Our lives are in our hands. We are the sculptors, and we give shape to our dreams. How often do we help in shaping others’ lives too? Here we have, in our midst, Mr.Sarath Babu, fondly called the ‘FOOD KING’. Had it not been for his determination and foresight, he would have been yet another boy from a slum, doing odd jobs.

 

Sarath babu was born in madipakkam,Chennai,with two sisters and two brothers to a mother, who is the sole bread-winner of the family. His mom toiled as an idly-seller in the mornings, served in the mid-day meals at schools in the afternoons and worked for the adult education programs in the evenings. Even without electricity and such basic facilities, Sarath Babu felt the urge to study well. He listened to the classes even when made to stand outside for not paying the school fees. For he knew, it wasn’t his, or his mom’s, or his teacher’s fault for the situation he was in.. He kept working hard and landed up in BITS,Pilani,a dream place for many.

After his bachelors, he worked for a few years and helped his Mother repay all the loans that she took for his education. He joined IIM-A for his MBA,of course with lots of debts and loans, and yet again this boy proved that his poverty can’t deter his education any day. Once out of the blue-blooded institution, his path to glory would have been a bed of roses, had he not chucked all the high-profile jobs and lucrative foreign offers. He envisaged an entrepreneur in himself.

It would have ended as an ordinary story, if not for the social cause behind. Sarath Babu strongly felt that no kid should be denied of education due to poverty. He also saw the need to enhance employment among the illiterate and ignorant people and thus started his venture on food, on a very small scale, serving teas to companies.

Hardships were all that he faced initially, but he did not give up. Money was secondary. He dreamt of an India where people did not die of hunger, where food was not scarce, where development included upgrading people who survived below the poverty line. His burning desire was to uplift those who lived wretched lives, starving for days, like in his slum. He wanted to bring a radical change in the society and toiled day and night, even when others slept tight.

He expanded his business slowly in other cities, in other states, and finally in other countries. Now, He feeds thousands of employees and hundreds of hungry stomachs. His role-model was his mother, who fed the family, though she slept just drinking water.

He contested the Lok sabha elections in 2008. He felt the dire need to increase the living standards of the poor. Scores of youth get inspired by him, and no wonder, he was titled the PEPSI M-TV youth icon,2008.

Sarath Babu, when interviewed said, “God has given me this fantastic opportunity to inspire youth so that they too can create more jobs, bridge the rural-urban divide and address social issues and make India shine globally.” He is a 29 year old, down-to-earth chap who gets a turn over of 7 crore, from his brain-child, Food King Catering services.

“I know what hunger is”, he says. And that’s why he has removed hunger for many,has been the support for many kids to study, and the light of many families.

Anyone can become a manager,a banker,an executive from an IIM. But it needs grit and courage to become one like Mr. Sarath Babu. His is the triumph of the toil and the victory of the will-power. Hats off !