Soup kitchens are people power in a contested space
Josie Fernandez, The Malaysian Insider
“Delhi is proud. Bombay is rich. Kolata has a heart.” – Indian proverb.
Kuala Lumpur has an image problem, according to Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the Federal Territories Minister, brought about by soup kitchens run by volunteers to feed the poor and hungry in Malaysia’s capital city.
Tengku Adnan has stated that Putrajaya was determined to clear Kuala Lumpur of the homeless and hungry as they give a bad image to an otherwise beautiful city!
Kuala Lumpur does not have a heart. Kolkata has for centuries drawn millions of people. The hunger and squalor hit the eye but Kolkata is a vibrant, democratic city, home of Nobel prize winners Roland Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, CV Raman, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen, intellectuals of world class, the Bengal Tiger, writers, film makers and cricketers.
It’s a vibrant city, a city empowered by its democracy. “A City of Joy”, as author Dominque Lapierre calls it, despite the poverty. It’s a city that celebrates festivals, be it Durgha Puja, Christmas or New Year, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Jains pray, sing, dance and wine in celebration.
Kolkata has nurtured a society that is philanthropic, a centre for many charities, and built a giving society.
There are many soup kitchens in Kolkata. The Salvation Army, for example has free feeding programmes.
Soup kitchens started in the US during the Depression in 1929. Every city and town had a soup kitchen. When the economy became worse in the mid-1930s, state and federal governments were operating soup kitchens.
Soup kitchens have not gone away. They are still part of the US philanthropic field. Former President Bill Clinton in his inspiring book, Giving, states: “…the world is an unequal, unstable and unsustainable”. He urges for “more enlightened government policies, more competent and honest public administration, more social justice…”.
But in many areas, despite the quality of government, Clinton underscores the role of the non-profit sector or NGOs who come together to address poverty, disease, climate change, etc.
Clinton says, “I want to use my time, experience and contacts to saving lives, solving problems,and empowering more people…”
Of course, Tengku Adnan is not Bill Clinton.
