November 30, 2021
2 mins read

Man who fed thousands of hungry people for decades passes away

Every day, food was served to around 2,000 – 2,500 individuals, but on special occasions, that number could go as high as 4,000. Even the pandemic had not halted his routine community kitchens. Individuals wait in a queue to get the food…reports Asian Lite News.

A self-made billionaire, who fed tens of thousands of hungry people with a fresh vegetarian meal every day with his own funds outside the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.

Popularly known as ‘langar baba’, Jagdish Lal Ahuja, who was battling cancer, had been serving free food in the langar — the practice of a free community kitchen and open to all — across Chandigarh since 1981.

For his philanthropic service to the community at large, he was conferred the Padma Shri last year.

Since 2001, he had been organising a community kitchen daily initially outside the PGI Hospital since 2001. Later, he started it at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 too. The langar serves fresh vegetarian meals in the afternoon and late evening.

Every day, food was served to around 2,000 – 2,500 individuals, but on special occasions, that number could go as high as 4,000. Even the pandemic had not halted his routine community kitchens. Individuals wait in a queue to get the food.

In 2015, he sold his seventh property worth Rs 1.5 crore to arrange money to offer meals to anyone who shows up.

He was 12 when he left Peshawar and reached India during 1947 partition. After staying in refugee camps initially in Patiala and Amritsar, he finally moved to Chandigarh at the age of 21 and started selling fruits.

Later, he had a roaring business of bananas, known as the “banana king”.

About starting the noble gesture of serving the poor, Ahuja was quoted as saying, “At my son’s eighth birthday, I decided to celebrate it by organising a ‘langar’ for children. When I saw the joy on the faces of the children, it reminded me of my childhood. I then decided to organise ‘langar’ every day.”

“Since then, I am holding the ‘langar’ without a miss.”

His afternoon and evening ‘langars’, which are desperately awaited by the poor and even patients’ attendants at both the city’s prominent hospitals, serve ‘dal’, ‘chapatti’, rice, ‘halwa’ and a banana.

Also, he served biscuits to cancer patients and toffees, lollipops and balloons to children.

Condoling his demise, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said: “His selfless gesture of providing free food and medicines to poor and needy at the PGIMER will ever inspire others for such noble service.”

Even on the day of his death, the langar service continued as per his wish.

With prayers on lips and wet eyes, the poor and patients’ attendants wished the continuation of the selfless service even in his absence and they believe he will remain in their hearts forever for his selfless service.

ALSO READ-Omicron: Nepal bans African travellers

Previous Story

Oli re-elected as UML Chairman

Next Story

Women, children protest against CPEC in Gwadar

Latest from India News

India Eyes Global No. 3 Spot, Says Modi

The Prime Minister stated that people of India have resolved to make India a Developed Nation by 2047, when “we celebrate 100 years of Independence”….reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi

India Outpaces Peers in Morgan Stanley Outlook

Global investment firm reaffirms India’s status as top-performing economy in latest growth outlook…reports Asian Lite News India is set to retain its position as the fastest-growing economy among nations tracked by Morgan

BROAD WARNING

Stuart Broad urges England to stay mentally sharp and wait for the collapse, pointing to India’s Headingley horror as proof that wickets can fall in clusters….reports Asian Lite News Former England fast-bowler

Tigresses Tame Iraq

With this win, the Blue Tigresses remain unbeaten, having now claimed three wins in as many matches…reports Asian Lite News The Indian women’s football team produced another commanding performance in the AFC
Go toTop