Karnan Thatha was found in a dire condition on the streets of Pondicherry. Seriously ill, he was immediately taken for emergency medical care, where he remained hospitalized for 20 days due to multiple health complications. During this time, Snehan began tracing the location Karnan had mentioned. After two days of searching, we discovered his son. Upon contacting the family and informing them about Karnan’s condition, they arrived and took charge of him. Given his critical state, the family made the decision to bring him home to spend his remaining days in familiar surroundings. The hospital approved their request and discharged him, but as they lacked the funds for transportation, the family reached out to Snehan for assistance.
It was an eye-opening experience witnessing the harsh realities faced by impoverished families. Since our vehicle was battery-operated, we were uncertain about its range, so we offered to drop the family off in Cuddalore, where they could arrange further transport. Karnan’s son agreed and spent nearly 30 minutes making calls, desperately trying to borrow 200 rupees for transportation. Unfortunately, every attempt failed, until one person finally agreed to help. However, the auto driver approached quoted 600 rupees—a sum to reach home, they simply couldn’t afford. In the end, Snehan decided to take the risk and drive Karnan Thatha all the way home. Thankfully, the battery held up, and we made it back safely.
This experience taught us a valuable lesson: not everyone has enough to meet, even the smallest needs—many struggle for as little as 10 rupees. Poverty is deeply entrenched, especially in rural areas among marginalized and uneducated communities. Sharing with those who have less is truly a blessing.
