'Neki Ki Tokri' – A basket of kindness

Random acts of kindness spread positivity around and make us elated. For some preferring anonymity, to stay in shadows, while extending help, there is a way out. Practising this himself and helping others join the cause, albeit incognito, is Jameel Nasri, a travel agent, whose novel act of kindness to feed the poor offering them flatbread 'Sheermal' is finding many takers. A video featuring his noble cause with a theme of "Neki Ki Tokri" (Basket of Virtue) is going viral.

Nasri is following a famous tradition of Turkey, where kind-hearted people while purchasing flatbread buy a few more pieces from bakers and drop the same in a basket placed next to the shop, in order to help the poor pick up bannocks from the basket free of cost.

Just a few meters away from the King Koti Cross Roads, a bread baker shop, Sheermaal Ki Dukaan, is located opposite to Jama Masjid, where Jameel Nasri fixed a basket for putting bread, along with a message that reads "Feeding hungry is a noble deed. People badly off can take the bread from this basket while people well off can drop their generous grant here." Soon the breads started pouring into the basket. People in need are seen taking away their share of grant. "I don't know who made the video that became viral on social media. Honestly I found it a very pleasing act of kindness wherein one can help poor people in disguise without getting themselves involved as there are a lot of people whose modesty can't allow them to panhandle anyone and they suffer in silence. However, by way of 'Neki Ki Tokri' initiative, one can help such people by keeping themselves completely off the scene," says Jameel Nasri.

"It is almost six months now. It really gives me immense pleasure and solace as poor people, especially those who are in desperate need, are getting their share of food whenever they need it from the basket. Now I have decided to set up a few more similar baskets at various bread baker shops, more specifically at Government Hospital King Koti to help people get the food without paying that too irrespective of their economic status," he informed of his way forward.

Likening the Jameel Nasri's act as a selfless noble cause, Mohd Ateeq, owner of 44-year-old 'Mughal Naan,' the shop where the basket was affixed, said "Jameel Nasri approached us six months ago with the idea that surprised me very much. As the move is completely a philanthropic cause, I too joined him without a second thought and allowed him to fix a basket with a message board next to my shop."