In a small town hospital in Palghar, Maharashtra, as early morning mist still clings to the trees, Kiran Kamdar stirs a massive pot of khichdi, a humble meal of rice and lentils, seasoned not just with spice, but with strength. She’s 62, a mother, a carer, a teacher, and for the past three years, a silent hero serving over 100 patients and their families every single day. All this, while battling Parkinson’s disease.
When she was diagnosed in 2018, her hands had begun to tremble, but her spirit never did.
A Mission Born in the Wards
During a hospital visit in 2021, Kiran noticed something heartbreaking- patients skipping meals because they couldn’t afford them. Some were from distant villages. Others had no one to bring them food. Most had simply resigned themselves to hunger.
That day, she returned home, rolled up her sleeves, and began cooking. Not just for her family — but for anyone who needed a warm, filling meal at the DM Petit Government Hospital. She called it her “Khichdi Bank.” With a few ingredients and a lot of love, it has grown into a lifeline.
Fighting a Personal Battle — and Winning
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and coordination. For most, the diagnosis comes with fear and fatigue. For Kiran, it came with urgency.
She wakes at 5:00 AM every day, despite her condition, to cook 22 kilos of khichdi. The preparation is long. The cooking is demanding. But she doesn’t miss a single day- even on bad ones. As hospital staff confirm, “She hasn’t taken a break in three years.”
Her son has cerebral palsy, and even while caring for him, she has kept her purpose alive. Earlier, she taught underprivileged children for free. Now, she pours that same compassion into every meal.
Doctors and nurses admire her quiet resilience. She expects no reward, asks for no donations, and yet delivers more than most paid systems ever do.
Recognised, But Never Resting
In 2024, Femina and Mamaearth named her a “Beautiful Indian”, an award celebrating changemakers across the country. Social media pages flooded with admiration. News outlets shared her story. But Kiran remains grounded. She still carries her steel containers to the hospital. Still serves with the same smile.
Her only request? That people help someone else in return.
The Real Recipe
Kiran Kamdar’s story isn’t about charity. It’s about dignity, consistency, and invisible heroism.
It reminds us that kindness doesn’t need a campaign. It just needs commitment.
That hope, sometimes, looks like a steaming plate of khichdi.
And that even as the hands may tremble, the heart can stay unshakably still.