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India Today
30-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Family died, no friends: Techie locks self in Mumbai flat, rescued after 3 years
A 55-year-old man from Navi Mumbai was rescued last week after spending over three years locked inside his apartment, completely isolated from the outside world. The man, identified as Anup Kumar Nair, was suffering from severe depression and had voluntarily confined himself due to psychological trauma and a former computer programmer, lived in Gharkool Society in Sector 24, Juinagar. According to social workers from SEAL (Social and Evangelical Association for Love), a Panvel-based NGO, he had not stepped out of his flat for more than three only interaction with the outside world came through food delivery apps, which he used to meet his basic needs. When SEAL's team entered his apartment, they found him living in appalling conditions, surrounded by garbage and suffering from a serious leg infection. Nair's life took a downward turn following a series of personal tragedies — the death of his parents a few years ago and the suicide of his elder brother nearly two decades ago. The emotional toll left him mentally exhausted and increasingly withdrawn. Eventually, he chose to isolate himself completely, disconnecting from friends, neighbours, and society at condition came to light after a concerned resident of the society alerted SEAL about the disturbing state of the flat. The NGO's team responded swiftly, gaining access to the apartment and immediately arranging for medical rarely opened his door and never disposed of garbage,' said Vijay Shibe, Chairman of Gharkool Society.'We tried to help him in small ways and even provided financial assistance when we could. But we knew something was seriously wrong.'Local resident Nikhil Marathe, who was instrumental in alerting authorities, added, 'It's heartbreaking to see someone deteriorate like this in silence. We all need to be more aware of those living alone around us.'Currently, Nair is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at SEAL Ashram in Panvel. Though still emotionally fragile, doctors and caregivers have reported early signs of improvement in his overall health and mental a brief conversation with his caretakers, Nair said, 'My parents are gone, my brother is gone, and I have no friends left. My health is also not good. So there's no scope for a new beginning.'- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
15-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
For this social worker, every day is Father's Day
Navi Mumbai: As a young man in his 20s, Panvel-based social worker Pastor Philip was shaken to catch the sight of a naked homeless youth trying to ward off a few stray dogs to search for discarded food inside an open pile of trash. It had got him thinking in his pre-activist avatar, on why the govt is not doing anything for the poorest of the poor. A few years later, while visiting the red light area of Sonapur for research, Philip found himself cradling a sickly abandoned nine-month-old baby, because his mother, a sex worker, said she cannot afford to take care of him. Since none of the orphanages in Mumbai were willing to admit this baby, because he was HIV positive, Philip had decided to rent a room in Panvel to keep this baby and start his own NGO. That is how the Social and Evangelical Association for Love (SEAL) Ashram was started by him in No 1999. Today, as there are over 400 rescued destitutes at SEAL campus in New Panvel, Pastor Philip said that every day feels like Father's Day for him, as he oversees its running. "Besides rescued men, women and senior citizens, we also have many children at our shelter, who have been admitted to schools in Panvel region, and all of them have mentioned my name as their father in the school registers," said Philip, who is happy that many of his rescued kids have grown up over the years and settled down. The chief patron of SEAL and founder of Harmony Foundation, Abraham Mathai, commented: "Father's Day is a time to honour those amazing fathers who nurture, protect and uplift with unconditional love. Pastor Philip is one such father who has done this over the the years, inspired by love and grounded in the principles of compassion." Mathai added: "Pastor Philip established a shelter where the abandoned find a family, dignity and a renewed sense of life. Hence, our Harmony Foundation also dedicates this Father's Day to him.'' Amid this basket of love and happiness, there are also a few sorrowful things that Philip always keeps close to him — like a plastic begging bowl with Rs 65.50 in it, marked as 'Tears Of Vidya — Treasure Of A Tiny Life'. In May 2001, Philip had come across a fragile, ailing girl, Vidya, who was simply lying on the railway FOB of Bhandup station, while her parents put this begging bowl in front of her. Philip had ensured that Vidya was immediately sent to a hospital, where she could only utter two words before dying -- "Roti do' [Give me bread]." Philip has kept this sealed begging bowl to remind him of how much more needs to be done.
