Extraordinary Achievement of An Ordinary Person

Since my childhood, the story of humanity never ceases to astonish me. Whenever I feel low or feel why life is so harsh on me, I look at people like Narayan Krishnan. The story of this “Everyday Hero” gives me inspiration to move forward in the life and face challenges of the world.

Narayan Krishnan, a bright, young and award winning chef has chosen the path of compassion and sacrifice over wealth, luxury and fame. In 2002, success was waiting for him, but destiny had sketched another roadmap for him. He left the enviable position of chef offered in one of the 5 star hotels of Switzerland to feed people of his own country.

Before moving to Switzerland, he planned to visit his family residing in India. On his trip to India, Krishnan explored such things that completely changed his heart.

While visiting temples of Madurai, he witnessed that an old man was eating his own waste as a food. This painful sight changed the heart of the young man and he started feeding him. His own act of kindness made him realize that his ultimate job is to feed poor and destitute people of his own country. He acknowledge the poor and needy people as “His own people”. Within a time span of a week, he cancelled his plan to move abroad and came back to his own home country. From there, Krishnan's journey of sacrifice has started.

Within a year' s time, Krsihnan founded and named his trust as “Akshaya Trust”. The name Akshaya symbolizes imperishable or undecaying. He believes that the human compassion of feeding his own people is Akshaya i.e. imperishable. Life was never like a bed of roses for him. He has to face several challenges at the beginning. He began his day at 4 am. After purchasing the fresh vegetables and other required ingredients from the local market, he has cooked meal and hand feed to incapicated and handicapped people. The food cooked by him was eaten by nearly 400 people who live in the nook, crannies and under bridges near the temples. Till date also, he follows the same schedule. On a daily basis, he covers a distance of 125 kms in his donated van. Factors like limited resources, poor weather conditions, sickness, etc. could not able to stop him as he is determine to reach at his destination by all means.

He revealed that “the panic and suffering of human being was the driving force for him and his teammates. The enjoyment he obtained while cooking the food acts like fuel, which provides him energy. In fact, he is very determine to save his people life”. In simple words, it can be summarized as numerous difficulties and unending endeavor of helping the people make him contented. He has no qualms of leaving the path of luxury and wealth. As he says blissfully “Now, I am feeling happy and comfortable. I have a passion and I enjoy my work. I want to live with my people”.

So, hats off to the noble spirit of the young man.