Siblings, 14 & 10, who fed Australian bushfire victims, seek to raise $100,000 to help Covid-hit India

By Priyanka Chokhani
MELBOURNE:

Radhika Bharadwaj

, 14, and her sister Krishnapriya, 10, have had a busy run. They cooked for and fed 13,000 firefighters and families affected by the

Australian bushfires

of 2019 over long days.


When Covid-19 broke out, they reached out to the homeless and the needy with 9,000 home-cooked meals — they continue to do every weekend.

And now, having learnt about the onslaught of the second wave in India, they are trying to raise $100,000 to help. Of this, they have put together $24,000 and ordered

oxygen concentrators

for India.

“We have always cooked for the needy. With the

Covid crisis

, we wanted to raise funds. It’s how we can help from faraway Australia,” said Radhika, who with her sister has been written about and feted in the mainstream Australian media. “We have family in New Delhi and Haryana and we hear about the serious situation there. People are dying and need help with oxygen, beds and food. We are trying to pitch in.”

They set up their

fundraiser on ‘My Cause’

in early May. The money will be used to buy oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, flow meters, additional healthcare supplies and nutritious meals for the needy.

“We have ordered five oxygen concentrators from China,” said Nitin Nair, a family friend who has been helping them with the fundraiser.

Every week, the family cooks 25-50 meals for the homeless
Nitin Nair said, “Two concentrators are on their way to a palliative care facility in Kerala and three are in use in Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi, thanks to the charity Distress Management Collective of India.”.

Part of the money will also be used to provide1,500 meals at Wada and Palghar in Maharashtra through the charity Govardhan Annakshetra, and in Sonipat. “The girls aim at raising $100,000, which means we should be able to help with much more,” Nair added.

The sisters’ interest in cooking had begun early — Radhika’s at five and Krishnapriya’s at eight.

The meals they cook are vegan — pulao, rajma chawal, pasta, ‘butter chicken’ (with soy for the chicken and sunflower oil for the butter).

“Vegan meals are nutritious. During the bushfires, we served vegan butter chicken to an army unit for a week (during the bushfires) and they could not tell the difference. They loved it,” said Radhika.

When it seemed like one disaster was behind them, the pandemic struck. “We got back on the streets,” said Krishnapriya.

Every week, the family cooks 25-50 meals for the local homeless. They also take some time out to identify other people who may need their help, like nurses at a medical centre nearby who had been working tirelessly.

Sid and Divya, his wife, a yoga and meditation coach, moved to Australia in 2000.

They fund their daughters’ initiative on their own. On Australia Day this year, January 26, the girls’ contribution to the community was recognised as Young Citizen of the Year for Toowoomba.

A proud father, Sid said, “We believe in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, the world is our family. The girls are aware of their duty to others at a time of crisis. So, we are happy to help them nurture their passion.”