Two nations. Seven-hundred-and-fifty volunteers. One lakh food packets for the hungry and homeless.
An army of students and young professionals from across India, including 50 from Calcutta, will distribute food in slums of India and Pakistan on August 14-15 in a unique Independence Day initiative aimed at spreading a message of peace and friendship.
The city chapter of the Robin Hood Army, as they call themselves, is led by Ankita Dokania, a fashion designer, and Chitvan Jaipuria, a wedding and event planner. Also part of the group is Green Oscar winner Ashwika Kapur. “I have been part of the army since its inception. I always do my bit to spread the word when I am not in the jungles,” she said.
It all began in August 2014 with Neel Ghose, a city boy who works with Zomato in Delhi, teaming up with colleague Anand Sinha to form the Robin Hood Army in Delhi. “We procured excess food from restaurants to distribute among the poor. It’s been fulfilling,” said Neel over the phone from Delhi.
The army now operates in 12 cities, including Calcutta, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The city chapter was born in October 2014 with five of Neel’s friends. Today, there are 50 members and several more volunteers.
In February this year, Neel got in touch with a Pakistani friend who helped form the Lahore and Karachi chapters of the army. Thus was born the idea of commemorating Independence Day. The Calcutta army plans to distribute over 4,000 food packets among slum dwellers in the Kidderpore, Gariahat, Southern Avenue, Park Circus and other areas.
Isha Kapoor, a third-year student of JD Birla College, joined the movement three months ago. “For I-Day I have mobilised my friends to distribute food in their neighbourhoods,” she said. Aishwarya Jena, a third-year student of microbiology at St. Xavier’s College, has been marshalling forces, too.
Pragya Jena, an entrepreneur, remembers a boy who refused to take a packet of khichdi because he wanted another one for his dog. “Such life’s lessons are precious,” she said.
The movement has garnered corporate support. “We hope to involve more people. But for now we want to make people smile on both sides of the border,” Ankita said.
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta,India / Front Page> Calcutta> Story / by Chandreyee Ghose / Friday – August 14th, 2015