inspiration for the Nation

Despite being on medical leave, Shri Rakesh Sharma continues to actively assist passengers from home proving that for him, service is not a duty, but a way of life.

His conduct doesn’t just inspire the department it serves as a living lesson for the next generation. Indian Railways is proud to call him its soul, its symbol, and its “Rail Rattan.”