Ghanshyamdas Agarwal provides help to the differently abled at hospitals and shelters in Jaipur

 
“Health and illiteracy are the biggest detriments in our country’s march towards progress. From educating the girl child to buying books to read with patients, buying medicines and sharing in their sorrow, pain and angst, I have been a part of people’s arduous journeys”

—Ghanshyam Agarwal, Jaipur

A photographer by profession, Ghanshyam Agarwal, 83, Jaipur, has been spending two hours every day at hospitals and shelters for the differently abled since 2004. On weekdays, he visits Sawai Man Singh Hospital and, over the weekends, he is at Mother Teresa Home, spending time with the residents. Not only does he listen to their grievances, he provides help in whatever form he can, including feeding and washing them. Born to freedom-fighter parents in Sikar district of Rajasthan, and having accompanied them to jail at the age of six, the concept of seva has been ingrained in him since childhood. Currently, he is sponsoring the education of two girls who will graduate in 2019. Earlier, he had sponsored the education of another girl, Tanya, who is currently employed with a law firm in Delhi and now helping to educate others.

—Sahil Jaswal

Photographs by Surendra Jain Paras
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
August 2018