When 40-year-old Shankar Mugalkhod’s phone rang notifying him of an emergency, the ambulance driver rushed immediately to help a 55-year-old homeless HIV positive woman who was breathless and required immediate medical help.
Picking the double-amputee right from her doorstep, he dropped her to the nearest civic hospital in the neighbourhood in his ambulance. In fact, he paid for her medicines too.
He has helped numerous homeless and abandoned persons without families in the past, say doctors from across the city who treat patients admitted by him in a Hindustan Times report.
Apart from rushing many to the hospitals, Shankar has also taken upon himself to perform final rites for those that lose the battle to their ailments.
The best part is that Shankar has been doing this selfless service since the last 18 years without claiming credit or attracting attention from the media.
When asked about what prompted him to do this service, Shankar says his childhood marred by poverty pushed him to aid the destitute.
Talking about his difficult formative life, he states how he would go to bed empty stomach and live on clothes and footwear from garbage bins.
While he first started rushing patients to hospitals in cabs and auto-rickshaws, NGO Bombay Teen Challenge, donated him an ambulance to carry on his work.
Many times, cops reach out to Shankar to help homeless and abandoned people reach hospitals and shelter homes.
Just one phone call away, Shankar is always on duty armed with his ambulance and stretcher and a road map of the nearest civic hospital.
What I like about this real life story is that when faced with hard and challenging times, you can either let your situation define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you. The choice is yours to make. Shankar has chosen empathy and compassion towards the destitute because he has walked miles in their shoes!
This post is part of the We Are the World Blogfest, a monthly event created by Damyanti Biswas and Belinda Witzenhausen to showcase stories of hope and light. This month I’m helping Damyanti out as a co-host, along with extraordinary bloggers Inderpreet Uppal, Sylvia Stein, Susan Scott and Andrea Michaels —please hop over to check out their WATWB posts as well as from other WATWB participants for a dose of feel-good to last you a whole month. You’ll be happy you did!
Click HERE to check out the intention and rules of the blogfest and feel free to sign up at any time. You are always welcome!
24 Responses
Truly an inspiring man, thank you for sharing this Shilpa!
Shankar is a living God.
This is so inspiring shilpa; and glad to read this post, shanker is bringing light into the darkness and has not let circumstances control his behaviour, thanks for sharing.
It is stories of real life angels such as this that help strengthen our faith in humanity.
A very inspiring story, Shilpa.
Truly a brave and courageous fellow to help out people with communicable diseases like AIDS! Great job indeed and thanks for sharing .
This is fantastic, Shilpa. Shankar is being the change he wants to see in the world. So wonderful that his life has taught him such practical compassion. Thanks for co-hosting us.
I have no words for a man like Shankar– to do this for years on end, is the epitome of compassion.
To balance out all the evil in this world, there are people like him– stories like this make WATWB worthwhile.
Now, that’s a real life superhero!
Very nice! I don’t know how it is in other parts of the world, but dealing with the homeless here in the States can be a dicey proposition. There’s a lot of mental illness, drug & alcohol abuse, and general decay in those populations, but it’s good to know someone is looking out for them.
Absolute hero. These are the people who should be showcased to the world repeatedly.
A wonderful man–thanks for sharing the story of his compassion!
What a heart-warming story. I’m so glad you shared it so we can celebrate this fine man and be inspired by his devotion and compassion.
Ditto what Deborah Weber said. This is an inspiring man who has his heart in the right place. The world could use a few more people like him, I do believe. 🙂
A beautiful soul, indeed!
Reaffirms ones faith in humanity! Thank you for sharing Shilpa 🙂
You can allow your past to define you, or you can redefine your future because of your past. I think it’s incredible that Shankar has been doing this for over 18 years! He is a baby face, haha. I’m sure his community absolutely loves him.
Shilpa, reading that Shankar has been doing this for the past 18 years brought tears to my eyes.
Truly an angel!
God bless his soul!
Thank you for sharing this amazing and selfless story.
When people have a terrible childhood, there are two directions they can go in. What a choice this man has made. Amazing and inspiring.
What a kindhearted man. Bless him abundantly!
A true hero in today’s world. We need more people with that kind of heart and generosity.
What a wonderful man – it’s often the people who have the least that give the most.
Shankar is an inspiration! Thank you for sharing this, Shilpa.
He is a savior for so many and to be doing it for so many years. So remarkable.
Thank you for sharing, Shilpa.
For other people and organisations helping homeless and destitute, refer to http://www.indiaactivities.com/help-homeless-and-destitute/