Everyday Heroes ! Shyam and Asha

I looked on as he went up to a young man on a bike and told him ever so politely to move his vehicle from the zebra crossing. The young man abided and was given a small toffee in return. ‘Chocolates always bring back memories. This chocolate will remind him to never stop his bike in the zebra crossing at a signal’ he had told me earlier that day. Before I could complete that thought, there he was running up to another rider who was just about to stop at the zebra crossing. Watching an old man walk up and down the zebra crossing around Income Tax, Amdavad would have been  a unique sight for the commuters passing by but this was only one of the many other Sundays that Shyam kaka spent doing social good.

All of us have planned our lives after retirement haven’t we? For some it is a trip around the world while for others it is a house overlooking the beach. But Shyam kaka had a different idea. A very different idea indeed. ‘I took an early retirement because I felt the time had come for me to do something for the society. I wanted to give back to the society.’ Shyam kaka in all his endeavours has been lucky to be supported by his other half Asha kaki who takes keen interest in all the activities that he undertakes often supporting him on the field too. After retirement, Shyam kaka felt the need for coming up with such a space where people could come together to read, interact and discuss topics of concern as they gorged on food and sipped tea. Hence was born the Libber Cafe, a place where such interactions between people became possible. After running the Libber Cafe for around two years, Shyam kaka and Asha kaki focused their attention on spreading awareness about good social conduct amongst people in the city. ‘It is not like people don’t know that they should follow traffic rules and they shouldn’t litter. It is just that they don’t follow them despite knowing them. It is a sense of awareness that we are trying to spread amongst people that they should respect and follow these norms.’ says Asha kaki.  Shyam kaka and Asha kakis efforts have been recognised by youngsters in the area and it is beautiful to see how every Sunday they all support the couple’s effort by lending their help. As a decentralised group of people called By Heart, these youngsters along with Kaka and Kaki do work worth acclaim. The group chooses different areas of work every 3 weeks and go on to perform activities to bring about awareness amongst the masses. ‘I am not trying to preach anything here.’ says kaka talking about his work. ‘All I am trying to do is spread a ripple of awareness amongst the people. It is a message that we are trying to communicate to every member of the society so that we can give our next generations a better tomorrow.’ Says the man who fasts once a week to bring peace in the lives of those who affected by family members who are addicted to alcohol.

Very often conviction gets left behind because of succumbing to convenience. But not for this couple. Come rain or shine, they leave their homes enthusiastically to make a difference. They are the change that they want to see. To their conviction and passion for people... We Salute.