Now I Am A Son To Hundreds Of Elderly, I Am Their Only Hope

“I am a doctor by profession and often work as an artist in many TV productions. But even after fulfilling my roles in these areas, one role that I never wish to let go of is that of a good human being. I take immense pride and joy in feeding the elderly of Mumbai. All this started years ago when an elderly couple knocked on my door, and the man simply asked for some money and food to support his unwell wife. He confessed to being kept unfed in his own home by his three adult children, which finally compelled me to start the journey of “Shravan Tiffin Seva” from my home.

Started more than a decade ago, this work brings me more joy than anything else! Even amid COVID and strict lockdown restrictions than many other places, my staff and I would line up at 6.30 in the morning to get all the essentials needed for the day’s meal requirements. While it is a simple meal of 6 chapatis, curry, dal and rice, along with some special desserts and treats on Sundays, I believe it is a godsend source of energy for the elderly who have no source of getting nutritional food for their daily survival. And I was overjoyed to see that even in Bhayandar, none of the elderlies got sick! Our fresh, nutritious food and the fact that we sent masks and sanitisers to every elderly person we feed was so helpful.

Today, I have become like a son to the 300 elderly people who eat our food daily. And I truly believe I could not have done it without the people around me,mostly my wife and children, and the staff who work their magic to cook up the meals and deliver them without fail every day. With their support, I am now trying to kickstart my new project of building a home to accommodate all those who need it, aptly named “Dikra nu Ghar”.

I have already purchased the land where I intend to build it. While the lockdown did put a temporary stop to the construction, it can never hinder the cause, and I will continue with it whenever I get the time. I was able to get this far with the help of people who believed in the cause as much as I did. And I believe that we will succeed in the endeavour and make life beautiful again for the elderly in Bhayandar.”

-Dr. Uday Modi, Founder, Shravan Tiffin Seva