I want to die while serving people

• The pain of hunger is the reason for my service
• No one should abandon their parents
• Welfare schemes should be extended to orphans
• They should be given Aadhaar cards and the right to vote
• ‘Annam Foundation Chairman’ Srinivasa Rao with ‘Prime Post’

“A pang of hunger is now feeding the hunger of many. A life without shelter is turning into a sanctuary for hundreds. Standing as a support for thousands of the needy, it walks alongside orphans who have no one else. But … that walk is not stopping there. Over time, it is turning into a run. Crossing district borders, it is touring states and neighboring countries. Shouting ‘Service, Service’… it is fighting tirelessly for the starving and the needy, becoming a grain of ‘food’ in their lives to satisfy their hunger.”

“It goes without saying who these words are dedicated to. It is easily understood that they are written about Annam Srinivasa Rao, a true warrior standing by the destitute. Annam Srinivasa Rao is well-known not only as the Founder and Chairman of Annam Seva Foundation in Khammam, but also as a soulmate and selfless servant to orphans, the destitute, the mentally challenged, and the homeless. He is a rare philanthropist who has dedicated his entire life solely to the service of others. After retiring as a BSNL employee, he used all his retirement benefits for social service and established the Annam Seva Foundation, proving to be a great humanitarian. He shared his experiences and goals with ‘Prime Post’.”

Prime Post: What inspired you to choose the path of social service?

Annam Srinivasa Rao: Poverty, hunger, and hardships faced during my childhood were the main reasons. The difficulties I experienced back then strongly planted the seed of service in my mind. With the determination to give back to society after settling down in life, I established the Annam Seva Foundation in Khammam in 2016. Although I had helped people during my student and employment days, I am now able to serve on a much larger scale through the foundation.

Prime Post: Apart from hunger and struggles, was there anyone who inspired you to serve?

Annam: In 1969, I joined a free hostel run in the name of Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu by Ayitam Mangapati Rao, where I took admission in the 6th grade. Established in 1958, this hostel accommodated students from all castes. Since Mangapati Rao had a very kind heart, he provided free accommodation to many poor students and built bright futures for them. His spirit of service became my inspiration. My inner urge for social service blossomed only after seeing him. That is why Mangapati Rao is my role model.

Prime Post: Do you remember any specific incident that marked the beginning of your service?

Annam: When I was studying in the 8th grade, a student named Sheikh Buran, who stayed at Mangapati Rao’s hostel, accidentally fell into a nearby stream. He did not even know how to swim. Although he was being carried away by the strong current, no one on the bank dared to rescue him. At that moment, Sheikh Buran’s elder brother, Akbar Ali, was also there. Realizing that the situation was getting out of hand, I jumped into the raging stream without a second thought.

While trying to save him, both of us drifted a distance. Since Buran held onto me tightly, it became difficult to reach the shore. Even though there was a risk of losing both our lives, I courageously swam against the current and brought Buran safely to the bank. I saved his life and, in the process, saved my own. You could say my journey of service began with this incident.

Prime Post: How many people are currently being sheltered in your ashram?

Annam: The foundation currently provides shelter, food, medical care, and accommodation to about 200 people, including those facing mental and physical challenges, the destitute, and orphans. We play a key role in rescuing mentally unstable individuals wandering on the streets and providing them with treatment at the ashram.

Prime Post: What else does your foundation do?

Annam: Our foundation does the remarkable work of treating people who have lost their mental health and left their homes, identifying their families, and reuniting them. So far, we have sent back nearly 200 people belonging to various states across the country to their families. No matter how remote the region is, we trace their relatives and hand them over respectfully.

Prime Post: Many people say the service you provided during the COVID-19 pandemic was extraordinary. What kind of services did you offer during that time?

Annam: We served extensively during the days when the COVID-19 pandemic was plaguing humanity. At a time when even family members did not come forward, we performed final rites for hundreds of people who died of COVID according to their religious traditions.

When former MLA Katta Venkata Narsiah passed away in Hyderabad due to COVID, we transported his body to his native village in Madhira constituency and conducted the funeral closely with his family members. While everyone was watching, we even kissed his body to create awareness. We did this to show people that the virus does not spread through the deceased. This gave clarity to many people.

We performed final rites for nearly 2,000 people who died of COVID in the Telugu states. We provided these services in Khammam, both Godavari districts, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad, Suryapet, and Hyderabad districts. Even when people who died of COVID in apartments were not allowed to be brought down in elevators, we carried them on our shoulders, brought them down, and conducted funerals with dignity.

Furthermore, we provided extensive services to COVID patients undergoing treatment. As a result, I also contracted COVID and recovered after treatment. Even after that, I did not stop my service; we continued helping victims as long as the pandemic lasted. We also arranged food and shelter for migrant workers and helped them reach their hometowns.

Prime Post: You also provide services to victims of train and road accidents, right?

Annam: Yes. We have served thousands of people who met with train and road accidents. Whenever people fall off moving trains, die in accidents, or take their own lives, we transfer their bodies to the mortuary as instructed by the police, and perform final rites for the unclaimed bodies. So far, we have cremated over 1,000 people who lost their lives in train accidents alone.

No matter what condition a dead body is in or how badly it smells, we carefully transport it to the mortuary and hand it over to the family members after the post-mortem. If no one shows up, we perform the cremation ourselves. When a prominent political leader, Rayala Chandra Sekhar Rao, met with a train accident and died, we were the ones who transported his body. We are still doing this work.

Prime Post: Have you received any recognition for your service so far?

Annam: I have received recognition at national and international levels. I have received awards, rewards, and numerous accolades.

• Textbook Mention: My social work has been included as a lesson titled ‘The warrior who broke all barriers’ in the Telangana State Intermediate 1st and 2nd year English textbooks.
• Awards and Honors: For my service to the destitute and mentally challenged, I received many national and international awards, including the Global Peace Prize-2021 from the Indore-based World Book of Star Records. I also received awards from International Lions Clubs and Rotary Clubs.
• During the 2016 Telangana Formation Day celebrations, I received the Khammam District ‘Best Social Worker’ award from the then District Collector Lokesh Kumar and SP Shahnaz Khassim.
• On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I received awards at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad from then state ministers Mahboob Ali and Koppula Eshwar.
• In 2020, the documentary made on me titled ‘The Humanist’ won the ‘Best Documentary’ award at the Uttar Pradesh International Film Festival. Judges from Simdega district in Jharkhand and Golaghat district in Assam have also presented me with appreciation letters for my services.

Previously, I worked as a mentor in the Khammam District Jail for four years, where I taught prisoners about good behavior. Since I turned 60 during that period, the jail officers and staff celebrated my Sashti Poorthi (60th birthday) together. Until then, I had never celebrated my birthday. I prefer continuous service and leading a simple life; I have no interest in pomp and show. My desire is to pass away while continuing to serve.

Prime Post: Is there anything you would like to tell society?

Annam: Society is a temple, and parents are the gods within it. There is no one greater than them in this world. But we are abandoning them in their final stages and ignoring their welfare. I earnestly request no one to do so. The society around me has supported my service immensely so far, and I am deeply grateful for that.

Prime Post: Do you expect anything from the governments?

Annam: We achieved independence through the sacrifices of many, but the fruits of that freedom are not reaching everyone equally. They must reach everyone, especially orphans, the destitute, mentally challenged individuals, and the homeless. All welfare schemes of the central and state governments should reach them.

Orphans living in ashrams do not even have Aadhaar cards or voting rights. These must be provided to the destitute as well, so that all government-implemented welfare schemes reach them.

Annam Srinivasa Rao – File Photos