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"'Brahmans are not supposed to touch these people, clean these people, hug these people, feed these people' . . . Everybody has got 5.5 liters of blood. I am just a human being. For me, everybody is the same." These were the words that came out Narayanan Krishnan's mouth, a young man that came from a high reputation, rich family and once owned a star hotel. Today he holds much more than high-rated bricks and a good reputation; Narayanan holds the key of life for the forgotten.
Narayanan Krishnan was a young man who faced many challenges and struggles to achieve a quality, five star hotel in Switzerland. His family held a strong reputation in India and his upper-class honor restricted him from doing much. Nevertheless Narayanan was satisfied with what he had accomplished and achieved. After achieving his dream, Narayanan planned a trip to India to visit his family, and share his stories. Little did he know, that trip would change his job, his reputation and inevitably -- his life.
Like many others in India, an elderly man sat under a bridge, beaten, homeless, and starving. On the edge of survival and living in a country that already lacks food, the man was eating his human waste to stop the pain of hunger that ceased his stomach. Many of us would be upset by this image. We'd probably go home and think about people like these for a while then again forget and demand the newest unnecessary gadgets from our parents to boost our own reputation at school. Could Narayanan have done that? Sure, it would've been a lot easier than what he actually did.
Narayanan quit his high-paying job in the hotel within the week and made India his permanent home. He was utterly and absolutely convinced that his was his his job; his purpose in life. He founded a nonprofit trust, Akshaya Trust, to feed the elderly, mentally-ill and homeless. He fed the people, bathed the people, shaved them, and cared for them. Ultimately, he became their friends, their hand to hold, and their reason for living. He said food isn't the only key to helping someone surviving -- showing them that you love and care for them is essential too. He became like a father to the forgotten . . . he made himself a hero.
What have you done in the last week? Was it something as empowering as Narayanan Krishnan's story, or did it merely consist of logging into your social-networking accounts and logging out? Have you even given a moment to all those in need? Nobody is asking you to drop out of school or dedicate 100% of your time to helping others. If that were to happen, you wouldn't do it full-heartily. This week, I dare you to give up one hour and dedicate it to helping someone in need. You don't necessarily have to donate, because as Narayanan said, "The food will give them physical nutrition. The love and affection that you show will give them mental nutrition." Volunteer at a food bank, your nearest Sick Kids, or anywhere else. Listen to the kids at a hospital talk. Give them a reason to think that their life doesn't revolve around being sick; give them hope. Go out and be the reason for someone's smile, because if you don't do it, nobody will.
Author's Note: Sources: http://ecadforum.com/ethiopianvideo/2012/12/01/cnn-heroes-tribute-narayanan-krishnan/
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/01/cnnheroes.krishnan.hunger/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_3BEwpv0dM
http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2011/s3200706.htm
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