The Power of Purpose: How We Sparked a Movement 11 Years Ago

11 years ago, the idea of Feeding India was born—not as a grand vision, but as a simple thought: to raise awareness about food wastage. It started as a small campaign, fueled by the belief that food should never be wasted while so many go hungry.

At the time, our core team of four—fresh out of college and barely 21-22 years old—came together with a shared passion for food and the belief that it was meant to nourish, not waste. We knew next to nothing about building organizations or managing large-scale initiatives. But what drove us wasn’t experience or resources; it was pure passion and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.

This social venture was my life's first initiative toward creating something meaningful and impactful. The initial days of sleepless nights often sparked a discomfort, making us question what we were trying to achieve. It’s a feeling many can relate to when building something new—those moments of doubt and uncertainty. But trust me, everything you do while building an organization pays off in the end if you focus on the core objective.

The idea of collecting surplus food and delivering it to those in need seemed economically unviable at first. I remember how one night we drove 40 kilometers to pick up leftover food from a marriage and then delivered it the same night to a shelter 30 kilometers away. It sounds insane—something that can never make economic sense—but it was vital for the larger goal. Passion often defies logic. We started small, reaching out to catering services and waiting for their calls. Late at night, armed with plastic containers, we would collect leftover food and deliver it to the nearest shelter homes.

The journey required continuous and extensive efforts—creating like-minded communities across India, organizing public events, participating in roadshows, and encouraging people to speak about food wastage. These activities often seemed small in isolation, but over time, they snowballed into something far greater than we could have ever imagined.

It’s okay if you don’t see quick results from the effort you put in. What’s important is sticking to the core and not over-emphasizing external validation.

Good things take time to build. Challenges will test your resolve, but if you stay true to your core belief, success becomes inevitable. Feeding India now stands as a testament to this. Today, it is more than just an initiative—it’s a movement, a symbol of how one small thought can ripple into something extraordinary.

After a decade of relentless effort, I’m thrilled to see Feeding India under the impressive leadership of Zomato. The organization has become bolder, bigger, and more impactful than ever before. I see this core idea of raising awareness about food wastage growing even further in the coming years.

To everyone pursuing a purpose-driven idea: keep going. Passion backed by action can move mountains.

#FeedingIndia #SocialImpact #FoodForAll #NoFoodWasted