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“Pain and suffering are not strangers to me. I was sexually abused at the age of eight. It left me physically and emotionally scarred. Hunger and violence were everyday occurrences. There were days I went to bed thinking I wouldn't wake up alive the next day.”- Anchal Sharma
38-Year-Old Anchal is braving against all the challenges life threw at her and has been running a mission to feed slum kids and empower women. Throughout her life, she has faced numerous obstacles but one thing she knows for sure is to never give up.
I was sexually abused at the age of eight. It left me physically and emotionally scarred.
After the tragic murder of her younger sister, she was finally about to start a new life in her marriage when....
Societal shame led to her marriage to a handicapped person following the tragic loss of her younger sister to domestic violence, wherein she was murdered and thrown in a drain by her husband. Anchal's indomitable spirit allowed her to see beyond appearances and embrace love and compassion. She never saw anything wrong with her decision, but life took another cruel turn when she faced brutal violence at the hands of her new husband, on the first day of her marriage.
“The doctor was shocked when he saw the evidence of marital rape inflicted upon me by my husband. My father-in-law also subjected me to severe physical violence. I had no control over my life then. I was a victim of my circumstances” - Anchal Sharma
She was raped so brutally that the doctor advised her to not go back...
Her father was diagnosed with tuberculosis, her mother became paralyzed
Despite these agonising experiences, Anchal's inner strength never wavered. She recalls, "There were days when the family had to go hungry to bed. On certain occasions, we would wet rotis with water and mirchi pani and eat them." The trials she faced did not end there. Her father was diagnosed with tuberculosis, her mother became paralyzed, and just 18 days before her younger brother's wedding, Anchal received her own cancer diagnosis.
"I had just celebrated my 32nd birthday when I noticed a lump in my breast," Anchal recounts. "Multiple tests and scans later, I learned the shocking truth: I had stage 3 breast cancer. I remember telling myself - this can't be it... there is more to my life for sure. I wanted to make my life count."
Through these dark times, Anchal's unwavering spirit shone brightly. She went on to find employment as a receptionist at a trading firm, earning a modest salary of INR 4,000. Slowly, their financial situation improved, and Anchal's family began to lead a more decent life. Anchal's struggles had become her driving force, propelling her toward a purpose that would touch the lives of countless others.
" My whole life flashed in front of me, memories about the sexual abuse, how I lost my beloved sister, how I had to leave my education behind in 8th standard to support my family. While others think of their loved ones when they get a diagnosis like this, my first thoughts were who will take care of my family" - Anchal
Finding the purpose of her life
"A week after my cancer diagnosis, I was stuck at a traffic signal when I noticed a group of underprivileged children begging," Anchal recalls. "Instead of giving them money, I offered them food and took them to a restaurant. It was then that I realised I wanted to do something more, something meaningful."
Anchal's encounter with hungry children ignited a fire within her to make a difference. Her journey took a profound turn as she started distributing free meals to street kids, even as she endured the gruelling rigours of chemotherapy for 11 months. "I carried on the food distribution activities through the toughest of times during my cancer journey. Serving meals to the needy and less privileged gave me strength to overcome these difficult times. I believe I am alive because of the time I spent among the people in the slums serving them. I plan to continue doing what I love and keep serving meals to the needy." Anchal affirms.
She is currently facing a major challenge...
In 2017, she established the 'Meals of Happiness Charitable Trust,' an NGO dedicated to serving those in need. Her organisation had provided over 50 lakh hot meals to slum kids in Delhi. Today, Meals of Happiness (MoH) runs community kitchens, accepts dry rations, monetary donations, and in-kind support to combat the epidemic of hunger, recognising that hunger affects both the rich and the poor.She needs your help to serve meals to more people
However, Anchal and her organisation face several challenges. They lack a dedicated kitchen and have only one old car in poor condition for food delivery. They struggle to meet the basic needs of the growing number of people seeking assistance, often having to turn some away. Limited funds often force them to halt their operations prematurely.
“Our long-term goals include building a dedicated structure for our activities and extending our outreach to more villages to help more people in need. Additionally, we are currently providing ration to 200 families affected by cancer and offering education and food to 200 children in a specific slum area, with plans to expand to 300 more in the Chattarpur area. I also want to build a training centre for abused women, so they don't have to depend on anybody”- Anchal Sharma
To continue their impactful work and expand their reach, Anchal needs your support. Your contributions will help them overcome their challenges, provide essential services to those in need, and work toward a future where no one goes to bed hungry.
Click here to contribute.
