Amid all the doom and gloom that is the ongoing Ukraine invasion, an Indian restaurant in Kyiv has turned into shelter for people and also provides free meals to them. Equally committed to helping Indians and Ukrainian individuals, the restaurant owner has given shelter to as many as 70 people, both Indians and Ukrainians. The restaurant owner is Manish Dave, and his eatery is aptly named – ‘Saathiya’.
After Russian troops started their military advancement into the Ukraine capital, several civilians scared for their safety started flocking to Dave’s restaurant. To assume that the restaurant was destined to be a shelter for many people would not be incorrect as it is located at the basement of Chokolivs’kyi Boulevard.
Dave’s story comes at a time when reports of several people joining forces to help out Ukrainian citizens have emerged. Earlier on Tuesday, we reported the story of Arya Srivastava, a medical student who’s feeding 500 Indian students that were left stranded in Dnipro.
The Facts of the Matter
Not all heroes wear cape, some wear chef apron and hat.
Meet Baroda based superhero Manish Dave. About two months back, he opened a humble restaurant called ‘Saathiya’. in Kyiv with the hopes of serving as many people as he can and expand his business further. However, a certain someone named Vladimir Putin spilled water on his plan. Like a classic dictator, the Russian President decided to invade Ukraine, without thinking about the deaths of troops and civilians on either side.
However, Dave’s strong sense of humanity made him the person several Ukrainian and Indian people started relying on. As soon as the Russian president ordered a military action against Ukraine, several people, including Indian students, started looking for a safe refuge.
A man called Manish Dave has turned his restaurant into a shelter for over 125 vulnerable people in Ukraine. He & his staff cook food & risk their lives in search of ration for them all. The world needs more people like Manish Dave. pic.twitter.com/ZnQlViwDoZ
— GOOD (@good) February 27, 2022
Ukrainian People Also Took Shelter in Dave’s Kitchen
With bomb-sirens wailing across the city, Dave opened the doors of his restaurant to Indians, Ukrainians and people from other nationalities. A TOI report quoted him saying, “Many Ukrainian nationals also arrived at my restaurant, hoping they will be safe here. The restaurant is now like a bomb shelter because it is under the basement. We are serving everyone food.”
Saathiya Serves Soul Food from Chicken Biryani to Daal Rice
On the first day of the invasion, Dave’s restaurant served chicken biryani to people who had sought shelter. But as days passed and more and more people took shelter in his restaurant, stock of food started diminishing.
Also Read: Bhopal Medico Student Feeds 500 Indian Students Stuck in Ukraine; Food Prepared Across 10 Kitchens
Ration at Manish Dave’s Restaurant Diminishing Gradually
For now, Dave serves ‘dal-rice’ to people. As there are a lot of people, the restaurant is not able to prepare rotis due to lack of enough flour. As for ration hunting, Dave and his few chosen staff members go in the day when situation is relatively calm.
“We have been keeping stock of the ration left with us. We now have rice and flour to last 4-5 days, but we need to buy vegetables and other items. There are restrictions on movement between 10pm and 7am,” he was quoted saying.
Also Read: Distressing Videos Show Fleeing Indian Students Assaulted & Harassed at Ukraine Borders by Troops
“Home away from home..”: MBBS Student Taking Shelter
It should be noted that Dave’s restaurant was one of the favourite hangout spots for Indian students. Known for serving home-like meals and having a pleasant atmosphere, the restaurant was quite popular among homesick Indian nationals.
Shivanm Katoch, an MBBS student was quoted saying, “I had been living at my hostel but was not sure how long the civilian areas would be safe from the airstrikes. I would often come here to relish Indian food, but when I got a call from the restaurant owner, I immediately moved here to be safe.”
“For now, it is our home away from home,” Shivam further added.
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