How many times does a person’s sorrow and hopelessness inspire you to do something great so that not just the person but many other could benefit from it? Not often times? We all look at people’s sadness and sorrows differently. But thank god, this man in his thirties did not stop from what he decided to do 27 years ago. This inspirational man named, Harakhchand Sawla used to stand on the footpath opposite Tata Cancer Hospital, Mumbai and used to think about what could be done for the fearful people who had nowhere to go and no money to buy food or pay for the medicines.
“‘Something should be done for these people’, he would think.” wrote Rekha John who introduced us to Mr. Harakhchand Sawla through her Facebook post.
He rented out hotel to raise money and started a charitable trust right opposite the hospital on the pavement next to Kondaji Building. He would distribute food to the needy people in the hospital. From 50 the number of people rose to 200 and then 700. Food was provided to all the people in all the seasons and in all sorts of circumstances, even Mumbai rains could not stop him.
The saviour of the needy did not stop here. He opened a medicine bank to provide three medicines, had three voluntary doctors and pharmacists along with him and an opened a toy bank too for the kids in the hospital.
The ‘Jeevan Jyot’ trust founded by Mr. Sawla has more than 60 humanitarian projects running, currently. Mr. Harakhchand Sawla is now 57 years old and works with the same vigour. His trust feeds free lunch to 10 to 12 lac cancer patients and their relatives.
People seek god in cricketers and in famous temples. What we don’t know is god is often found at the most unexpected place and under unexpected circumstances. Can India be a more intelligent country to decide who needs to be made famous and popular for the great deeds that one does and not label a fake self-proclaimed god as god?
You can read the original Facebook post here.