Malick Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi

While the people all over Kota, a city in Rajasthan known for its coaching industry, fall asleep, a mega kitchen in the Vigyan Nagar locality comes alive. Vinod Kumar, who runs two hostels for students enrolled in the coaching academies, is supervising the cooking.

At 10 pm, stoves are lit, the clatter of utensils breaks the silence outside, and soon, the aroma of fresh food wafts through the air. 

The food being cooked is meant for 'Sehri' (the pre-dawn meal for Muslims fasting for the month of Ramzan) for hundreds of Muslim young boys and girls who are observing Roza, away from their homes, dreaming of a brighter future.

Those working in the kitchen are volunteers non-Muslims and not employees who are doing their bit to serve young Muslim students to fulfill their religious duty.

S Z Qadir Khan has documented this entire process through his vlog, which is winning hearts on social media. 

Students from all corners of the country come to the city to prepare for medical and engineering college entrance examinations, and they are under constant pressure from teachers and parents.

The pressure is so intense that these students remain engrossed day and night. 

Preparations in progress for Sehri meal in Vinod Kumar's kitchen (videograb)

During Ramzan, a period of prayer and rigorous fasting, arranging nutritious Sehri and Iftar meals on time becomes a major challenge for these children, especially those living in PGs or hostels, where kitchen facilities are not available late at night.

In such a situation, an organisation, called ;Muhim,' led by Vinod Kumar, has emerged as a saviour. This organisation has two hostels, one for boys and the other for girls. As soon as Ramzan begins, "Muhim's" help desk becomes active. Vinod Kumar's team includes not only employees but also intellectuals, government officials, and prominent businessmen from the city. 

All of them, regardless of their social status, work tirelessly from 10:30 pm to 4 am.

Surprisingly and delightfully, the food prepared in this kitchen is completely free. Sehri is prepared for 500 to 600 children every day.

A single Sehri meal costs around 40 rupees. Accordingly, Vinod Kumar's team spends 25,000 to 30,000 rupees daily, but they do not charge the students. All these expenses are supported by residents and cooked with love by volunteers.

When the food is ready, it's loaded onto three-wheelers and taken to areas of the city with a large student population. When these vehicles arrive in the dark of night, the students emerge with their utensils and are lovingly handed the Sehri meal. This scene not only satiates hunger but also strengthens trust.

S Z Qadir Khan explains that this noble cause isn't limited to students. This humanitarian initiative transcends religious boundaries. If Sehri packets remain at night, instead of throwing them away or storing them, the team members take to the streets. 

Without any religious bias, the food is distributed to the homeless people sleeping on intersections, the attendants of patients outside hospitals, and others.

The organisation "Muhim" has been doing this noble work for several years, and its echo has now reached neighbouring cities.

 Today, people from Kota's neighbouring cities even come to Kota to participate in this charitable work. Some help with cutting vegetables, others with packing food.

This Ramadan Sehri is not food to satiate hunger but a reflection of India, where Vinod and Qadir stand shoulder to shoulder, caring for each other's happiness and needs.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru cleric asks Muslims to help NIA in tracing a Lashkar terrorist

This story from Kota goes a long way in building harmony and confidence in India’s unity and inclusive living.