Chandigarh : , Nov 29, 2009 : .Chandigarh was a self-made billionaire who provided fresh vegetarian meals to tens of thousands of hungry people every day with his own funds.
He died Monday at the age of just 86. Jagdish Lal Ahuja was popularly known as “langar baba” and had been serving free food in Chandigarh’s langar since 1981.This is a practice that allows all to enjoy a free community kitchen.
He was awarded the Padma Shri for his philanthropic services to the community.
He had started a community kitchen every day since 2001.It was initially located outside the PGI Hospital.Later, he established it at Sector 32’s Government Medical College and Hospital.In the afternoon and late night, the langar serves fresh vegetarian food.
Food was served daily to approximately 2,000 to 2,500 people, but special occasions could see that number rise up to 4,000.His routine community kitchens were not affected by the pandemic.
To get the food, people wait in a line.
He sold his seventh property, worth Rs 1.5 crore, in 2015 to raise money to provide meals for anyone who showed up.
He was only 12 years old when he fled Peshawar to reach India during the 1947 partition.He spent his first two years in refugee camps in Amritsar and Patiala, before finally moving to Chandigarh at 21.He then began selling fruits.
Later, he was the “banana king”, and had a thriving banana business.
Ahuja said that he started the noble gesture of helping the poor by organizing a ‘langar for children’ to celebrate his eighth birthday.
It brought back memories of my childhood because I saw the joy in the faces of the children.I decided to organize ‘langar’ every single day.
“Since then I am holding the langar’ without any miss.”
His evening and afternoon ‘langars’ are eagerly awaited by the poor as well as patients’ attendants at both city’s top hospitals.They serve ‘dal, chapatti, rice, halwa and a banana.
He also served biscuits to patients with cancer and toffees and lollipops to children.
Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Chief Minister, condoled his passing and said that “His selfless gesture to provide free food and medicine to the poor and needy at PGIMER will always inspire others to do such noble service.”
The langar service continued even after his death.
The poor and attendants of patients prayed with wet eyes and lips for the continuation of his selfless service.They believe he will always be remembered for his selfless work.
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