Akshaya’s

Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust

Helping the
Helpless

True happiness consists in making others happy

While I extend a deep and sincere appreciation to those who gave me the support
I needed to write Helping the Helpless, I dedicate this essay to you, the reader. By
taking the time and effort to read Helping the Helpless, you have shown a concern
for and an interest in those that are in need – in need of material and spiritual food,
and in need of care and love. I hope Helping the Helpless further encourages you to
reach out and follow the example of Krishnan and the Akshaya Trust. You are invited
to share in the pleasures of knowing that you have, in your own way, helped someone
that was in desperate need.
Ed DiTomas

© 2010 Akshaya’s Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust

All rights reserved.
 Preface
One of life’s greatest pleasures is never knowing what path we will be taking as the
future unfolds before us – and the future is less than a second away.
Several years ago I joined a photography forum on the internet – a forum well rep-
resented from around the globe. One day when browsing the many galleries I came
upon some very striking images posted by Sandeep Kapur of New Delhi, India. We
have never met, we have spoken over the telephone a few times, but we have the
good fortune to share a strong friendship.
While surfing the internet earlier this year I read a relatively old news item about
a young man in Madurai, India. He had left an established path leading to a career
as a haute cuisine chef and followed a compelling sense that an undefined path
would lead him to even greater satisfaction in life. The news item showed Krishnan
receiving an award for Social Services from the CNN-IBN television program Real
Heroes 2008 – one of his many satisfactions resulting from his journey down the
undefined path.
In a very short time Sandeep, Krishnan’s volunteers and I were exchanging e-mail
messages hoping we could combine our resources to help Krishnan and the Ak-
shaya Trust fulfill their mission. As a result Sandeep hastened to Madurai to beat
the monsoon season. Upon arrival in Madurai, Sandeep spent two days following
and photographing the daily activities of Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers.
With a CD of images from Sandeep and many e-mail messages full of information
about Krishnan, Akshaya, the volunteers, Madurai, Indian cuisine and customs,
and much more I was well supported in my effort to write Helping the Helpless.
I hope you derive the same pleasure in reading about Krishnan and the Akshaya
volunteers as I have in writing about them.
With so many challenges in our world it is very reassuring to know there are those
that will seek a challenge and do something positive about it – like Krishnan and
Akshaya’s volunteers.
Ed DiTomas
Brewster, NY
September, 2010
“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream
of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part
of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea
alone. This is the way to success.”
Swami Vivekananda
 Helping the Helpless

“Who are they?” you may ask, if you even think to ask.
More than likely they will be ignored, shut out of mind, not noticed because they make us uncomfortable.
The closest we might come to helping them is to wonder in the silence of our minds, “Why don’t the authori-
ties do something about them?”
They are the homeless, they are the homeless with even less – they
are the helpless homeless, helpless due to age, helpless because of
mental and physical conditions, helpless because of experiences past
and present that are beyond everyday understanding. While there are
endless conditions that can affect the human experience very few have
the devastating impact of poverty. Researchers report that the impact
of poverty on children may be as severe as a stroke. Mahatma Gandhi
didn’t need research – he spoke from seeing the plight of India’s
poor, “Poverty is the worst form of violence.” Left unattended, those
so afflicted face a lifetime of challenges few of us can understand.
One could spend a lifetime exploring the causes and issues related to
poverty and homelessness, but this is not a narrative on those subjects.
It is, however, the telling of the story about one man, an organization
and a group of volunteers that are making a difference in the lives of
the helpless homeless.

The Seeds of Compassion

Few people can see beyond the ramshackle shell surrounding them or sense their thirst for compassion, and
meaningfully attend to their needs. One such person is Krishnan. Born into a stable and supportive family
in 1981, he suffered none of the dehumanizing experiences he would become so focused on as a young adult.
He graduated from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2002 with a degree in Hotel Management and Catering
Science, and was well on his way to a successful career as an award-winning chef. A trip home for a family
visit before taking the next major step in his career changed his life in a way few of us have been privileged
to experience.
The seed for this change in Krishnan’s career was planted earlier in his
life. As a college student he would often provide food to the hungry
people along the roadsides of Madurai solely out of compassion for
those so unfortunate. Krishnan’s sensitivity of the plight of the poor
again showed itself when he was visiting his father in the hospital in
2001. During a hospital stay you have the choice of paying for your food
or having a family member bring your food to you. Krishnan quickly
realized that the poor patients had neither the money to purchase their
meals nor a family that could provide the needed food. In a generous
and caring fashion Krishnan shared the food he brought to the hospital
with those in such obvious need. For Krishnan this was an emotional
experience that made a deep impression on him, an impression reflect-
ing his concern for the depth of human suffering endured by the poor.
Krishnan was near the central bus stand in Madurai during his 2002
visit home when he experienced a life-changing event – he saw an old
man suffering from acute hunger and eating his own waste. Krishnan

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Helping the Helpless

bought some food and offered it to the man who consumed it in

Ugly Child a manner that made Krishnan realize the intensity of the hunger
Virginia DiTomas
pangs the man was suffering. As the old man ate the food being
I did not like him reaching out. fed to him, he held Krishnan’s hand giving Krishnan the very
I thought, “What an ugly child!” real sensation of a powerful energy passing from the man to
Until I touched his small brown hand, Krishnan. This energy fueled an experience of inner happiness
Until he shyly smiled. and fulfillment Krishnan had never felt before.
Though he stood on the dirty street, Krishnan returned to the central bus stand the following few
Hungry, ragged and unshod, days offering food to several deserving people in the area. He
I looked into this small child’s eyes then returned to Bangalore to focus on his career. Focusing on
And saw the face of God. his career was not to be – he was distracted and could not con-
centrate on his job. An inner voice kept telling him, “This is not
your place – return to Madurai and look after the needy and deserving that are so hungry.” The clarity and
determination of the voice could not be ignored – within a week Krishnan quit his job and returned to Madu-
rai. He quickly returned to the central bus stand to find the old man he first fed. The eyes of the man were full
of gratitude and communicated his strong emotions to Krishnan, “This is the job for you, don’t turn back.”

Answering the Calling

Krishnan’s compassion was firmly in place and he was charged with the gift of energy from his exchange
with the old man at the central bus stand. It was time to take meaningful action. His first steps along the
new path he had chosen for himself consisted of buying food from roadside shops and vendors near the
bus stand, railway station and other areas in central Madurai. He initially provided food to approximately
twenty-five people that were in obvious and deserving need using this procedure.
Determining whom he could and should help was Krishnan’s initial challenge. There were many that sought
help but Krishnan was determined to utilize his limited resources to help those that were truly unable to
help themselves. He shunned beggars and those that could help
themselves but chose not to do so. He sought the homeless that
were mentally challenged, those that had been left on the streets
of Madurai to fend for themselves. He wanted to bring help to
those that did not seek food but were in dire need for nutritional
sustenance. Krishnan was also looking for those in true need that
stayed in a single location regardless of the weather or other fac-
tors. He felt that these were the people that were in the greatest
need and he would be able to best utilize his limited resources to
help as many as possible.
Krishnan was painfully aware of the many factors that brought
these destitute people to his realm – and it was equally painful to
realize that he did not have the resources to serve them all. Since
the early days of answering his call, Krishnan has come face to
face with many real life victims of poverty and helpless home-
lessness – far more than most people would see in several life-
times. There were instances where a person’s needs were beyond
what Krishnan could provide and he has directed them to other
services. Such were the pathetic and destitute souls upon which
Krishnan would focus his newly established mission in life.

2

Who to Help
Krishnan’s dilemma in determining whom
he could and should help was resolved when
he established a clear and easy to follow set
of guidelines – the people he would serve
could be broadly classified as mentally chal-
lenged, elderly, frail or a combination of
these conditions.
Mentally Challenged
This is the largest group of beneficiaries and
consists of both men and women. Though
age is often difficult to determine it gener-
ally falls between 30 and 70 years. Common
characteristics include:
• Unaware of the surroundings
• Wander within specified locations
• Cannot comprehend
• Normally do not interact
• Usually passive
• Come from different parts of India*
* Madurai is a heavily populated pilgrim
center. When a family is not able to care for
an individual with mental disabilities they
abandon them in busy public places like
markets, bus stations or railway stations.
In some cases a mentally challenged per-
son will stray away from home and get onto
a train with no idea as to where it is go-
ing. They will usually be removed from the
train only to find their way to another train
and another unfamiliar place. Such aimless
wandering will take many of these helpless
people far from their home and any pos-
sible family support they may have had.
Elderly
These are people driven from their homes due
to poverty, as they can no longer contribute
economically, and the family is not able to
carry their burden. They are often too weak to
care for themselves and are virtually helpless.
Frail
This group includes people who are expelled
from the hospitals when there is no one from
their family attending to them, and their rate
of recovery is slow or, in some cases, nil.
Helping the Helpless
The Mission and the Challenges
Krishnan set out to increase the number of people he would
help. This meant devoting himself entirely to helping those
in need. His program of providing reliable regular feeding
started in June, 2002 with about 30 destitute people. This ef-
fort was demanding on Krishnan’s time and finances but he
remained completely focused on his mission. Needless to
say such demands caused challenges and stress. His parents,
who took this new focus in Krishnan’s life to be a passing
phase, were soon stunned when his devotion to his work
went on unabated. With emotions at a high peak and nearly
out of control Krishnan declared, “If I am not allowed to do
my work I am quitting this house!” Krishnan then asked his
mother to join him on his daily rounds. At the end of the day
his mother assured him that he had her lifetime support as
long as he chose to follow his mission of helping the helpless.
Krishnan’s parents clearly understood the strength of Krish-
nan’s commitment.
Krishnan’s life mission was now well defined in his mind,
along with his short-term goals. He was also giving thoughts
to long-term goals as each day passed. Other issues occupied
his mind as well – while the number of people he was serving
was growing so were the effort and costs involved. With daily
costs reaching 1,500 Rs ($35 US) adjusted for inflation to
2010, he quickly realized it was more efficient and economi-
cal to prepare the food himself rather than rely on outside
vendors. Such an effort would take a more formal organiza-
tion and support help. This realization resulted in the forma-
tion of the Akshaya’s Helping in H.E.L.P Trust in June, 2003.
The Trust’s mission is simple and to the point:
Mission of Akshaya
Committed to the care of the helpless,
forsaken, mentally ill, old, sick, roadside
destitute living and dying on the streets of
Madurai by providing healthy food, love
and opportunity to rehabilitate, thereby
restoring human dignity.
The name of The Trust is not so simple but it carries with
it the historic roots of its name and a plan for today and
the future. Akshaya is a Sanskrit word meaning undecaying
or imperishable. Akshayapatra is derived from Akshaya and
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Helping the Helpless

means inexhaustible vessel. Akshayapatra was a wonderful

Beneficiaries
vessel given to Yudhishthira by the Sun God, Lord Surya,
and held a never-failing supply of food for the Pandavas ev- 450
ery day. There is also a reference in Manimekalai, a sequel 400
400
to the Tamil epic Silapathikaram, to a similar vessel named 350
350
Amudha Surabi. Manimekalai serves food ceaselessly from 300
300
Amudha Surabi to the famine-starved people of Madurai 250
250
in third century AD. Akshaya was chosen as the name for 200
200
The Trust to signify that human compassion should never 150
150
decay or perish. 100
100
The meaning of H.E.L.P. is simple but requires definition: 50
50
H - Health 00

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
E - Education
L - Lifting of the poor
P - Public utilities.
Meals Served
These are the areas in which The Trust is interested in con-
400,000
tributing to society from a long-term perspective. Each area
will be taken up when The Trust is ready and capable of 350,000
350
properly meeting the goal. 300
300,000

The Trust grew steadily from its inception, not in overhead 250
250,000
x 1,000

or organization, but in the number of people it helped and 200

200,000
fed. From the beginning Krishnan established that any 150
150,000
funds available to The Trust would be used solely for the
100
100,000
benefit of those in need. His philosophy has never changed
– it remains intact to this date although it can be readily 50
50,000
seen by the adjacent charts that starting in the year 2008 00
there has been a marked increases in the number of ben-
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
eficiaries and meals served, and an even greater increase in
costs due to growing inflation. The feeding cost per day in
2009 was about Rs 12,000 ($260 US). While the projected
number of meals served in 2010 will remain unchanged Total Cost (Rs)
from 2009, the projected feeding cost will rise to Rs 15,000 6,000,000
($350 US) per day.
5,000,000
5,000
Prior to the formation of The Trust, Krishnan was feeding
approximately 30 people using prepared food packets pur- 4,000,000
4,000
x 1,000

chased with his personal savings. In early 2003, as the pro-

gram grew, Krishnan started to prepare and serve fresh food 3,000,000
3,000
thereby holding down costs while the number of beneficia- 2,000,000
2,000
ries increased. In the early days of its formation Akshaya
Trust drew little attention and, as would be expected, little 1,000,000
1,000
support. Fortunately this changed and soon the work of the
One Man Army spread by word of mouth and occasional 00
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

press coverage. While Krishnan’s One Man Army has grown

from the earlier years to include several volunteers and a few
paid employees for driving, cleaning cooking utensils and Year
miscellaneous tasks, Krishnan continues to embody and ex- All 2010 data is estimated to end of year
emplify the soul and spirit of Akshaya’s One Man Army. $1.00 US = Rs 47 (September, 2010)

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 Helping the Helpless

The Menu
The food prepared by The Trust follows reci-
pes that are traditional in Madurai as well as
many other parts of India. They include:
Idli – a tasty cake usually about 9 cm in di-
ameter and made by steaming fluffy dough of
fermented rice and lentils. It is a traditional
and healthy morning meal, especially in
southern India.
Pongal – Lentils are dry-roasted and steam
cooked with rice. Fat, including cooking oil,
and clarified butter are heated. Curry leaves,
chopped ginger bits, pepper, cumin seed, and
salt are added. The cooked rice lentil mixture
is added and thoroughly mixed.
Upma – cooked semolina seasoned with
green chili, curry leaves and ginger. Vegeta-
bles may be added.
Oothappam – made with an idli-like dough
but instead of steaming it is oil roasted. Veg-
etables may be added.
Dosai – a crepe made from fermented rice
and lentils. A typical south Indian dish served
for breakfast or dinner.
Biryani – a dish of great variety, often rice
cooked with a lot of vegetables.
Parotta – a layered flatbread of India cooked
in a frying pan using edible oils.
Roti – a flatbread often made with wheat
flour.
Sambar – a sauce prepared with tamarind,
lentil, chili powder and fenugreek powder.
Vegetables are cooked in the sauce.

A Typical Day
From Krishnan’s meager start in 2002 until Au-
gust, 2010 over 1.5 million meals have been
served without missing a single meal – every
day, three times a day, 365 days a year! That’s
over eight years without holidays, vacations, sick
days or mornings that are just too overwhelming A visit to the market and the selection of fresh
to go to work today. Every day is a work day for wholesome food is an important part of
Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers. Krishnan’s daily routine.

Following a typical day for Krishnan and the volunteers can give us a better understanding the effort
needed to prepare and deliver almost 1.5 million meals. It starts at 4:30 AM with a quick trip to the rent-
ed space used to prepare the food. The food preparation space consists of two rooms, one for material

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Helping the Helpless

Many hands are called upon to prepare the food in a careful and tasty manner.
Once the food has been prepared it is readied for immediate distribution.
storage and preparatory work and one for cooking. The rice and lentils were prepared the previous evening
and allowed to ferment overnight in anticipation of preparing idli and accompanying sauces for the morn-
ing meal. Alternative fare for the morning meal might be pongal, upma or Oothappam. See The Menu for
descriptions of the food prepared by Krishnan and his staff.
The prepared food is then placed in large vats, loaded into the van and the daily journey of 200 km to distrib-
ute the food commences. Distribution of the food doesn’t adequately describe the process of bringing food to
the deserving helpless – it also encompasses various acts of bringing comfort, restoring dignity and provid-

6
 Helping the Helpless

ing personal services to those who are in desperate need. The personal services consist mostly of haircuts,
bathing and health care assistance.
The distribution of the morning meal is completed and a stop at the Central Market is made to purchase the
fresh vegetables needed to prepare the day’s meals. “What is available today? How much are the carrots? We
need more rice and lentils.” And so the business of the morning goes, buying rice, lentils, semolina, potatoes,
green chilies, ginger, lime, tomatoes, brinjal (egg-
“Make it a rule…never to lie down at night with- plant), onions, carrots, butter, cooking oil, spices
out being able to say, “I have made one human and more. The buying of the ingredients and its
being at least a little wiser, a little happier or a preparation is carefully supervised by Krishnan
little better this day.” - Charles Kingsley to assure only fresh material is used and the food
prepared is tasty and nutritious.
While Krishnan and some of the volunteers are distributing the morning meal, others are back at the kitchen
preparing the noon meal. While the process is similar to that used to prepare the morning meal, the menu
is different. The meals are often rice cooked with vegetables and sauces such as sambar. The vegetables vary,
often depending on what is fresh and available from Central Market when the morning purchases are made,
and may include carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and brinjal. The morning meal delivery team has re-
turned and all hands work to complete the preparation of the noon meal, load it on the van and set out once
again to distribute the food.
The preparation and distribution of the evening meal is a repetition of the morning and noon routines. The
evening meals are varied to include such fare as idli, parotta, dosai and roti. As with all meals, the food is
served with the appropriate accompaniments.

A Long Work Day

While Krishnan’s efforts in purchasing, preparing and distributing the food would be a very full day’s work
for any hard working person, his day is not limited to these efforts alone. Akshaya’s administrative needs
must be attended to, as well as the ever-present and often un-
anticipated challenges, big and small, that arise in any human
endeavor. But Krishnan’s day also includes another effort very
significant among his goals for Akshaya – the creation of the
Akshaya Home.
Construction of the Akshaya Home is under the direct
supervision of Krishnan which is regularly about two hours of
his time each day. The creation of the home goes well beyond the
construction phase. Project planning, obtaining financial support
and developing the relationships that are needed to provide labor
and materials for the construction activities are just some of
the important activities that he focuses on to bring the Akshaya
Home to a reality.

Akshaya Home
The Akshaya Home is a key element in The Trust’s long-term
goals, and is a goal that goes well beyond basic shelter. As soon as
Krishnan committed himself to helping the helpless of Madurai
he realized his efforts would have to be twofold. First, and Discussing daily construction progress.

7
Helping the Helpless

immediately, he would provide care and comfort to the helpless homeless. He would then execute a long-
term plan that would provide safety, shelter and an environment for rehabilitation when possible for those
in desperate need. Safety was a very important concern, especially for the vulnerable mentally challenged
women whose lives could be so easily put in jeopardy by nefarious elements of society. Krishnan’s plan
would also provide a place of peace for the abandoned elderly in their last days. Madurai’s many busy
streets are the habitat of hundreds of mentally challenged, elderly and frail people making Krishnan’s goal
significant and challenging, a challenge he took on with determination.
The Akshaya Home started as a dream, be-
came a plan and is now becoming a reality.
The start was slow and difficult with very
little in the way of funds and many tasks
that were unfamiliar to Krishnan. In short,
it was a learning experience, a search for
support and a driving sense of urgency to
make the plan a reality.
A 2.74 acre plot of land was purchased on
the outskirts of Madurai, the associated
The Akshaya Home under construction legalities completed, and the time for the
Bhoomi Pooja was at hand. Bhoomi Pooja
is a Hindu ceremony to inaugurate the site for a new building. The Hindu culture considers the earth to be
a mother; therefore the importance of the ceremony is quite understandable, since the construction of a
building directly involves the earth. With the Bhoomi Pooja properly carried out construction began with
the implementation of necessary site improvements such as the building of roads and bringing water and
power to the site. These activities were completed and the construction of Akshaya Home began.
The plan is not extravagant but it is well thought out and when completed will provide living, healthcare
and support facilities for 100 men and 100 women. The home will be made up of separate dormitories for
men and women, dining and kitchen facilities, an administrative area and a healthcare facility consisting of
a clinic, a doctors’ room, an Acute Care Unit and miscellaneous support spaces. The fulfillment of this plan
would provide 24,500 square feet of space devoted to caring for the helpless.
While commendable construction progress has been made, Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers feel the
needs of the helpless cry out for an even faster pace and earlier completion of the home. The current estimated
construction cost is Rs 350 Lakhs ($752,000 US) with the pace of construction solely related to the receipt of
assured financial support. Construction progress as of August, 2010 is shown in the following table:
Block Sq. Ft. Sponsor Work done
I 2500 LIC Golden Jubilee Foundation, Mumbai 90% complete

II 2500 Well wisher, Madurai 85% complete

III 2560 Dr. Malini Chandrasekar, Qatar 40% complete

IV 2560 Well wisher, Singapore 25% complete

V 2560 Well wisher, USA Started

These five blocks of work make up slightly more than 50% (12,820 sq. ft.) of the total 24,500 sq. ft. planned
for the home. The total value of work completed, which includes additional support from other donors, is

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 Helping the Helpless

Rs 130 Lakhs ($279,000 US). Akshaya is working diligently to find sponsorship for the remaining 11,680 sq.
ft. – funds that are needed before construction can start on the remaining blocks. Once the additional fund-
ing of approximately Rs 210 Lakhs ($450,000 US) has been assured it will take 12 to 18 months to complete
the current plans for the Akshaya Home. While meeting such an important milestone would be more than
ample reason for celebration, the task will be far from over. Major and ongoing funding challenges include
providing general and medical equipment, staffing, and operating and maintaining the home. Such funding
will necessitate long term commitments and assurances so that the Akshaya Home will be a long-lasting
landmark for those in need.

The Acute Care Unit – to be fitted with piped oxygen, blood pres-
sure and pulse monitors and other patient support as needed and
funding allows. It will also have 24 hour medical support. Patient
rooms in this block will have piped oxygen.

A dormitory corridor

The Business of Helping

While the acts of helping are not, and should not, be a business, the support for such acts must function as
a well-organized business. There is no money to be wasted, support help cannot be squandered and there is
never enough time to devote to attaining the sought after goals. Krishnan is very fortunate in having volun-
teers that are willing and capable of giving Akshaya the support and organization needed to achieve its goals.
The Akshaya volunteers are a very eclectic group varying in age from the early 20’s to the mid-70’s and from
backgrounds that are very diverse.
Kamala Iyer is a very positivelady that never lets her visual challenges impede her efforts to help Akshaya.
She has an extensive network of contacts with individuals that are in a position to help advance the goals of
The Trust. She effectively uses her network to mobilize fund raising activities and garner introductions to
potential donors.
An avid supporter that wishes to remain anonymous is a senior business executive with a broad spectrum
of experience. This supporter has been tirelessly helping Akshaya since its early days in 2003 in the areas
critical in the running of an efficient organization – administration, correspondence and documentation.
Rajamani has been a staunch supporter of The Trust from its beginning. His financial contributions
have been very helpful, as have his abilities in mobilizing support and helping in a variety of ways during
special occasions.

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Helping the Helpless

Mani is one of the pillars of Akshaya, having joined its effort to help the destitute in 2003. Mani, although
young in years, has given Akshaya a level of dedication and commitment that is above expectation. Mani is
constantly striving to learn and further develop his capabilities, much to the benefit of Akshaya. He is an
indispensable part of Akshaya, a tireless worker and now a trustee of The Trust.
Krishnamurthy is a full-time volunteer with 25 years of in-
dustrial working experience. He focuses the knowledge of his
experience in the areas of marketing and general administra-
tion. He carries out The Trust’s banking needs, meets with do-
nors and energetically takes on any ad hoc tasks passed his way.
Seethalakshmi brings her skills to Akshaya via an NGO
dedicated to supporting charities. She is most helpful in deal-
ing with communications, the media and reaching out to po-
tential donors.
Shweta is a postgraduate that brings her knowledge and
youthful vigor to Akshaya providing important assistance in
general administration.
The proper administration of Akshaya is vitally important
if it is to grow, remain organized and efficient, and reach its
many goals. Care must be taken when referring to organiza-
tion at Akshaya, as it is a word that usually brings to mind
a structure with various layers of management and supervi-
sion. One may also conjure up visions of frequent meetings,
meticulously prepared reports and many other activities that
divert time and energy away from the root purpose of the
Krishnan and Krishnamurthy entity. That is not the Akshaya style of organization, which is
best stated in the words of an Akshaya volunteer:
“None of us are employees of Akshaya nor do we get any material remuneration. There
is no law compelling us to do this work. All of us have chosen this option and are happy
about it. We report to no supervisor or manager. We are our own supervisors and
managers. All of us are doing the best we can. If we are not able to do something in a
time frame, there are good and sufficient reasons. Volunteers are workers not shirkers.”
Granted, Akshaya’s growth, the opening and operation of the Akshaya Home and other unforeseen events
may require a more traditional organizational structure in the future but Akshaya’s present situation is well
served by the current modus operandi. It is efficient, it works and it is very cost effective.

The Other Side of Business

Having a motivated, hard working and self-directed team of volunteers when running any kind of an orga-
nization, especially a not-for-profit one, is an invaluable asset. As valuable as that one asset may be it is not
sufficient by itself to keep an organization running. Material and financial support are two other indispens-
able assets that are needed for current and future operations. Having these assets today means Akshaya can
provide for those in need. Having viable commitments for these assets in the future means Akshaya can
provide dependable help for the reasonably foreseeable future and have the ability to plan expansion of cur-
rent and new services as the needs are identified.

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 Helping the Helpless

The enormity of the task to garner material and financial support can not be underestimated, especially
when you consider the vast needs by not-for-profit organizations and the impact of the global economy.
Natural disasters, unforeseen unemployment, bankrupt businesses, failed financial institutions and even
failed governments make it very difficult to allocate personal, business and government funds to those most
in need. Philanthropic entities have become very selective in choosing who will receive their limited funds,
often making decisions based on who has the greatest need, and who is the most efficient in bringing help to
those in need. Many charities around the world have excellent records of efficiency, supported by fully trans-
parent views of their operations. Akshaya certainly ranks among the best of the best in this metric of success.
In the beginning, Akshaya’s financial sup-
port was very limited as a substantial por-
tion of it came from Krishnan’s personal
assets. Passing well-wishers and local resi-
dents who knew of Krishnan’s efforts and
total commitment provided limited ad-
ditional funds. Such limited funds made
meeting each day’s needs a challenge and
plans for expansion were just that – plans
for the future. Gradually, but steadily, the
benefactors of Krishnan’s kindness grew
and the related expenses grew as well. As
time when on and Akshaya was formed, the
public became more aware of Krishnan’s
efforts and public financial support grew. Keeping Track of Akshaya’s Needs and Progress
This was very important for Akshaya’s sur-
vival as The Trust depends solely on public donations – there are no government grants, endowments, in-
come producing projects, or the like. When asked about Akshaya’s fund-raising program and other public
relations activities, an Akshaya volunteer answered:
“Basically Akshaya is a very low profile, cause focused organization. We have no
professional setup for fund raising, public relations, event management support,
communication expert and so on. Right from the beginning we have focused only on
performance.
We present all the facts and figures to all the people all the time. In short we com-
municate total truth as it is. In our experience this is quite powerful and goes to the
heart of the people directly. You may have observed we use simple language and do
not make any effort to insert catchy phrases. We feel the whole content should arrest
the thoughts of people by its merit.
All our supporters have been coming on their own and by word of mouth communica-
tion. All details are personally verified by the visitors. Once they are convinced they
present our case to others much better than what we are capable of doing ourselves.”
The public support is heartwarming and greatly reflects the persona of Akshaya. The donor base has grown
substantially over the past few years and the number of The Trust’s beneficiaries has had a notable spurt of
growth since 2008. It is interesting to note that while there are some donations of $500 US and above, the
vast majority of donations range from $0.25 US to $20 US. Most donors are not affluent, some are existing
on small support grants but they all feel compelled to extend a helping hand. As an example one elderly

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Helping the Helpless

donor who is living on a monthly pension of approximately $15

US faithfully donates $0.50 every month. He is obviously making
a sacrifice few of us would quickly endure.
There has also been substantial growth in Akshaya’s visibility over
the past five years. Word of mouth has lead to a network of support
from the media and corporate entities as well as the general pub-
lic. Support is now coming in from across India as well as abroad.
Many of the donors have had no direct experience or contact with
The Trust but when offered documentation of Akshaya’s viability
they respond with comments like, “We know you are doing a noble
job, there is no need for proof.” One does not have to ponder long
to understand why Akshaya has earned such goodwill and cred-
ibility from places afar.
Transparency is one of the many factors that has earned Akshaya
its goodwill and high level of credibility. Akshaya has extended ev-
ery effort to be law abiding, socially conscious and in accord with
all levels of government statutes. They maintain totally transparent
and up-to-date accounts, fulfill their obligations to file annual au-
dited balance sheets and have made the appropriate registration as
a not-for-profit charity.

Akshaya – Past, Present and Future

Akshaya is in its ninth year of operation, including the time Krishnan carried out his mission before for-
mally forming Akshaya’s Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust. Krishnan and The Trust have achieved many milestones
during the nine years with some of the most important and impressive being:
• Served over 1.5 million meals – three meals a day, every day of the year without missing a
single meal. As of August, 2010 over 400 destitute and helpless people are being served by The
Trust at a cost of Rs. 15,000 ($350 US) per day.
• Total administrative and fiscal transparency
• Growing support from the general public and many forms of media
• A solid trust and growing recognition from a wide cross-section of society from India and the
International community
• An exponential leap in the number of beneficiaries served by Akshaya
• Substantial progress in the construction of the Akshaya Home for the destitute.
The first nine years of effort have been monumental – from feeding one helpless person on a roadside in
Madurai to a volunteer organization that has global recognition. Akshaya’s next 5 years have great potential
of being equally significant albeit in different ways – continued growth and inauguration of the Akshaya
Home being two of the most important. Krishnan’s plans for the next five years are both ambitious and
realistic. They are ambitious in that they will require substantial effort and dedication by Krishnan and the
Akshaya volunteers. They are realistic based on the past success of Krishnan and the Akshaya volunteers.
The main elements of the plan are:
• Continue and expand Akshaya’s feeding program for the roadside destitute to include as many
deserving cases as possible depending on available resources and funding.

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 Helping the Helpless

• 2011 – With sufficient public support complete a major portion of Akshaya Home construction.
Additional funds will have to be generated for equipping and doing the initial set up of the com-
pleted spaces. Staffing and regular maintenance will also be major budgetary considerations.
• 2012 – Finalize building, equipping and setting up the Akshaya Home. Complete the goal of
bringing 100 men and 100 women under The Trust’s care by the second half of the year.
• 2013 – Consolidate the operations of the Akshaya Home to optimize the benefits being provided.
• 2014 – Strengthen Akshaya’s operations and services as The Trust matures as an organization.
• 2015 – Develop a comprehensive plan for next five years while continuing to provide the hope
and services it has been providing.

A very special event that could have a significant impact on Akshaya’s future will take place in the near future
– CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. At 8:00 PM on November 25, 2010 CNN Heroes will present an all-star
tribute and announce the person selected to be Top Hero of 2010. Twenty-four Heroes were selected for
their efforts in a wide array of social endeavors that includes welfare of young people, solving local problems
or social issues, preserving and protecting the environment, enhancement of human health, advancing the
cause of human rights and outstanding achievements by a person 25 or younger. The Top 10 Heroes, selected
from the group of twenty-four, were announced on September 23, 2010. You can learn more about them at:
edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/09/22/cnnheroes.top10/?hpt=C1
Every one of the Heroes is a person of great dedication, strong determination and a profound sense of caring
for our planet and the life that inhabits it. These finalists are presented on CNN’s website for voting by the
general public. Krishnan is one of the Top 10 and his story can be seen at :
www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive10/naryanan.krishnan.html

The Gift of Helping

The Gift of Helping is a remarkable gift. It is at the same time a gift given to another and a gift given to one’s
self. Akshaya has given much to the many that are deserving and helpless; Akshaya has also received much
from the many that are deserving and helpless.

Asokan was found near a garbage bin on the side street of a heavily populated area near the railway station.
Krishnan and an Akshaya volunteer moved him to the main road near the station thereby giving him a safer
and overall better environment. The first few days when Akshaya visited him he would not eat the food
provided, but that soon changed. In a short time, with better nourishment, his condition improved and he
started to interact with his benefactors.

“We think sometimes that poverty is only be- Initially he made comments about the food
ing hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty served and later started asking detailed questions
of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is about the preparation of the food. When queried
the greatest poverty. We must start in our own about his interest in the food it was learned that
homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” he was a cook in a village about 30 km from Mad-
Mother Teresa of Calcutta urai. With time, as Asokan became more stable
and better oriented, he was taken to Akshaya’s
kitchen where he helped with the cooking. Over time and with training he regained his interest in cooking
and substituted when the regular Akshaya cook took his weekly time off.
As Asokan’s condition improved he explained that his wife deserted him and their family, and he was unable

13
Helping the Helpless

to cope with the thought of his wife sleeping with somebody else. As a result he became extremely distressed,
took to wandering the streets and over time completely lost control of himself. Not realizing their father’s
agony, his children became averse to his perceived irresponsible behavior, especially since their mother had
also deserted them. Totally oblivious of his own deplorable condition he wandered to Madurai, and was ly-
ing near the garbage bin when Akshaya found him.
In his improved condition Asokan gave details about his life which provided Akshaya sufficient information
to enable them to take him to his village and locate his daughter. It so happened that she was getting married
the very day they arrived and it quickly became a happy family reunion. His children soon came to realize
Asokan was a victim of their mother’s desertion and sympathized with him.
Asokan is now employed by a hotel in his village earning a fair salary which enables him to be self-sufficient.
He occasionally visits Akshaya and those who helped him restore his life.

The Girl from Gujarat was about 20 years old when she was found by Akshaya as she aimlessly wandered
the streets. It was obvious from her condition that she was mentally challenged and very vulnerable to the
world around her. In order to protect her, Akshaya took her to a house in a residential colony away from the
busy and dangerous environment of the streets. After providing her regular and nutritious meals for about
six months her condition markedly improved and Akshaya was able to determine that she was from Guja-
rat. With further investigation Akshaya was able to contact her relatives in Gujarat.. Four of them came to
Madurai and were very happy to find the missing girl. The girl showed spontaneous recognition upon seeing
her relatives and shared in their happiness to be united once again.
Akshaya has not heard from or about the Girl from Gujarat since she was reunited with her family but they
are left with the warm sense of having made a helpless person contented and safe.

The sense of responsibility is a virtue that grows strong in some people even when they are faced with
overwhelming challenges. One of Akshaya’s beneficiaries is a polio victim who is unable to walk and must
use his hands for mobility as he lives a homeless life on the road. Yet his sense of responsibility to contribute
is so strong he dismisses any thought of, “I can’t,” and faithfully carries out what he considers to be his
responsibility.
People passing by him in cars on the main road are often enjoying the sweet tender meat of a coconut and
toss the hard shells on the roadside without regard for the inconvenience it might cause others. Whenever he
sees such refuse he works his way over to it with great difficulty, picks it up and places it in a nearby garbage
bin. He goes to great effort to ensure the area is litter free. If you consider that the true size of a contribution
is measured by to the ability to contribute, his is a large one indeed.

Subburaj, one of Akshaya’s cooks for a long time, has a physical disability and a significant limp when walk-
ing. Since he is from a lower caste he will not be employed as a cook in most of the hotels and restaurants.
Akshaya took him under its care and trained him as a cook, and taught him standards of personal hygiene
and general cleanliness.
Subburaj totally absorbed the training and over a period of time he became a full fledged cook and main-
tained good clean habits. Akshaya was able to secure him a job in his own village so that he could stay with
and provide for his family. Akshaya went an important step further and provided Subburaj with a motor
bike for commuting to work, as he has great difficulty walking.

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 Helping the Helpless

Lifetimes of Despair - Moments of Hope

These images need no captions or descriptions - you are free to attach your own perception and feelings
without influence or distraction. Take a moment and try to imagine the emotions experienced by Krishnan,
the volunteers and the person receiving Akshaya’s kindness.

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Helping the Helpless

16
Helping the Helpless

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Helping the Helpless

Thoughts from Krishnan

At an impressionable age I was exposed to extreme human suf-
ferings. This made a very deep impact in my mind. When my fa-
ther was hospitalised in 2001, after a very serious road accident, I
was practically living in hospitals for a couple of months. During
this period I had a first hand opportunity to witness the agony
hundreds of people suffered. The pain was more aggravated by
poverty and helplessness. This deeply hurt me.
With this raw unhealed wound in my mind, when I went to a
five star hotel for employment, saw the luxurious life and high
spending habits, the shock was too much to take. Subconsciously
this was working inside me. When I saw in June, 2002, the ex-
treme agony of an old man suffering from hunger, it exploded
with a very high impact which still continues.
Public support for Akshaya gradually started on its own. As the
programme grew matching support was always available. This
gave me the conviction and courage to move ahead. I am grati-
fied with this encouragement and has come to the firm conclu-
sion, “all good work will bring in the required support.”
I realise there are millions of people suffering on various counts. All of them deserve support and attention.
Though it is difficult to prioritise, taking into account various limitations I felt my focus should be to help
those unfortunate groups who have no one to care for them, those who even do not know how to seek help,
those about whom no one else cares. Even if I am not able to cover the entire group, without feeling defeated
I would like to make my contribution however small it is.
I am happy to note Akshaya’s work has inspired thousands of
people from different parts of the world, not only pledging sup-
port to Akshaya but also making them think of extending help
in their own way. This softening of mind of a large number of
people in different parts of the world generates more positive
vibrations and make the society a better place to live.
My immediate vision will be to complete Akshaya Home, take at
least 200 men and women to begin with and provide them with
care to the best extent possible. To achieve this may take at least
five years. This task itself is huge and I will be able to expand my
thinking further only after completion of this.

← ← Ω ➢ ➢

“You must be the change you wish to

see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

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 Helping the Helpless

“There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends.

That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first; when
you learn to live for others, they will live for you.”
Paramahansa Yogananda

19
 Akshaya’s
Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust
9, West 1st Main Street, Doak Nagar Extension, Madurai – 625 010, India
E-mail: ramdost@sancharnet.in Telephone: + 91 (0)452 4353439 / 2587104
Website: http://www.akshayatrust.org/ Cell Phone: + 91 (0) 98433 19933
FCRA Regn No.075940512 Min. of Home Affairs, Govt. of India
I.T. 80(G) Regn.No.108/2003-04 ITC Madurai
Akshaya USA
17359 E. Caley Place, Aurora, Colorado 80016 USA
E-mail: akshaya.usa@gmail.com Telephone: 303.995.8967