JOIN USA helping hand for destitutes in Madurai
Had he willed, he could have made a career abroad with job offer in hand. A visit to his native Madurai, from Bangalore where he was working made him what he is today. He is now the feeding hand for destitutes in the temple town of Tamil Nadu.
Interacting with media here on Thursday under the auspices of Mysore District Journalists Association (MDJA) Narayanan Krishnan, now in his 30’s, recalled how he built Akshaya Helping in HELP Trust. Having a B Sc in hotel management, Naryanan was employed with a hotel in Bangalore. He also had an offer from Switzerland, for a five year contract.
Said Narayanan- he was 19, when he came across a destitute and mentally challenged, on his visit to his home town. He offered him food and the latter gorged it in no time. The very incident triggered an urge in Narayanan to work for the cause of such people.
As said by Narayanan, it wasn’t an easy task to take the plunge. The reason being, he hailed from Brahmin community. It was his mother’s inspiring words that fuelled enough confidence in him, and he spread his wings. When he decided to create hygienic look of destitutes, he appealed to the barbers for help. When it didn’t materialise, he himself learnt the nuances of hair cut and also shave by taking a training at a barber shop for six months. He also began to give a decent burial to orphaned bodies. When a stiff opposition came from the community he belonged to, he decided to remove the sacred thread. He proclaimed himself as a free man then and even now. “The situation was such that, his relatives were unwilling to invite him even for family get togethers for the reason that he may be corrupt influence on others,” Narayanan said without any hedge.
From 30 destitutes in 2002 to 425 now, being served with three meals a day, the trust is growing by leaps and bounds. The trust garnered international attention when it was adjudged for CNN Top 10 Heroes Award- 2010.
In recognition of his yeoman services, Narayanan was honoured by Rotary Mysore Midtown on Wednesday, the reason why he came down to Mysore.
Narayanan said the activities of the trust are managed only through donations from philanthropists and a very few corporate companies. The trust now is constructing a home for destitutes.
President of MDJA C K Mahendra, general secretary K Deepak, secretary Subramanya and others were present.