I had interviewed Narayan Krishnan almost a year ago while he was at Coimbatore. I was then an Intern with a newspaper. Since this interview wasn't published. I am putting it out to public after a very long time. Better late than never na?
The
job of being a chef in the country’s biggest Hotel, followed by an offer to go
abroad and earn ten times more is a dream come true to many chefs across the
country. But to leave the lucrative job and serve the poor is something very
difficult to take up. Narayanan Krishnan, the CNN Hero of the year 2010 did the
same.
Born
to a Brahmin family in Madurai, Narayan after completing his B.Sc in Hotel
Management went on to work with Taj Group of Hotels in Bangalore, he was happy
there with his work and was given an offer to go to Europe for 4 years where he
could earn ten times more. Before he left, his parents had asked him to visit
them once.
Narayan
after reaching Madurai went out with his parents where he saw a man under a
bridge eating his own excreta, seeing this Narayan couldn’t hesitate and bought
him food from the nearby restaurant. Narayan could see the gratitude that man
had for him. He went back to his hotel in Bangalore where he saw a lot of food
being wasted, he felt that people in world don’t get to eat and so much of food
is being wasted. Narayan immediately quit his job and went back to Madurai to
feed the poor.
With
his little saving Narayan without informing his family started feeding the
needy until once when his friend Sathish called his parents and told them that
Narayan had quit the job. Narayan said after hearing,his father decided to take
him to a temple in Kerala and also to a Psychiatrist to treat him. Narayan
requested his parents to see what he did once and then if they didn’t like he
would go back to Bangalore and work.
“When
my parents saw me feeding the poor, an old lady came and touched my mom’s feet
and thanked her. My mother seeing that told me, ‘You feed them and I will feed
you till am alive’ “
My
parents were my first support both emotionally and financially said
Narayan. He added that from 2003 till
2005 he bought food for the poor from a hotel and when the number touched 100
he decided that it was time for him to find an alternative where he started
cooking himself with the help of few others. In 2006, Narayan started helping
the mentally ill lying on the road, and there were many poor old men lying who
had long hair, as many barbers refused to cut their hair telling they were
dirty, Narayan went onto learn haircutting from a Malaysian saloon in Madurai.
Narayan claims to have given haircuts to over 7000 people from the roads of
Madurai.
In
2007 he went onto to cremate the bodies of people whom he fed died, this was
strongly opposed by many members of the Brahmin community as he was a Brahmin,
Narayan then went onto remove his sacred thread and said that he was no more a
Brahmin but a human being.
In
the year 2008, Narayan was awarded Rs.5 Lakhs by CNN-IBN by which he could
purchase 3.2 acres of land for the trust he owns. Akshaya Trust went on to be
recognized by CNN in US where he was selected as the top ten CNN Heroes of the
world. Narayan said until he received recognition from CNN many relatives
stopped calling him to functions and even stopped their children to interact
with them as they feared he could inspire them but once he was awarded by CNN
many started appreciating him. Narayan says that if CNN hadn’t recognized him
then the institution wouldn’t have grown so much. “The media has helped me a
lot” added Narayan.
Narayan
says that lazy beggars aren’t taken care by his organization instead they take
care of the mentally ill and the old, he says through experience he has got to
know whom to take care and whom not. Akshaya Trust now has 425 residents who are
fully taken care of. Narayan says that it costs him 20 Lakh rupees a month to
run the organization. There has been flow of funds mostly from the common men.
Akshaya
operates at less than 1 percent Administration cost because none of the
trustees get salaries, no travel expenses incurred, and no telephone bills, and
no cars are owned by the trust claims Narayan, he says that the Government
hasn’t given any support to the organization and it is running only with the
donations received.
Akshaya
trust now has 35 staff members working out of which few joined because of their
interest initially and the rest thinking they would get three meals a day for
free, but as the time went by they understood the importance of it and started
liking it said Narayan. “I am also a casual labour at Akshaya” said Narayan.
Narayan
expressed grief that none of his chef friends have ever donated for this noble
cause, he says that donations to his organization are exempted 50% from income
tax. Narayan plans to expand his centre at Madurai which will incur around 3
crore rupees and will accommodate another 1000 people. The centre has full
fledged facilities where they have medical facilities for the inmates, the
inmates are also made to garden, wash clothes, do yoga and walk which will keep
them fit.
Narayan
says that he has never distinguished his personal work and service, he feels
the only personal time he needs is to have his bath and six hours of sleep.
Narayan doesn’t watch movies nor does he go on trips, when he gets bored, he
shifts working from, Kitchen to gardening or the various departments in his
centre.
Narayan
was married few years ago to a family friend whom his family knew for over 30
years “It was an arranged marriage and my wife was very understanding, I have a
daughter now who is a year and half old, I hardly get time for my family and
they fully understand me.” added Narayan.
On
asking him about the source for his expenses Narayan said that his parents get
a good amount of pension from the Government which is sufficient for a normal
middle class family, Narayan also adds that his wife used to earn well but is
on leave after the child was born. I don’t have the ego where a man feels he
should be the sole earning member of the family, I feel proud to live on the money
that my wife and parents earn for me, told Narayan.
Asking
about his hobbies and interests, Narayan said that he plays volleyball, Carron,
Cricket and Badminton with the residents of Akshaya and dedicates most of his
time to them; he has counseling sessions daily where he counsels around 50
inmates a day.
Narayan
says he has never feared falling sick by helping the infectious people.
