Unsung Heroes of Pune (2020)
Hey, are you getting bored sitting at your home or you are too busy to read this article?
Well, either way, I think you must read this piece, it will bring you happiness and positivity in your day. I will apologize to all of the people who can’t relate to this because this article will include the unsung heroes in Pune who are doing their best to make the Red Zone with the greatest number of COVID — 19 cases a better place to live. If you want to learn their stories, then keep reading.
As you all know, when Coronavirus came to India, it was PUNE which had the maximum number of cases in the entire country, yes, I live here but somehow, we got through those crucial months of April and May.
Trust me, it wasn’t easy. At some point, we weren’t even getting proper vegetables and fruits to go on with our daily lives. As things started to get better, it was Mumbai that became the city with the greatest number of cases of COVID — 19.
Ok, enough of what happened, let’s get into what is happening now.
So, the first story I would like to share with you guys is of Korean Association of Pune. This association has been a part of Pune since 2000, that is like 2 decades.
Their main aim is to familiarize Indians to Korean culture. As we know, there are so many Korean companies in India, some of them are Hyundai, Samsung, LG which has resulted in many Korean employees immigrating to India. In the first few years, it was 500 Koreans would immigrate annually 20 years ago but now the number has crossed 1,500 in Pune alone. This statistic is 5 years old, so the number has increased gradually!
Did you know about this community? Well, not me and it was very fascinating to know how many South Koreans reside here for jobs, and so close to my house.
The raised a lot of funds for the COVID — 19 relief. Chairman Hyunsuk Choo donated Rs. 10 lakhs to underprivileged people and hospitals in Pune around April 25 to May 11. That was a crucial time, and they helped us a lot.
While we were sitting at homes, they were distributing food and water to migrant workers at Pune Railway Station around June 2 to June 7 to approximately 2,600 migrant workers returning to their hometown — PUNE.
Did we, as Indians take that initiative to help the migrant workers as their jobs were lost in this lockdown? Or maybe we didn’t try enough but South Korean community helped people in difficult times.
A lot is spoken in these deeds, and this virus has brought everyone together in a very different way. It is humanity that is put first above everything else. God, is that what you wanted out of this?
Not everyone is following that though, with all the things happening with China, Pakistan and India.
Chairman Choo said, “We will continue to do our best to deliver food package to the vulnerable people in Pune, who need it more than ever before.” (Source: TOI)
Their efforts didn’t stop just here,
June 5 to June 7:
Food distributed to 330 household families with low income
Food to 110 Commercial Sex Workers.
Well, this is a very inspiring story, did you read about this community before?
I would like to know more about this community, so let me know on my Instagram or twitter at @ankitaforever if you would like to have a separate article for this Korean community!
Let us get into the second story of these unspoken heroes:
Let me take you a few months back in time, more specifically to the month of mangoes and when Eid happened — a little early this year.
On Eid that was on May 27th, Million Dollar Vegan distributed around 2,000 food packets to underprivileged people in Kondhwa. It was a part of the food donation programme by this organization who took a step to support the vulnerable communities in 10 countries with delicious vegan meals.
Eid and vegan meals don’t ring a bell do it? But I bet the food might have been delicious enough to bring a smile to those sad faces.
What was the menu? Well, it was the Authentic biryani made with mock meat and popular Sevai (vermicelli), dry fruits and sheer khurma. People made sure they are following the rules of social distancing while collecting the food packets.
Along with Million Dollar Vegan, Haddiya Social Foundation took the responsibility to prepare all these food items on this auspicious day. Salim Mulla, the founder said, “This mock meat is as good as or even better than mutton or beef. It’s soft and you can’t make out its not mutton or beef.” (Source TOI)
Isn’t these stories just so heartfelt to read? That even in the most difficult of times the people around us have found a way to help each other and celebrate festivals together. The Indian Campaign manager of Million Dollar Vegan, Darshana Mazumdar said, “Million Dollar Vegan is a global organization that was founded to educate people to realize the dangers of eating animal products and raising animals in intensive and confined spaces. This Vegan Eid is part of the global food giveaway of $100,000 to the most vulnerable people and communities in ten countries. We are putting plants ON the menu to take pandemics OFF.”
Well, we all have been going through a lot and some of them out there aren’t even getting food regularly. It is really sad to read such stuff which brings reality in front of us but we can’t change the truth. One thing we can do is try our best to change them.
Donate as much as you can — it can be giving your maids and other help workers regular salary in this lockdown.
Provide them with clothes and amenities — many communities take old clothes and other items and give them to the needy people, contact them and give away the clothes you don’t require.
In these tough days, it is very easy to bring negativity around you, it is a tendency to see how many people are dying due to this virus than how many of them are recovering. So, why not today we read these stories of unsung heroes who bought light to so many people only for a day but will be remembered by everyone when we will look back to 2020.
2020 is the worst year! This year couldn’t get worse! How the hell will we get back to our usual schedule? God, I am bored sitting at home!!
All of these are privileges some don’t get, it is bitter but it is true, let’s help people with this privilege with as much as we can.
Lastly, if you’re fortunate enough, try to give them jobs or refer them jobs — it is one of the best things you can do for them at the most!