An oasis of compassion in the heart of Hyderabad

At the stroke of one every afternoon, many people gather near the compound of Manik Prem Bangla near RTC Cross Roads for a free meal.

The poor, autorickshaw drivers, migrant labourers and travellers, who need to finish their work in the state capital and still have sufficient time to return home in a nearby district, stand in the queue like disciplined schoolchildren. They know they are going to enjoy a real good meal free of charge.

“My sons have abandoned me on the road after taking all my property. Everyday I have my lunch here and wait for the next day. I sleep in the backyard of Yusufeen Darga,” 70-year-old Ali says. Ali holds the paper plate and the disposable glass with utmost care because he knows that his next meal will be coming only after 24 hours.

“A plate meal costs a minimum of Rs 50 in twin cities and here at the Prem Bangla we get tasty daal, two curries, an occasional banana, butter milk. Sometimes, papad and even snacks are also served. Besides serving cold water, poor are treated with dignity, unlike places where there is poor feeding to commemorate the anniversaries of  political leaders,” says Sudhakar, an intermediate student, who enjoys a good meal occasionally.
Manik bangla supplies water from a cooler.

Decades of Seva

Parents of Manik Aggarwal and Prema­latha migrated to Hyderabad decades ago. They were born here and are members of the Hare Krishna temple located on the Abids-Nampally road. “We have three sons and two daughters. They are all well-settled. We were pained to see many poor people sleeping on the footpath outside our building and wanted to do something for them,” Manik said, recalling the initial days of poor feeding.

The couple with the help of children and a few relatives started feeding around 50 poor people and the number slowly rose to 150. “Then we started feeding all those who stood in the queue by bringing in more food from home,” Manik’s son Prabhu Dayal said. To cater to more needy, they display boards at Baghlingampalli, RTC Cross Roads, Vidyanagar, Nallakunta and temples in the vicinity one hour before distribution of food.

“All the family members get involved in the poor feeding. I have never seen any one shouting at the poor even if they jump the queue,” Jahangir, Manik family’s
driver, who plays an important role in setting up the tables and fills in cold water in jugs to be served to the people.

However, down the line, drug peddlers, addicts and a few anti-social elements started gathering in front of the Bangla and were disturbing the peace. “I could smell ganja and tried to convince them not to take drugs. The problem is I can’t shout at them as my boss restrains me from to doing so,” Jahangir said.

Bhojanamitra

With the number of poor waiting free food swelling to 200, the Manik family tied up with the Bhojanamitra progra­mme run by ISKON, the Andhra Pradesh Government and Megha Engineering Limited, a private  firm, in May this year. Now the food comes in neatly packed and sealed utensils in specially designed vehicles. “The Bhojanamitra programme is aimed at feeding poor at major hospitals in the city.  We have tagged ourselves with them as the food is cooked in hygienic conditions and more over the vehicle
carrying food arrives here in time,” Manik Aggarwal said.

The vehicle after offloading food also visits few hospitals where more hungry people wait for a sumptuous meal. The Hare Krishna Movement has recently launched the same programme at government hospital in Visakhapatnam and Basavatarakam Indo - American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad. The state government is planning to extend the progra­mme at Osmania, Gandhi and other hospitals in twin cities soon. The progra­mme will also be extended to other major hospitals in the state.

The free mid-day meal scheme has come as a boon for attendants of poor patients coming from rural areas. The food comprises rice, curry, sambar and buttermilk.

Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa, president of Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad, says that the attendants of the patients benefit from the midday meal scheme.

“I have noticed attendants sitting on the lawns outside the Indo - American Cancer Hospital. A few individuals carry food and distribute among the poor but it is not
sufficient, hence we have included hospitals in our programme,” he added.

Free loaders

Manik reasons out that hunger does not differentiate between rich and poor, good or bad. The Manik family wishes to continue the distribution programme that they have begun, even though the cooking part is now restricted to central base kitchen, where the food is cooked for all the centres.

The Manik family is also urging the state government to extend the midday meal programme to intermediate students in rural areas.

“The village students have to travel at least one hour to reach their colleges. I am sure that their parents will not be providing them breakfast so early in the morning. How can they concentrate on studies with an empty stomach and we are sure that we will impress upon the government to extend the programme,” a confident Manik said.