“When I was in my third year of college pursing B. Pharmacy, I encountered an old man sleeping on the road. I approached him and asked if he needed some food. To my surprise, he replied, “I’ve had my dinner. Why don’t you give it to someone else who needs it?” Despite his circumstances, he showed no worry for the future and urged me to help others instead of keeping the food for himself. This encounter deeply moved me and strengthened my resolve to help the needy by offering food.
My idea was to ask close friends and family to donate one day’s salary to feed people. I first reached out to a cousin in the UK, and he immediately sent 5,000 rupees. This was in 2016, and it marked the beginning of my efforts to collect funds from friends and distribute dinner to many homeless individuals. My motivation didn’t stem from having surplus money or food at home; in fact, my childhood was filled with financial struggles. My dad worked tirelessly, cycling to his job for 16 years to make ends meet. We lived in a small home, but I always believed in sharing whatever little we had.
In the early days, a few individuals questioned why I, a Muslim, was feeding Hindus. I explained that I wasn’t interested in political debates. My organization is named Humanity First Foundation for a reason – it embodies my belief in prioritizing human need over any man-made divisions. To me, a hungry person is simply a hungry person, regardless of their religion or background. If we can’t see beyond these divisions, what does that say about us?
When I began my Masters in Hyderabad, I met more people willing to donate funds. This led me to officially register my organization, Humanity First Foundation. In November of that year, I placed my first large order: 100-120 plates of Upma from a hotel. Early one morning, I filled a bucket with the food and took it to a nearby hospital. I was nervous as this was my first time distributing food outside a hospital, but as soon as I arrived, around 300 people queued up for breakfast. The joy I felt that day was indescribable! From then on, I increased the quantity and began feeding more people outside three government hospitals.
It has now been 2,789 days since I started, and every morning begins with the mission to feed people breakfast. In addition to this, during the summer, I started a free water camp to provide clean drinking water to those in need.
In 2022, I took another significant step by launching Humanity Hospital, a multi-speciality hospital in Nanal Nagar, Hyderabad. This facility aims to provide comprehensive medical care with low cost to those who cannot afford it. Continuing to expand our services, in 2023, we started a free dialysis unit at Humanity Hospital, ensuring that even those with chronic kidney conditions receive the treatment they need.
In addition to running Humanity First Foundation, I pursued my degree in Pharm. D (Doctor of Pharmacy) and became Dr. Mohd. Sujathullah. My dedication to serving the community remains unwavering, and I continue to strive towards making a tangible difference in people’s lives.”