Special: Where these angels tread fearlessly

Compassion lies eternal in the human breast! The essence of humanity is compassion and affection for fellow beings.

Most of us are busy fighting our daily battles for our survival. But there are a few amongst us who fight a daily battle for others!

They give willingly all they have for the  reward of a smile and to wipe the tears from the eyes of those who live without hope.

These are the real heroes of our society, for to give everything one has, live for others, and serve without regard for oneself is to live the cause decided by our Maker. 

It needs courage, immense self belief, faith in the future, unlimited compassion and the conquest of the self.

Nature has created us such that our instinct for survival dominates all our acts.

To overcome something so dominant, so natural and so primordial in our DNA needs one to be truly exceptional.

It is these few who keep the flame of humanness alive and instill in people the belief that behind the darkness lies light, behind utter despair lies hope and that compassion shall always triumph over selfishness, for as Gandhiji said " the world has enough for everybody's need, not everybody's greed".

Let us Salute these true Heroes today!

T.V. Mohandas Pai

Chairman, Aarin capital Partners.

1.  Home of Faith - Narayan

Home of Faith might easily be mistaken for a very large family. Run by Mr Narayan, the orphanage, located in a bylane off the Hennur Bande, is home to about 30 children.

Mr Narayan runs the place all on his own, on a meagre schoolteacher's salary, which he supplements with private tuitions. 

"It means I work from morning to night to make ends meet," he said.  Now, the children live like one big happy family and his own children are part of it too. "That's the idea, really, to give them a home," he said.

Putting the kids through school has been the biggest challenge, for the teacher in Mr Narayan will not let him compromise on education. "The school has given us a 10% concession for each child, which isn't much, but we are allowed to pay in installments, which helps," he said.

The going is extremely tough, said Mr Narayan. “People bring food and clothes, but there is almost no money coming in.” That seems a valid point – how do they make ends meet? “We just pray, we have no   other choice,” he said. “That’s why I call this place Home of Faith.

2.  Accept - Raju Mathew

Apart from the pain and suffering of being HIV positive, of watching one's body slowly waste away into illness and death, the fact that they have no family and no friends left seems to bother them most.

The patients receive all forms of care here, from having a roof above their heads and three meals a day to medication, surgical and palliative care and even hospice services for those who need it.

All that might soon come to an end, however.  Founded by Raju Mathew in 2000, ACCEPT is meant to be a short stay home that provides palliative care to people with HIV.

It is also a home for positive children, who really have no place to go.

With the government no longer funding HIV community care centres, Mr Raju Mathew, like hundreds of others, are looking at a severe financial crunch.

But Mathew is resolute when he says, "We will give treatment to those who ask for it."

3. Omashram - Geeta Shankar

Sometimes, I wish my old age home didn't exist," said Geeta Shankar.

"People call me and say old age home is doing very well, that it's absolutely packed.

That only means more and more people are abandoning their parents, doesn't it?" So says Geeta Shankar, founder, Omashram, who always meets life head-on with a smile.

"People have tried to make me angry, they've even  taken wagers," she said. "It's never worked!" Geeta has, over the years, become like a mother to the residents of her home, despite the fact that many of them are twice her age.

"I always say old age is like a second childhood," she said. "That's why my dream is to run an orphanage side by side with an old age home- the children don't have grandparents and the old people crave grandchildren, so they will have each other."

4. Mathru Foundation -  Dr Malathi Holla'

Home for disabled children started by the best known Indian para athelete. Children are mainly from rural Karnataka, are given education and help to stand on their feet. Their medical expenses for surgeries etc are also met

5. Senior Citizens Bangalore

Organisation started 12 years ago by retired people, Now has 57 members, to support underprivileged kids. Around 1500 students in 8 schools get food, uniforms, books and footwear. They also have a home for the destitute.

6. Sahasra Deepika - Ramakrishna

Orphange started in 1997. Started with 10 inmates, Has 60 children now. A school has also been set up next door and inmates get highly subsidised education. Overall, provides holistic education till 10th grade.

7. Grace Charitable Trust - Pastor Charles

More than 50 abandoned children given shelter and "home" care. No permanent donors, the shelter has been asked to vacate current premises and no alternative in sight.

8. Vishalakshi Rescue Foundation
A voluntary organisation that is there in case of every emergency from fire or road accidents to natural calamities. Three pronged objectives - preparation, rescue operations and relief work. Saving life is priority and it means putting ones own life at risk.

9. Karnataka Rehabilation Centre - George

Home for anyone who needs it — old, destitute women, children and handicapped. A completely self-sufficient place over 4 acres, with 20 residents and 6 staff. Charges with Sells farm produce for income.

10. Sangama - Akkai Padmashali

Working for the cause of transgenders. Want to be treated like everyone and not be judged on who they are. Fight the laws that affect the community

11. Parinaam - Elaine Ghosh

Healthcare camps for urban poor, financial literacy and savings training for urban poor women and schooling for poor childern from slums

12. Maruthy Animal Charitable Trust - S Reddy

Started 20 years ago to provide shelter for abandoned dogs. Five staff and part time vet 150 dogs provided shelter in a 10,000 sq ft home.