On World Kindness Day, Let's Take a Look at How India Celebrates Kindness in Daily Life

It’s 13 November, and World Kindness Day. All over the world, people are embracing acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness that make a real difference. World Kindness Day is about more than a single day of good deeds, it’s about celebrating humanity’s power to connect, uplift, and unite across all barriers. Introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of kindness-promoting NGOs, this day shines a spotlight on kindness as a force for good in over 25 countries, from the UK to Singapore and India.

So, let’s dive into the history, the inspiring heroes, and the small but meaningful ways we can spread kindness in our everyday lives.

The Story Behind World Kindness Day

The concept of World Kindness Day began with a simple, hopeful question: how can we unite the world with kindness? That idea led to the birth of the World Kindness Movement in 1998, which brought together organisations dedicated to spreading compassion across the globe. The following year, World Kindness Day officially launched on 13 November.

In the UK, the initiative found strong champions in David Jamilly and Louise Burfitt-Dons, who co-founded Kindness Day UK. Their goal was to foster a culture where kindness wasn’t just an occasional act but a way of life. The movement has since expanded, with countries like Canada, the UAE, and Italy joining in, and the message of kindness gaining international traction.

World Kindness Day focuses on the universal good that kindness brings, a quality that bridges divides of race, religion, and politics. From kindness cards to heartfelt deeds, the day encourages everyone to embrace kindness in all its forms. Today, the World Kindness Movement has taken steps to gain United Nations recognition, which would elevate the importance of kindness on a global platform.

Heroes of Kindness: Changing the World, One Good Deed at a Time

World Kindness Day wouldn’t be complete without recognising the inspiring individuals whose compassionate actions go above and beyond. Here are just a few heroes who have truly embodied the spirit of kindness.

• Ashwani Kumar Parashar: This medical student just at 22-years old, launched a campaign called #SaveRajghat, determined to bring development to a neglected Indian village. His efforts to raise funds and awareness have drawn international support, including a Norwegian NGO that helped provide electric connections and school renovations. Through his actions, Ashwani reminds us that compassion for our communities can transform lives.
• Mrs Beula Gabriel: An 83-year-old retired teacher in Hyderabad, India, Mrs Gabriel has dedicated her life to educating underprivileged children. Selling her house to keep her school open, she has educated thousands of students from poor backgrounds. Her sacrifice and dedication to children’s futures reflect the power of kindness in transforming lives.
• Narayanan Krishnan: A chef who gave up his career to care for the homeless in India, Krishnan has provided over 2.25 million meals to those in need. His story is a reminder of how one person’s kindness can feed both the body and soul.
• Harakhchand Savla: A tireless humanitarian, Harakhchand Savla has dedicated over 30 years to providing free meals, accommodation, and medical support to nearly 200,000 cancer patients and their families in Mumbai, India. Known for his relentless compassion, Savla transformed his small shop near Tata Memorial Hospital into a haven for those battling illness, showing how kindness can heal not just the body, but the spirit as well.
• Nitin Bhat: An animal lover and protector, Nitin Bhat has spent over a decade in Ahmedabad caring for stray dogs in his community. He provides food, shelter, and medical treatment for injured dogs and actively uses local laws to protect them from abuse. With a medical kit always in his car, Bhat has treated over 1,000 dogs, demonstrating that kindness can extend beyond humanity, offering compassion to all living beings.
• Rushabh Turakhia’s “Your Turn Now” Cards: Mumbai resident Rushabh Turakhia celebrated his 40th birthday by performing 40 acts of kindness. His initiative, “Your Turn Now,” encourages recipients of kindness to pass it forward by handing out cards urging others to do the same. Today, the movement has spread across 45 countries, with each small act connecting people and inspiring them to join in.
• K R Ushakumari: For over 17 years, teacher K R Ushakumari has trekked through forests and rowed across rivers to reach the tribal children in Kerala, India, ensuring they receive an education despite the distance and challenges. Her selfless dedication highlights how kindness can bridge divides and transform futures, offering children the tools to dream and succeed.

As Krishnan himself says, “Kindness is the only language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear.” These heroes prove that small acts of kindness, when done with a big heart, can have world-changing impacts.

Small Steps to Make a Big Impact: Embracing Kindness in Daily Life

Kindness need not be grand, it thrives in our smallest, most thoughtful gestures. Across different cultures and traditions, kindness is viewed as a sacred duty. Here are some everyday ways to celebrate kindness:

• Acts of 'Seva' in Sikh Culture
  Sikhs embrace 'seva', or selfless service, as a key value, with volunteers frequently seen serving meals in community kitchens known as langars, open to anyone, regardless of their background. This spirit of unconditional giving is a powerful reminder of how kindness bridges all divides.

• Hindu Tradition of Feeding Animals
  In Hinduism, feeding animals like birds, cows, and dogs is seen as an act of 'punya', or merit. It’s believed that feeding others, even animals, brings blessings while reminding us that our compassion should extend beyond human beings.

• Everyday Kindness for Strays
  Kindness is not bound to humans only in fact a strong nation is also judged by how animals are being treated there, helping stray dogs or cats in the neighbourhood—feeding them, providing water, or simply offering shelter on a rainy day—is a gentle way of expressing kindness.

• Supporting Those in Need
  Small acts, like handing out a blanket to a person on the streets, sharing a meal, or donating medicine, can be transformative. We may never know how much our small gestures mean to someone in need, but kindness often has a way of coming back full circle.

Wrapping Up: A World United by Kindness

Imagine a world where kindness is the norm. It’s up to each of us to make it happen. Start with one small act, and watch how the world lights up in response. This 13 November, join the global celebration by spreading kindness in your own way, big or small. After all, as the saying goes, “Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.”

Let’s make every day World Kindness Day, weaving our own threads of kindness into this golden chain.