The inspiring story of Harkhchand Sawla, who has dedicated 27 years to providing free food and support to cancer patients and their families outside Tata Cancer Hospital in Mumbai.
The Man at Tata Hospital
Imagine a 30-year-old man standing on the footpath in the Parel area of Mumbai, in front of the renowned Tata Cancer Hospital. He constantly watches the fear on the faces of terminally ill patients and the desperate helplessness of their relatives.
Most of these patients are poor people from distant villages. They don’t know who to turn to or what to do. They often lack the money not only for medicine and water but even for basic food. This young man often returned home with a heavy heart.
One thought kept recurring in his mind: “Something has to be done for these people!”
Day and night, he pondered this, and finally, he found a solution.
He rented out his well-established hotel and used the money to start his selfless mission, providing free food in front of the Tata Hospital at Kobdaji Chawal. Little did he know that this mission would continue uninterrupted for the next 27 years.
A Mission of Mercy
His initiative to provide free food to cancer patients and their families was embraced by many. Initially, he served 50-60 people, but this number steadily grew to 100, 200, 300, and eventually, countless others joined him in his efforts.
Year after year, his work continued tirelessly. Neither the cold, nor the heat, nor Mumbai’s torrential rains could stop his mission. Gradually, the number of people receiving free food every day exceeded 700.
But Harkhchand Sawla did not stop there. He also began providing free medicine to needy patients.
To facilitate this, he established a medicine bank, where three pharmacists, three doctors, and many social workers contribute their services.
He even started a “toy bank” for children with cancer. Today, the “Jeevan Jyot” Trust, founded by him, is involved in more than 60 social welfare activities.
At 57 years old, Harkhchand Sawla continues his selfless service with the same unwavering dedication.
A True God Among Us
We, in our country, consider Sachin Tendulkar, who played cricket for 24 years, as a God, but how many people in Mumbai know Harkhchand Sawla, who has selflessly provided free food to 1-1.2 million cancer patients and their families over 27 years?
This is because he receives no media attention. This is the reality of our country’s media.
Millions of devotees who search for God in Pandharpur’s Vithoba, Prabhadevi’s Siddhivinayak, Shirdi’s Sai Baba, Tirupati’s Balaji, or other temples often fail to recognize the true God among us.
God exists all around us in the form of these incarnations, but we fail to recognize them. For the past 27 years, millions of cancer patients and their families have found God in the form of Harkhchand Sawla!
Just as you forward poems, jokes, and news, please share this message with everyone. If you believe that such a great person deserves recognition, that he should be famous for his work, then please share this post widely so that we can pay proper tribute to this God-like individual.
