"helping the helpless," a short essay written by ed - akshaya trust

Akshaya’sHelping in H.E.L.P. Trust

Helping the Helpless

True happiness consists in making others happy

© 2010 Akshaya’s Helping in H.E.L.P. TrustAll rights reserved.

While I extend a deep and sincere appreciation to those who gave me the support I needed to write Helping the Helpless, I dedicate this essay to you, the reader. By taking the time and effort to read Helping the Helpless, you have shown a concern for and an interest in those that are in need – in need of material and spiritual food, and in need of care and love. I hope Helping the Helpless further encourages you to reach out and follow the example of Krishnan and the Akshaya Trust. You are invited to share in the pleasures of knowing that you have, in your own way, helped someone that was in desperate need.

Ed DiTomas

PrefaceOne of life’s greatest pleasures is never knowing what path we will be taking as the future unfolds before us – and the future is less than a second away.

Several years ago I joined a photography forum on the internet – a forum well rep-resented from around the globe. One day when browsing the many galleries I came upon some very striking images posted by Sandeep Kapur of New Delhi, India. We have never met, we have spoken over the telephone a few times, but we have the good fortune to share a strong friendship.

While surfing the internet earlier this year I read a relatively old news item about a young man in Madurai, India. He had left an established path leading to a career as a haute cuisine chef and followed a compelling sense that an undefined path would lead him to even greater satisfaction in life. The news item showed Krishnan receiving an award for Social Services from the CNN-IBN television program Real Heroes 2008 – one of his many satisfactions resulting from his journey down the undefined path.

In a very short time Sandeep, Krishnan’s volunteers and I were exchanging e-mail messages hoping we could combine our resources to help Krishnan and the Ak-shaya Trust fulfill their mission. As a result Sandeep hastened to Madurai to beat the monsoon season. Upon arrival in Madurai, Sandeep spent two days following and photographing the daily activities of Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers.

With a CD of images from Sandeep and many e-mail messages full of information about Krishnan, Akshaya, the volunteers, Madurai, Indian cuisine and customs, and much more I was well supported in my effort to write Helping the Helpless. I hope you derive the same pleasure in reading about Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers as I have in writing about them.

With so many challenges in our world it is very reassuring to know there are those that will seek a challenge and do something positive about it – like Krishnan and Akshaya’s volunteers.

Ed DiTomasBrewster, NY

September, 2010

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.”

Swami Vivekananda

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“Who are they?” you may ask, if you even think to ask.More than likely they will be ignored, shut out of mind, not noticed because they make us uncomfortable. The closest we might come to helping them is to wonder in the silence of our minds, “Why don’t the authori-ties do something about them?”

They are the homeless, they are the homeless with even less – they are the helpless homeless, helpless due to age, helpless because of mental and physical conditions, helpless because of experiences past and present that are beyond everyday understanding. While there are endless conditions that can affect the human experience very few have the devastating impact of poverty. Researchers report that the impact of poverty on children may be as severe as a stroke. Mahatma Gandhi didn’t need research – he spoke from seeing the plight of India’s poor, “Poverty is the worst form of violence.” Left unattended, those so afflicted face a lifetime of challenges few of us can understand. One could spend a lifetime exploring the causes and issues related to poverty and homelessness, but this is not a narrative on those subjects. It is, however, the telling of the story about one man, an organization and a group of volunteers that are making a difference in the lives of the helpless homeless.

The Seeds of CompassionFew people can see beyond the ramshackle shell surrounding them or sense their thirst for compassion, and meaningfully attend to their needs. One such person is Krishnan. Born into a stable and supportive family in 1981, he suffered none of the dehumanizing experiences he would become so focused on as a young adult. He graduated from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2002 with a degree in Hotel Management and Catering Science, and was well on his way to a successful career as an award-winning chef. A trip home for a family visit before taking the next major step in his career changed his life in a way few of us have been privileged to experience.

The seed for this change in Krishnan’s career was planted earlier in his life. As a college student he would often provide food to the hungry people along the roadsides of Madurai solely out of compassion for those so unfortunate. Krishnan’s sensitivity of the plight of the poor again showed itself when he was visiting his father in the hospital in 2001. During a hospital stay you have the choice of paying for your food or having a family member bring your food to you. Krishnan quickly realized that the poor patients had neither the money to purchase their meals nor a family that could provide the needed food. In a generous and caring fashion Krishnan shared the food he brought to the hospital with those in such obvious need. For Krishnan this was an emotional experience that made a deep impression on him, an impression reflect-ing his concern for the depth of human suffering endured by the poor.

Krishnan was near the central bus stand in Madurai during his 2002 visit home when he experienced a life-changing event – he saw an old man suffering from acute hunger and eating his own waste. Krishnan

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bought some food and offered it to the man who consumed it in a manner that made Krishnan realize the intensity of the hunger pangs the man was suffering. As the old man ate the food being fed to him, he held Krishnan’s hand giving Krishnan the very real sensation of a powerful energy passing from the man to Krishnan. This energy fueled an experience of inner happiness and fulfillment Krishnan had never felt before.

Krishnan returned to the central bus stand the following few days offering food to several deserving people in the area. He then returned to Bangalore to focus on his career. Focusing on his career was not to be – he was distracted and could not con-centrate on his job. An inner voice kept telling him, “This is not

your place – return to Madurai and look after the needy and deserving that are so hungry.” The clarity and determination of the voice could not be ignored – within a week Krishnan quit his job and returned to Madu-rai. He quickly returned to the central bus stand to find the old man he first fed. The eyes of the man were full of gratitude and communicated his strong emotions to Krishnan, “This is the job for you, don’t turn back.”

Answering the CallingKrishnan’s compassion was firmly in place and he was charged with the gift of energy from his exchange with the old man at the central bus stand. It was time to take meaningful action. His first steps along the new path he had chosen for himself consisted of buying food from roadside shops and vendors near the bus stand, railway station and other areas in central Madurai. He initially provided food to approximately twenty-five people that were in obvious and deserving need using this procedure.

Determining whom he could and should help was Krishnan’s initial challenge. There were many that sought help but Krishnan was determined to utilize his limited resources to help those that were truly unable to help themselves. He shunned beggars and those that could help themselves but chose not to do so. He sought the homeless that were mentally challenged, those that had been left on the streets of Madurai to fend for themselves. He wanted to bring help to those that did not seek food but were in dire need for nutritional sustenance. Krishnan was also looking for those in true need that stayed in a single location regardless of the weather or other fac-tors. He felt that these were the people that were in the greatest need and he would be able to best utilize his limited resources to help as many as possible.

Krishnan was painfully aware of the many factors that brought these destitute people to his realm – and it was equally painful to realize that he did not have the resources to serve them all. Since the early days of answering his call, Krishnan has come face to face with many real life victims of poverty and helpless home-lessness – far more than most people would see in several life-times. There were instances where a person’s needs were beyond what Krishnan could provide and he has directed them to other services. Such were the pathetic and destitute souls upon which Krishnan would focus his newly established mission in life.

Ugly ChildVirginia DiTomas

I did not like him reaching out.I thought, “What an ugly child!”Until I touched his small brown hand,Until he shyly smiled.Though he stood on the dirty street,Hungry, ragged and unshod,I looked into this small child’s eyesAnd saw the face of God.

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The Mission and the ChallengesKrishnan set out to increase the number of people he would help. This meant devoting himself entirely to helping those in need. His program of providing reliable regular feeding started in June, 2002 with about 30 destitute people. This ef-fort was demanding on Krishnan’s time and finances but he remained completely focused on his mission. Needless to say such demands caused challenges and stress. His parents, who took this new focus in Krishnan’s life to be a passing phase, were soon stunned when his devotion to his work went on unabated. With emotions at a high peak and nearly out of control Krishnan declared, “If I am not allowed to do my work I am quitting this house!” Krishnan then asked his mother to join him on his daily rounds. At the end of the day his mother assured him that he had her lifetime support as long as he chose to follow his mission of helping the helpless. Krishnan’s parents clearly understood the strength of Krish-nan’s commitment.

Krishnan’s life mission was now well defined in his mind, along with his short-term goals. He was also giving thoughts to long-term goals as each day passed. Other issues occupied his mind as well – while the number of people he was serving was growing so were the effort and costs involved. With daily costs reaching 1,500 Rs ($35 US) adjusted for inflation to 2010, he quickly realized it was more efficient and economi-cal to prepare the food himself rather than rely on outside vendors. Such an effort would take a more formal organiza-tion and support help. This realization resulted in the forma-tion of the Akshaya’s Helping in H.E.L.P Trust in June, 2003.

The Trust’s mission is simple and to the point:

The name of The Trust is not so simple but it carries with it the historic roots of its name and a plan for today and the future. Akshaya is a Sanskrit word meaning undecaying or imperishable. Akshayapatra is derived from Akshaya and

Who to HelpKrishnan’s dilemma in determining whom he could and should help was resolved when he established a clear and easy to follow set of guidelines – the people he would serve could be broadly classified as mentally chal-lenged, elderly, frail or a combination of these conditions.

Mentally Challenged

This is the largest group of beneficiaries and consists of both men and women. Though age is often difficult to determine it gener-ally falls between 30 and 70 years. Common characteristics include:

• Unawareofthesurroundings• Wanderwithinspecifiedlocations• Cannotcomprehend• Normallydonotinteract• Usuallypassive• ComefromdifferentpartsofIndia*

* Madurai is a heavily populated pilgrim center. When a family is not able to care for an individual with mental disabilities they abandon them in busy public places like markets, bus stations or railway stations.In some cases a mentally challenged per-son will stray away from home and get onto a train with no idea as to where it is go-ing. They will usually be removed from the train only to find their way to another train and another unfamiliar place. Such aimless wandering will take many of these helpless people far from their home and any pos-sible family support they may have had.

Elderly

These are people driven from their homes due to poverty, as they can no longer contribute economically, and the family is not able to carry their burden. They are often too weak to care for themselves and are virtually helpless.

Frail

This group includes people who are expelled from the hospitals when there is no one from their family attending to them, and their rate of recovery is slow or, in some cases, nil.

Mission of AkshayaCommitted to the care of the helpless, forsaken, mentally ill, old, sick, roadside destitute living and dying on the streets of Madurai by providing healthy food, love and opportunity to rehabilitate, thereby restoring human dignity.

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050

100150200250300350400450

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

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means inexhaustible vessel. Akshayapatra was a wonderful vessel given to Yudhishthira by the Sun God, Lord Surya, and held a never-failing supply of food for the Pandavas ev-ery day. There is also a reference in Manimekalai, a sequel to the Tamil epic Silapathikaram, to a similar vessel named Amudha Surabi. Manimekalai serves food ceaselessly from Amudha Surabi to the famine-starved people of Madurai in third century AD. Akshaya was chosen as the name for The Trust to signify that human compassion should never decay or perish.

The meaning of H.E.L.P. is simple but requires definition:H - HealthE - EducationL - Lifting of the poorP - Public utilities.

These are the areas in which The Trust is interested in con-tributing to society from a long-term perspective. Each area will be taken up when The Trust is ready and capable of properly meeting the goal.

The Trust grew steadily from its inception, not in overhead or organization, but in the number of people it helped and fed. From the beginning Krishnan established that any funds available to The Trust would be used solely for the benefit of those in need. His philosophy has never changed – it remains intact to this date although it can be readily seen by the adjacent charts that starting in the year 2008 there has been a marked increases in the number of ben-eficiaries and meals served, and an even greater increase in costs due to growing inflation. The feeding cost per day in 2009 was about Rs 12,000 ($260 US). While the projected number of meals served in 2010 will remain unchanged from 2009, the projected feeding cost will rise to Rs 15,000 ($350 US) per day.

Prior to the formation of The Trust, Krishnan was feeding approximately 30 people using prepared food packets pur-chased with his personal savings. In early 2003, as the pro-gram grew, Krishnan started to prepare and serve fresh food thereby holding down costs while the number of beneficia-ries increased. In the early days of its formation Akshaya Trust drew little attention and, as would be expected, little support. Fortunately this changed and soon the work of the One Man Army spread by word of mouth and occasional press coverage. While Krishnan’s One Man Army has grown from the earlier years to include several volunteers and a few paid employees for driving, cleaning cooking utensils and miscellaneous tasks, Krishnan continues to embody and ex-emplify the soul and spirit of Akshaya’s One Man Army.

Beneficiaries

Meals Served

Total Cost (Rs)

Year

400350300250200150100

500

350

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250

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100

50

0

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000

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000

2002

2003

2004

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2007

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2009

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2002

2003

2004

2005

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2007

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2009

2010

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

All 2010 data is estimated to end of year$1.00 US = Rs 47 (September, 2010)

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A Typical DayFrom Krishnan’s meager start in 2002 until Au-gust, 2010 over 1.5 million meals have been served without missing a single meal – every day, three times a day, 365 days a year! That’s over eight years without holidays, vacations, sick days or mornings that are just too overwhelming to go to work today. Every day is a work day for Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers.

Following a typical day for Krishnan and the volunteers can give us a better understanding the effort needed to prepare and deliver almost 1.5 million meals. It starts at 4:30 AM with a quick trip to the rent-ed space used to prepare the food. The food preparation space consists of two rooms, one for material

The MenuThe food prepared by The Trust follows reci-pes that are traditional in Madurai as well as many other parts of India. They include:Idli – a tasty cake usually about 9 cm in di-ameter and made by steaming fluffy dough of fermented rice and lentils. It is a traditional and healthy morning meal, especially in southern India.Pongal – Lentils are dry-roasted and steam cooked with rice. Fat, including cooking oil, and clarified butter are heated. Curry leaves, chopped ginger bits, pepper, cumin seed, and salt are added. The cooked rice lentil mixture is added and thoroughly mixed.Upma – cooked semolina seasoned with green chili, curry leaves and ginger. Vegeta-bles may be added.Oothappam – made with an idli-like dough but instead of steaming it is oil roasted. Veg-etables may be added.Dosai – a crepe made from fermented rice and lentils. A typical south Indian dish served for breakfast or dinner.Biryani – a dish of great variety, often rice cooked with a lot of vegetables.Parotta – a layered flatbread of India cooked in a frying pan using edible oils.Roti – a flatbread often made with wheat flour.Sambar – a sauce prepared with tamarind, lentil, chili powder and fenugreek powder. Vegetables are cooked in the sauce.

A visit to the market and the selection of fresh wholesome food is an important part of

Krishnan’s daily routine.

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storage and preparatory work and one for cooking. The rice and lentils were prepared the previous evening and allowed to ferment overnight in anticipation of preparing idli and accompanying sauces for the morn-ing meal. Alternative fare for the morning meal might be pongal, upma or Oothappam. See The Menu for descriptions of the food prepared by Krishnan and his staff.

The prepared food is then placed in large vats, loaded into the van and the daily journey of 200 km to distrib-ute the food commences. Distribution of the food doesn’t adequately describe the process of bringing food to the deserving helpless – it also encompasses various acts of bringing comfort, restoring dignity and provid-

Many hands are called upon to prepare the food in a careful and tasty manner. Once the food has been prepared it is readied for immediate distribution.

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ing personal services to those who are in desperate need. The personal services consist mostly of haircuts, bathing and health care assistance.

The distribution of the morning meal is completed and a stop at the Central Market is made to purchase the fresh vegetables needed to prepare the day’s meals. “What is available today? How much are the carrots? We need more rice and lentils.” And so the business of the morning goes, buying rice, lentils, semolina, potatoes,

green chilies, ginger, lime, tomatoes, brinjal (egg-plant), onions, carrots, butter, cooking oil, spices and more. The buying of the ingredients and its preparation is carefully supervised by Krishnan to assure only fresh material is used and the food prepared is tasty and nutritious.

While Krishnan and some of the volunteers are distributing the morning meal, others are back at the kitchen preparing the noon meal. While the process is similar to that used to prepare the morning meal, the menu is different. The meals are often rice cooked with vegetables and sauces such as sambar. The vegetables vary, often depending on what is fresh and available from Central Market when the morning purchases are made, and may include carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and brinjal. The morning meal delivery team has re-turned and all hands work to complete the preparation of the noon meal, load it on the van and set out once again to distribute the food.

The preparation and distribution of the evening meal is a repetition of the morning and noon routines. The evening meals are varied to include such fare as idli, parotta, dosai and roti. As with all meals, the food is served with the appropriate accompaniments.

A Long Work DayWhile Krishnan’s efforts in purchasing, preparing and distributing the food would be a very full day’s work for any hard working person, his day is not limited to these efforts alone. Akshaya’s administrative needs must be attended to, as well as the ever-present and often un-anticipated challenges, big and small, that arise in any human endeavor. But Krishnan’s day also includes another effort very significant among his goals for Akshaya – the creation of the Akshaya Home.

Construction of the Akshaya Home is under the direct supervision of Krishnan which is regularly about two hours of his time each day. The creation of the home goes well beyond the construction phase. Project planning, obtaining financial support and developing the relationships that are needed to provide labor and materials for the construction activities are just some of the important activities that he focuses on to bring the Akshaya Home to a reality.

Akshaya HomeThe Akshaya Home is a key element in The Trust’s long-term goals, and is a goal that goes well beyond basic shelter. As soon as Krishnan committed himself to helping the helpless of Madurai he realized his efforts would have to be twofold. First, and Discussing daily construction progress.

“Make it a rule…never to lie down at night with-out being able to say, “I have made one human being at least a little wiser, a little happier or a little better this day.” - Charles Kingsley

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immediately, he would provide care and comfort to the helpless homeless. He would then execute a long-term plan that would provide safety, shelter and an environment for rehabilitation when possible for those in desperate need. Safety was a very important concern, especially for the vulnerable mentally challenged women whose lives could be so easily put in jeopardy by nefarious elements of society. Krishnan’s plan would also provide a place of peace for the abandoned elderly in their last days. Madurai’s many busy streets are the habitat of hundreds of mentally challenged, elderly and frail people making Krishnan’s goal significant and challenging, a challenge he took on with determination.

The Akshaya Home started as a dream, be-came a plan and is now becoming a reality. The start was slow and difficult with very little in the way of funds and many tasks that were unfamiliar to Krishnan. In short, it was a learning experience, a search for support and a driving sense of urgency to make the plan a reality.

A 2.74 acre plot of land was purchased on the outskirts of Madurai, the associated legalities completed, and the time for the Bhoomi Pooja was at hand. Bhoomi Pooja

is a Hindu ceremony to inaugurate the site for a new building. The Hindu culture considers the earth to be a mother; therefore the importance of the ceremony is quite understandable, since the construction of a building directly involves the earth. With the Bhoomi Pooja properly carried out construction began with the implementation of necessary site improvements such as the building of roads and bringing water and power to the site. These activities were completed and the construction of Akshaya Home began.

The plan is not extravagant but it is well thought out and when completed will provide living, healthcare and support facilities for 100 men and 100 women. The home will be made up of separate dormitories for men and women, dining and kitchen facilities, an administrative area and a healthcare facility consisting of a clinic, a doctors’ room, an Acute Care Unit and miscellaneous support spaces. The fulfillment of this plan would provide 24,500 square feet of space devoted to caring for the helpless.

While commendable construction progress has been made, Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers feel the needs of the helpless cry out for an even faster pace and earlier completion of the home. The current estimated construction cost is Rs 350 Lakhs ($752,000 US) with the pace of construction solely related to the receipt of assured financial support. Construction progress as of August, 2010 is shown in the following table:

Block Sq. Ft. Sponsor Work done

I 2500 LIC Golden Jubilee Foundation, Mumbai 90% complete

II 2500 Well wisher, Madurai 85% complete

III 2560 Dr. Malini Chandrasekar, Qatar 40% complete

IV 2560 Well wisher, Singapore 25% complete

V 2560 Well wisher, USA Started

These five blocks of work make up slightly more than 50% (12,820 sq. ft.) of the total 24,500 sq. ft. planned for the home. The total value of work completed, which includes additional support from other donors, is

The Akshaya Home under construction

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The Acute Care Unit – to be fitted with piped oxygen, blood pres-sure and pulse monitors and other patient support as needed and funding allows. It will also have 24 hour medical support. Patient

rooms in this block will have piped oxygen.

A dormitory corridor

Rs 130 Lakhs ($279,000 US). Akshaya is working diligently to find sponsorship for the remaining 11,680 sq. ft. – funds that are needed before construction can start on the remaining blocks. Once the additional fund-ing of approximately Rs 210 Lakhs ($450,000 US) has been assured it will take 12 to 18 months to complete the current plans for the Akshaya Home. While meeting such an important milestone would be more than ample reason for celebration, the task will be far from over. Major and ongoing funding challenges include providing general and medical equipment, staffing, and operating and maintaining the home. Such funding will necessitate long term commitments and assurances so that the Akshaya Home will be a long-lasting landmark for those in need.

The Business of HelpingWhile the acts of helping are not, and should not, be a business, the support for such acts must function as a well-organized business. There is no money to be wasted, support help cannot be squandered and there is never enough time to devote to attaining the sought after goals. Krishnan is very fortunate in having volun-teers that are willing and capable of giving Akshaya the support and organization needed to achieve its goals. The Akshaya volunteers are a very eclectic group varying in age from the early 20’s to the mid-70’s and from backgrounds that are very diverse.

Kamala Iyer is a very positivelady that never lets her visual challenges impede her efforts to help Akshaya. She has an extensive network of contacts with individuals that are in a position to help advance the goals of The Trust. She effectively uses her network to mobilize fund raising activities and garner introductions to potential donors.

An avid supporter that wishes to remain anonymous is a senior business executive with a broad spectrum of experience. This supporter has been tirelessly helping Akshaya since its early days in 2003 in the areas critical in the running of an efficient organization – administration, correspondence and documentation.

Rajamani has been a staunch supporter of The Trust from its beginning. His financial contributions have been very helpful, as have his abilities in mobilizing support and helping in a variety of ways during special occasions.

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Mani is one of the pillars of Akshaya, having joined its effort to help the destitute in 2003. Mani, although young in years, has given Akshaya a level of dedication and commitment that is above expectation. Mani is constantly striving to learn and further develop his capabilities, much to the benefit of Akshaya. He is an indispensable part of Akshaya, a tireless worker and now a trustee of The Trust.

Krishnamurthy is a full-time volunteer with 25 years of in-dustrial working experience. He focuses the knowledge of his experience in the areas of marketing and general administra-tion. He carries out The Trust’s banking needs, meets with do-nors and energetically takes on any ad hoc tasks passed his way.

Seethalakshmi brings her skills to Akshaya via an NGO dedicated to supporting charities. She is most helpful in deal-ing with communications, the media and reaching out to po-tential donors.

Shweta is a postgraduate that brings her knowledge and youthful vigor to Akshaya providing important assistance in general administration.

The proper administration of Akshaya is vitally important if it is to grow, remain organized and efficient, and reach its many goals. Care must be taken when referring to organiza-tion at Akshaya, as it is a word that usually brings to mind a structure with various layers of management and supervi-sion. One may also conjure up visions of frequent meetings, meticulously prepared reports and many other activities that divert time and energy away from the root purpose of the entity. That is not the Akshaya style of organization, which is best stated in the words of an Akshaya volunteer:

“None of us are employees of Akshaya nor do we get any material remuneration. There is no law compelling us to do this work. All of us have chosen this option and are happy about it. We report to no supervisor or manager. We are our own supervisors and managers. All of us are doing the best we can. If we are not able to do something in a time frame, there are good and sufficient reasons. Volunteers are workers not shirkers.”

Granted, Akshaya’s growth, the opening and operation of the Akshaya Home and other unforeseen events may require a more traditional organizational structure in the future but Akshaya’s present situation is well served by the current modus operandi. It is efficient, it works and it is very cost effective.

The Other Side of BusinessHaving a motivated, hard working and self-directed team of volunteers when running any kind of an orga-nization, especially a not-for-profit one, is an invaluable asset. As valuable as that one asset may be it is not sufficient by itself to keep an organization running. Material and financial support are two other indispens-able assets that are needed for current and future operations. Having these assets today means Akshaya can provide for those in need. Having viable commitments for these assets in the future means Akshaya can provide dependable help for the reasonably foreseeable future and have the ability to plan expansion of cur-rent and new services as the needs are identified.

Krishnan and Krishnamurthy

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The enormity of the task to garner material and financial support can not be underestimated, especially when you consider the vast needs by not-for-profit organizations and the impact of the global economy. Natural disasters, unforeseen unemployment, bankrupt businesses, failed financial institutions and even failed governments make it very difficult to allocate personal, business and government funds to those most in need. Philanthropic entities have become very selective in choosing who will receive their limited funds, often making decisions based on who has the greatest need, and who is the most efficient in bringing help to those in need. Many charities around the world have excellent records of efficiency, supported by fully trans-parent views of their operations. Akshaya certainly ranks among the best of the best in this metric of success.

In the beginning, Akshaya’s financial sup-port was very limited as a substantial por-tion of it came from Krishnan’s personal assets. Passing well-wishers and local resi-dents who knew of Krishnan’s efforts and total commitment provided limited ad-ditional funds. Such limited funds made meeting each day’s needs a challenge and plans for expansion were just that – plans for the future. Gradually, but steadily, the benefactors of Krishnan’s kindness grew and the related expenses grew as well. As time when on and Akshaya was formed, the public became more aware of Krishnan’s efforts and public financial support grew. This was very important for Akshaya’s sur-vival as The Trust depends solely on public donations – there are no government grants, endowments, in-come producing projects, or the like. When asked about Akshaya’s fund-raising program and other public relations activities, an Akshaya volunteer answered:

“Basically Akshaya is a very low profile, cause focused organization. We have no professional setup for fund raising, public relations, event management support, communication expert and so on. Right from the beginning we have focused only on performance.

We present all the facts and figures to all the people all the time. In short we com-municate total truth as it is. In our experience this is quite powerful and goes to the heart of the people directly. You may have observed we use simple language and do not make any effort to insert catchy phrases. We feel the whole content should arrest the thoughts of people by its merit.

All our supporters have been coming on their own and by word of mouth communica-tion. All details are personally verified by the visitors. Once they are convinced they present our case to others much better than what we are capable of doing ourselves.”

The public support is heartwarming and greatly reflects the persona of Akshaya. The donor base has grown substantially over the past few years and the number of The Trust’s beneficiaries has had a notable spurt of growth since 2008. It is interesting to note that while there are some donations of $500 US and above, the vast majority of donations range from $0.25 US to $20 US. Most donors are not affluent, some are existing on small support grants but they all feel compelled to extend a helping hand. As an example one elderly

Keeping Track of Akshaya’s Needs and Progress

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donor who is living on a monthly pension of approximately $15 US faithfully donates $0.50 every month. He is obviously making a sacrifice few of us would quickly endure.

There has also been substantial growth in Akshaya’s visibility over the past five years. Word of mouth has lead to a network of support from the media and corporate entities as well as the general pub-lic. Support is now coming in from across India as well as abroad. Many of the donors have had no direct experience or contact with The Trust but when offered documentation of Akshaya’s viability they respond with comments like, “We know you are doing a noble job, there is no need for proof.” One does not have to ponder long to understand why Akshaya has earned such goodwill and cred-ibility from places afar.

Transparency is one of the many factors that has earned Akshaya its goodwill and high level of credibility. Akshaya has extended ev-ery effort to be law abiding, socially conscious and in accord with all levels of government statutes. They maintain totally transparent and up-to-date accounts, fulfill their obligations to file annual au-dited balance sheets and have made the appropriate registration as a not-for-profit charity.

Akshaya – Past, Present and FutureAkshaya is in its ninth year of operation, including the time Krishnan carried out his mission before for-mally forming Akshaya’s Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust. Krishnan and The Trust have achieved many milestones during the nine years with some of the most important and impressive being:

• Served over 1.5 million meals – three meals a day, every day of the year without missing a single meal. As of August, 2010 over 400 destitute and helpless people are being served by The Trust at a cost of Rs. 15,000 ($350 US) per day.

• Total administrative and fiscal transparency• Growing support from the general public and many forms of media• A solid trust and growing recognition from a wide cross-section of society from India and the

International community• An exponential leap in the number of beneficiaries served by Akshaya• Substantial progress in the construction of the Akshaya Home for the destitute.

The first nine years of effort have been monumental – from feeding one helpless person on a roadside in Madurai to a volunteer organization that has global recognition. Akshaya’s next 5 years have great potential of being equally significant albeit in different ways – continued growth and inauguration of the Akshaya Home being two of the most important. Krishnan’s plans for the next five years are both ambitious and realistic. They are ambitious in that they will require substantial effort and dedication by Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers. They are realistic based on the past success of Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers. The main elements of the plan are:

• Continue and expand Akshaya’s feeding program for the roadside destitute to include as many deserving cases as possible depending on available resources and funding.

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• 2011 – With sufficient public support complete a major portion of Akshaya Home construction. Additional funds will have to be generated for equipping and doing the initial set up of the com-pleted spaces. Staffing and regular maintenance will also be major budgetary considerations.

• 2012 – Finalize building, equipping and setting up the Akshaya Home. Complete the goal of bringing 100 men and 100 women under The Trust’s care by the second half of the year.

• 2013 – Consolidate the operations of the Akshaya Home to optimize the benefits being provided.• 2014 – Strengthen Akshaya’s operations and services as The Trust matures as an organization.• 2015 – Develop a comprehensive plan for next five years while continuing to provide the hope

and services it has been providing.

A very special event that could have a significant impact on Akshaya’s future will take place in the near future – CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. At 8:00 PM on November 25, 2010 CNN Heroes will present an all-star tribute and announce the person selected to be Top Hero of 2010. Twenty-four Heroes were selected for their efforts in a wide array of social endeavors that includes welfare of young people, solving local problems or social issues, preserving and protecting the environment, enhancement of human health, advancing the cause of human rights and outstanding achievements by a person 25 or younger. The Top 10 Heroes, selected from the group of twenty-four, were announced on September 23, 2010. You can learn more about them at:

edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/09/22/cnnheroes.top10/?hpt=C1

Every one of the Heroes is a person of great dedication, strong determination and a profound sense of caring for our planet and the life that inhabits it. These finalists are presented on CNN’s website for voting by the general public. Krishnan is one of the Top 10 and his story can be seen at :

www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive10/naryanan.krishnan.html

The Gift of HelpingThe Gift of Helping is a remarkable gift. It is at the same time a gift given to another and a gift given to one’s self. Akshaya has given much to the many that are deserving and helpless; Akshaya has also received much from the many that are deserving and helpless.

Asokan was found near a garbage bin on the side street of a heavily populated area near the railway station. Krishnan and an Akshaya volunteer moved him to the main road near the station thereby giving him a safer and overall better environment. The first few days when Akshaya visited him he would not eat the food provided, but that soon changed. In a short time, with better nourishment, his condition improved and he started to interact with his benefactors.

Initially he made comments about the food served and later started asking detailed questions about the preparation of the food. When queried about his interest in the food it was learned that he was a cook in a village about 30 km from Mad-urai. With time, as Asokan became more stable and better oriented, he was taken to Akshaya’s

kitchen where he helped with the cooking. Over time and with training he regained his interest in cooking and substituted when the regular Akshaya cook took his weekly time off.

As Asokan’s condition improved he explained that his wife deserted him and their family, and he was unable

“We think sometimes that poverty is only be-ing hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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to cope with the thought of his wife sleeping with somebody else. As a result he became extremely distressed, took to wandering the streets and over time completely lost control of himself. Not realizing their father’s agony, his children became averse to his perceived irresponsible behavior, especially since their mother had also deserted them. Totally oblivious of his own deplorable condition he wandered to Madurai, and was ly-ing near the garbage bin when Akshaya found him.

In his improved condition Asokan gave details about his life which provided Akshaya sufficient information to enable them to take him to his village and locate his daughter. It so happened that she was getting married the very day they arrived and it quickly became a happy family reunion. His children soon came to realize Asokan was a victim of their mother’s desertion and sympathized with him.

Asokan is now employed by a hotel in his village earning a fair salary which enables him to be self-sufficient. He occasionally visits Akshaya and those who helped him restore his life.

The Girl from Gujarat was about 20 years old when she was found by Akshaya as she aimlessly wandered the streets. It was obvious from her condition that she was mentally challenged and very vulnerable to the world around her. In order to protect her, Akshaya took her to a house in a residential colony away from the busy and dangerous environment of the streets. After providing her regular and nutritious meals for about six months her condition markedly improved and Akshaya was able to determine that she was from Guja-rat. With further investigation Akshaya was able to contact her relatives in Gujarat.. Four of them came to Madurai and were very happy to find the missing girl. The girl showed spontaneous recognition upon seeing her relatives and shared in their happiness to be united once again.

Akshaya has not heard from or about the Girl from Gujarat since she was reunited with her family but they are left with the warm sense of having made a helpless person contented and safe.

The sense of responsibility is a virtue that grows strong in some people even when they are faced with overwhelming challenges. One of Akshaya’s beneficiaries is a polio victim who is unable to walk and must use his hands for mobility as he lives a homeless life on the road. Yet his sense of responsibility to contribute is so strong he dismisses any thought of, “I can’t,” and faithfully carries out what he considers to be his responsibility.

People passing by him in cars on the main road are often enjoying the sweet tender meat of a coconut and toss the hard shells on the roadside without regard for the inconvenience it might cause others. Whenever he sees such refuse he works his way over to it with great difficulty, picks it up and places it in a nearby garbage bin. He goes to great effort to ensure the area is litter free. If you consider that the true size of a contribution is measured by to the ability to contribute, his is a large one indeed.

Subburaj, one of Akshaya’s cooks for a long time, has a physical disability and a significant limp when walk-ing. Since he is from a lower caste he will not be employed as a cook in most of the hotels and restaurants. Akshaya took him under its care and trained him as a cook, and taught him standards of personal hygiene and general cleanliness.

Subburaj totally absorbed the training and over a period of time he became a full fledged cook and main-tained good clean habits. Akshaya was able to secure him a job in his own village so that he could stay with and provide for his family. Akshaya went an important step further and provided Subburaj with a motor bike for commuting to work, as he has great difficulty walking.

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Lifetimes of Despair - Moments of HopeThese images need no captions or descriptions - you are free to attach your own perception and feelings without influence or distraction. Take a moment and try to imagine the emotions experienced by Krishnan, the volunteers and the person receiving Akshaya’s kindness.

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Thoughts from KrishnanAt an impressionable age I was exposed to extreme human suf-ferings. This made a very deep impact in my mind. When my fa-ther was hospitalised in 2001, after a very serious road accident, I was practically living in hospitals for a couple of months. During this period I had a first hand opportunity to witness the agony hundreds of people suffered. The pain was more aggravated by poverty and helplessness. This deeply hurt me.

With this raw unhealed wound in my mind, when I went to a five star hotel for employment, saw the luxurious life and high spending habits, the shock was too much to take. Subconsciously this was working inside me. When I saw in June, 2002, the ex-treme agony of an old man suffering from hunger, it exploded with a very high impact which still continues.

Public support for Akshaya gradually started on its own. As the programme grew matching support was always available. This gave me the conviction and courage to move ahead. I am grati-fied with this encouragement and has come to the firm conclu-sion, “all good work will bring in the required support.”

I realise there are millions of people suffering on various counts. All of them deserve support and attention. Though it is difficult to prioritise, taking into account various limitations I felt my focus should be to help those unfortunate groups who have no one to care for them, those who even do not know how to seek help, those about whom no one else cares. Even if I am not able to cover the entire group, without feeling defeated I would like to make my contribution however small it is.

I am happy to note Akshaya’s work has inspired thousands of people from different parts of the world, not only pledging sup-port to Akshaya but also making them think of extending help in their own way. This softening of mind of a large number of people in different parts of the world generates more positive vibrations and make the society a better place to live.

My immediate vision will be to complete Akshaya Home, take at least 200 men and women to begin with and provide them with care to the best extent possible. To achieve this may take at least five years. This task itself is huge and I will be able to expand my thinking further only after completion of this.

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“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Mahatma Gandhi

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“There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first; when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.”

Paramahansa Yogananda

Akshaya’sHelping in H.E.L.P. Trust

9, West 1st Main Street, Doak Nagar Extension, Madurai – 625 010, India

E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: + 91 (0)452 4353439 / 2587104 Website: http://www.akshayatrust.org/ Cell Phone: + 91 (0) 98433 19933

FCRA Regn No.075940512 Min. of Home Affairs, Govt. of IndiaI.T. 80(G) Regn.No.108/2003-04 ITC Madurai

Akshaya USA17359 E. Caley Place, Aurora, Colorado 80016 USA

E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 303.995.8967

"helping the helpless," a short essay written by ed - akshaya trust

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