Highlights
- International student facing financial hardship due to pandemic says the act of kindness "changed my life"
- Two men at the Hoppers Crossing Gurudwara in Melbourne returned Mr Dwiwedi's call for help
- "This is my way of expressing gratitude to these god-sent men," says Mr Dwivedi
Life’s gift to all of us often comes in the least expected ways. For Mr Dwivedi that moment came last week, in the middle of a pandemic, when he was forced to shift out of his home, laid-off from his job and ran out of his cash reserve.
That’s when his mother back home in the western Indian state of Gujarat encouraged him to reach out to a Sikh temple in the vicinity. Quoting his mum, the 26-year-old says: “She said, a gurudwara will never turn you down.”
“So, I googled for a temple close to home. The nearest was the Hoppers Crossing gurudwara. I looked for their number and gave them a call. At first, they didn’t answer, but within minutes a man named Harnam Singh returned my call,” says Mr Dwivedi.
The management student who arrived in Australia nearly two years ago says he shared his ordeal with Mr Singh over the phone, who invited him to the gurudwara.
Dhruv Dwivedi (L) with his mother and elder brother. Source: Supplied
“He was extremely kind to me over the phone. He told me that I could stop by at the gurudwara for food, groceries or simply to talk to them anytime I wanted or needed help and so I did.
“That evening when I went to the gurudwara, I bumped into yet another sage, Mr Paramjit Singh who served me food, counselled me, spoke to me, told me about other students who reach out to the gurudwara for help,” he reminisces.
Here were two selfless men who were helping me with food, shelter and support, but wanted nothing in return, not even a thank you. They said they were just following what their religion, their guru had taught them - Dhruv Dwivedi
Harnam Singh and Paramjit Singh, the two men who returned Dhruv Dwivedi's call for help. Source: Supplied
“The first day he called, he sent us a long list of things he needed which also included Maggi noodles. I told him we did not have such fancy items, but he is more than welcome to stop by at the gurudwara to eat langar or pick up take away meal boxes that we prepare for other students and all those who need it in the evening,” says Mr Singh.
While an overwhelmed Dhruv insists that their kindness has changed his life, Paramjit Singh who serves as a music teacher at the academy run by the gurudwara says they were just following the teachings of the Sikh Gurus.
A snapshot of Dhruv Dwivedi's post on Facebook a day after he received help from the Sikh temple. Source: Supplied
“Concern for others is central to the teachings of Sikhism. And giving to someone who is hungry is seen as giving to God – but only if it is genuine giving from the heart. We haven’t done anything extraordinary for Dhruv. We will continue to do what we can for him and anyone who comes to the gurudwara,” says Mr Singh.
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Dhruv who has been turning up at the gurudwara ever since that day says he wants to share this story with all those international students feeling “lost and deprived” during the pandemic.
“Help is there. I got it, you may too. This is my way of expressing gratitude to these god-sent men who came to my rescue, and also to all others who help without expecting anything in return at a time when the world is in crisis,” he adds.
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