Lessons from the Past
My grandparents were among the millions displaced during the Partition of India. They left their ancestral home in Montgomery (now in Punjab, Pakistan) and arrived in Delhi as refugees, carrying little more than the clothes on their backs. Life in refugee camps was harsh, and food was scarce. Later, they were allotted land in Jalandhar as compensation for what they had lost.
The experiences of hunger and deprivation stayed with them for life. My grandmother, especially, carried these lessons deeply. She never allowed a morsel to be wasted. Every meal came with her reminder: “Every grain of rice is the result of a farmer’s sweat. Someone, somewhere, may be sleeping hungry tonight.” For her, wasting food was not just careless—it was a moral responsibility to respect labour and gratitude.
Modern Challenges of Food Waste
When I married into a household that had never experienced refugee hardships, I noticed frequent food waste—leftovers thrown away, meals half-eaten, plates discarded. It disturbed me profoundly. Each wasted portion echoed the lessons of my grandmother and the generation that understood hunger intimately.
Travelling abroad, I am often shocked by widespread food waste. Restaurants and cafeterias routinely throw away untouched meals. I have made it my practice to carry leftover food to someone who may need it. Small actions like this honour the principle of food as sustenance and symbol.
Global Examples of Responsible Food Sharing
Some countries demonstrate that change is possible when empathy meets policy:
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France requires supermarkets to donate unsold food to charities instead of destroying it.
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Community refrigerators near restaurants and cafes in some cities allow people to share untouched portions with those in need.
These initiatives transform individual conscience into collective responsibility, showing how structured action can reduce waste and help the hungry.
The Way Forward for India
India, a country of abundance and hunger, can adopt similar solutions. We need:
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Laws encouraging food donation,
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Technology like apps to connect donors with beneficiaries,
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Local networks that make sharing leftover food easy and expected.
However, compassion must remain the foundation. Awareness, gratitude, and empathy should start at home. Every cleaned plate is an act of respect, and every grain saved is a step toward ending hunger.
Final Thought
Food is not only nourishment—it is humanity, empathy, and hope. If we remember this, perhaps no one will go to bed hungry again. My grandmother’s lessons, born from loss, endure as timeless wisdom.
Original article by Poonam Khaira Sidhu, Chandigarh-based former Indian Revenue Service officer.
