Are you being served?

The concept of Seva Cafeacute can make even diehard consumerists do a rethink At a time when money speaks loudest Seva Cafeacute highlights the goodness of people Started in Ahmedabad seven years ago as an experiment centred on the joy of giving it is based on the belief that Atithi Devo Bhava the guest is God and food must be served as a token of love Here meals are cooked by volunteers and served to people who can choose to sponsor the next guestrsquos meal as per their capacity and wish Thus previous guests pay for every meal and volunteers cook clean and serve in this spirit A volunteer serving food With monthly sessions in Pune and Bengaluru Seva Cafeacute was hosted in Mumbai on January 13 at Shantivan Gardens Napean Sea Road It featured 100 guests and 15 volunteers The next session is slated for February 17 At the Saturday session people were served pangat style on the floor and the menu included simple items such as Pulao and Raita Dhokla with chutney and Gajar Ka Halwa Recalling the session Siddharth Sthalekar 31 a Seva Cafeacute volunteer says ldquoIn India itrsquos a tradition for families to host people at home Here we serve people across the community unknown to us but we trust them to value it and pay for future gatherings Class divides donrsquot count the rich can serve the poor and vice versa It relies on generosityrdquo Sthalekar chucked a comfortable corporate career to work for nonprofit organisations and serves at Ahmedabadrsquos Gandhi Ashram People drop by voluntarily and provide help based on wordofmouth ldquoItrsquos an experiment if it doesn39t work out we will shut it and move on but we will never refuse a meal due to the economics of itrdquo he says matteroffactly Every Seva Cafeacute gathering has its share of stories and the Mumbai chapter was no exception ldquoPlates spoons and groceries were donated while someone contributed the dessert At times we get guests who pay less or nothing and walk out but since its not based on transactionalism we ignore it There are people who come with the intent of free food but change their minds after seeing volunteersrsquo efforts Therersquos a leap of faith involved we trust that something good will emerge that a guest takes back Perhaps the person will leave happier and pass on this joyrdquo believes Sthalekar u00a0People are updated about sessions and opt to volunteer via email Sthalekar says ldquoThis is a microcosm of society that shows how a circle of giving gets completed with someone offering their money time or food for someone else Even if one person shirks the circle falls apartrdquo Log on to wwwsevacafeorg Experiments in giftivism gt In June 2010 Ahmedabadrsquos first LoveAllServeAll rickshaw was inaugurated This gifteconomy rickshaw gives riders the chance to go from one place to another on a payitforward basis someone before you has paid for your tab and you can payforward as per your choice The meter always reads zero therersquos inspiring reading material snacks for riders and a trash can inside so you donrsquot litter on the streets On the back it sports the sign Gandhirsquos statement Love All Serve All gt Silent Wednesdays is part of the experiment in generosity where people open their homes for others to drop by every Wednesday for a few hours They can sit in silence meditate or introspect and share their insights later over a homecooked meal offered by the host 34 such meetings in Mumbai have taken place this year u00a0