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“I was shot in the leg while participating in the Kargil War. I barely survived that. I served the nation for 17 years and 6 months. But then my parents fell ill, so I had to resign. I asked my mother, ‘What should I do next?’ That’s when she told me, ‘You’ve served the nation — now it’s your turn to serve the abandoned.’ That’s how this journey started. I feel the same pride I felt in serving the nation when I do this work.”– Kisan Mallari Lokhande, Founder, Maratha Life Foundation
In 2006, Kisan Mallari Lokhande, a decorated Kargil War veteran, started Maratha Life Foundation in Palghar, Maharashtra, alongside his mother, Vanchlabai Lokhande. What began as a modest effort in a tent has today become a sanctuary of hope and healing for the elderly, the mentally ill, abandoned children, destitute animals, and the forgotten ones society leaves behind.
‘I’ve seen a lot of people being killed in action during the Kargil War. But maybe God wished for me to do this work — that’s why I am still alive’
After his military service, Kishan’s life changed when his mother fell gravely ill. Every hospital they went to said there was no hope, but at the Command Hospital in Pune, he begged doctors to try again. “I’m not God,” one of them said. But they respected his persistence and went ahead with treatment. Miraculously, she recovered. When he told her he had left the army, she looked at him with clarity and said: “Now you should serve the elderly and those who have no one — the ones we see suffering on the roads.”
“One sentence from my mother shaped my entire future. I gave up all my savings, pension, and army benefits to set up a tent-like shelter for those society had cast aside. Even in her 100s and beyond, she was the driving force — feeding and caring for the old, the weak, and the mentally unwell. She continued this service until she passed away recently at the age of 108, leaving behind a legacy of compassion that lives on through my work.”– Kisan Lokhande
‘In 19 years, I’ve helped 3,000 destitutes find a home for themselves’
The Foundation currently shelters 265 residents, many of whom were brought in from the streets, found near bus stops, railway stations, beaches, or left behind at hospitals. When a new person is rescued, they are often unconscious, lying on a stretcher. The team gets a medical check-up done immediately, then bathes and cleans them with care.
“We treat them like family from day one, and there are many success stories to our credit. One man was found after the lockdown—diabetic, injured, with gangrene and critically low hemoglobin. We managed to collect 12 bottles of blood by donating ourselves and saved him. A young girl came to us at six after surviving abuse, with a brother who had polio. They stayed with us for ten years. Today, she works at the ashram and is married to another resident. They’re building a new life together.” – Kisan Lokhande
Apart from rescue and rehabilitation, the Foundation distributes ration and essentials to nearby villages, ensuring no food goes to waste and no one is forgotten. With 25 full-time staff, the Foundation has grown into a large ecosystem of healing. Over 40% of the staff are former residents who, after their recovery, chose to stay on and help others — a model that not only restores dignity but builds a community of shared strength.
‘Hundreds rely on us, but we’re running short on food and medical supplies…help us’
The Foundation is at a critical point. With rising awareness, more people in distress are being brought in, steadily increasing admissions. Each new resident adds emotional and financial responsibility, while resources continue to shrink. Every rupee is stretched to cover essentials — food, medicine, electricity, and shelter. Items like adult diapers, medical supplies, and clean water are in constant need.
“We can’t even buy ration properly. The place I’m keeping them is only covered by a thin tin shade. In the summer, it gets unbearably hot. During the monsoons, our shelter floods with nearly four feet of water. I humbly request you all to join hands with me. This too is service to the nation.”– Kisan Lokhande
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EIN 20-5139364
