It is at an unlikely hour that the beautiful green space in the middle of Bangalore, Cubbon Park, comes alive. A couple of hours after sunset, a slow buzz builds up near the Hudson Circle entrance of the Park, as the homeless and hungry of the city trickle in, and gather for their first, and most times, only hot and tasty meal of the day. And it is a daily ritual since 1988 organised by a newspaper distribution agency owner Y Krishnamurthy and his team of seven near a small temple for practitioners of all religions.
How did this free dinner
ritual come about?
In 1972, Krishnamurthy came to the Sri Krishnarajendra Technological Institute, just across from Cubbon Park, for an interview. “Before I went in for the interview, I came to this Devasthana (temple) inside the Park, and prayed. I got the job, and since then I come here everyday,” says Krishnamurthy. In 1987, a water tank was constructed near the temple, and beggars and other homeless people would come and drink from it.
Krishnamurthy observed them for days, and felt it would be wonderful if he could provide one healthy meal to these people. He spoke about this with others, and they were enthused about the idea, too.
Thus began the free-dinner
ritual.
Soon the word spread and others who wanted to feed a few mouths in the memory of a lost family member or friend began to approach Krishnamurthy. They donated rice, vegetables, cooking oil and other ingredients, or some would come up with money, and Krishnamurthy would go and buy whatever was required. Krishnamurthy and team members – Sudhakar, Vinod, Noor, Ramanna, Sampathkumar, and the two women in the team Jayamma and Hanumakka – have their own jobs, and volunteers for this.
“Everyday over 25 kg of rice is cooked. Some days, more than one dish is prepared and distributed,” says Krishnamurthy.
Over a hundred destitute, homeless, beggars, migrant labourers, and even weary travellers arriving at the city railway station come here for free hot meals.
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