You can find many more places in ahmedabad where this kind of Ram Roti is provided like near kahamasa, gita mandir etc. I have never visited that places so can not say much about it. But while reading this I remember one incident, let me share that...Once me and my few friends are talking in the parking area and one begger came there around the age 18-20 years and asking for money, then one of my friends ask him that you are asking about 1-2 Rs, but I can give you 50 Rs. if you can wash these 5 cars, and not only that my friend told him that arrangement can be done in a way so that the beggar came everyday and wash these cars so that he can earn everyday...but that beggar was not ready, my friend try to convince him but he was not ready to do the work...by seeing all that conversation...one question raised..that by providing them the required things...are we inspiring them to become beggar only ?
If we really wanted to do something for them then provide them some work through which they become self sufficient...
11:21 PM
Anonymous said...
I agree when you say that the pujari did not need a motivation to serve Ram-Rahim Roti but he and many like him (as another comment stated) are great motivations to this generation. We (thankfully) are not religiously biased but we do need to do some good before our departure from this world. I am reminded of a great song (my all time favorite) - aapne liye jiye to kya jiye...
7:39 AM
I was given a simple directive. At half-past 6, show up at kalpatru fruit market, near the Hanuman mandir. Joined by a US resident fellow on the trail of digging below the "surface" of India, I asked the rickshaw-wallah to take us there. It is located in the old part of Ahmedabad, beyond the lal-darwaja (that's the gate Maharaja Ahmed used to enter the then tiny city of Karnavati-nagari nearly 600 years ago), through the cacophonous maze of teeny-tiny gullies and jam-packed streets. Here is where the pujari of the temple, for over two decades, has been providing free food to all who come to his door. The concept is simple. You show up, you get food. No questions asked but love and smile offered unconditionally. We reached there to find a few people still getting their evening meal, sitting by the side of the road. The pujari lives in the temple itself, in one small room that has nothing but a 15" TV and a couple of mattresses on the side. The rest is a kitchen and a large backyard that's used to wash dishes. There are about dozen of us, many from local NGOs who have come to learn about this amazing man and his story. This story goes back to 1987 when riots between the two communities of Hindus and Muslims were frequent. At times like these cops usually leave it to the mauraders from both sides to sort it out, mostly ensuring that it does not get too out of hand. A bit passive but there was one inspector who went beyond his call of duty to engage with folks from both sides to ensure peace. He was murdered and the chilling effect was felt on both sides of the rift. In his memory, since that despicable event, this mandir has been serving out Ram-Rahim roti for all who come to the door for an evening meal. When we asked what was his motivation, he looked back with curious inquisitive eyes, almost as if talking to a child, "do we need one?"
"Ram-Rahim Roti"
2 Comments -
You can find many more places in ahmedabad where this kind of Ram Roti is provided like near kahamasa, gita mandir etc. I have never visited that places so can not say much about it. But while reading this I remember one incident, let me share that...Once me and my few friends are talking in the parking area and one begger came there around the age 18-20 years and asking for money, then one of my friends ask him that you are asking about 1-2 Rs, but I can give you 50 Rs. if you can wash these 5 cars, and not only that my friend told him that arrangement can be done in a way so that the beggar came everyday and wash these cars so that he can earn everyday...but that beggar was not ready, my friend try to convince him but he was not ready to do the work...by seeing all that conversation...one question raised..that by providing them the required things...are we inspiring them to become beggar only ?
If we really wanted to do something for them then provide them some work through which they become self sufficient...
11:21 PM
I agree when you say that the pujari did not need a motivation to serve Ram-Rahim Roti but he and many like him (as another comment stated) are great motivations to this generation. We (thankfully) are not religiously biased but we do need to do some good before our departure from this world. I am reminded of a great song (my all time favorite) - aapne liye jiye to kya jiye...
7:39 AM