Meal of Kindness

Ek Dano bhi zaae na thai (not a single grain of food be wasted) isn’t just a motto (in Gujarati language) for the Dana Committee—it’s a mission. Every day, they share leftover food from community events, with many people in need, through their centres around the world and ensure that no one goes to bed hungry. For Hussain Hebatullah, the founder of the Dana Committee, this journey began 12 years ago with a little moment seeing the smile on his house help’s face after receiving food. That smile made him realise that sharing food is not just about filling stomachs; it’s about spreading kindness and hope to those in need

When Hussain attended a community gathering twelve years back, it completely changed how he thought about cooking in large quantities. In the congregation of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the group members as part of a ritual, sit and eat together from a big platter, called a thaal. Therein he noticed something troubling—people were leaving a lot of food unfinished. The amount of leftover food was shocking; however, when he casually stepped into the community kitchen, he was utterly shocked. There, he found more food that had not even been served. It was all going to waste. Hussain still remembers the moment vividly. “We asked the cook what he was going to do with all the leftover food, and he said that it will be dumped in the rubbish to maintain the hygiene of the kitchen. That hit me hard,” said Hussain. “I kept thinking, this is just one community hall, and there must be many others like this that are wasting food in the same way," he adds. That’s when Hussain decided that he had to do something— collect this leftover food from the community halls and distribute among the needy and hungry, which will be the best utilisation of the leftover food.

Charity begins at home

The proverb "Charity begins at home" became a lesson for Hussain, which led him to start his journey of community service. He says that it began with a simple gesture—by donating food to his house help and her neighbours living in one of the slums in Pune city. “I can still feel the happiness on their faces after they had a meal. Their blessings gave me the motivation to keep going and continue my food doantion campaign,” Hussain recalls.

It all started as a small effort from Hussain and his three close friends, while his family and wellwishers encouraged him to expand the good initiative. “The Dana Committee grew through word of mouth and the generosity of people who wanted to make a difference,” Hussain shares.

The Dana Committee team works tirelessly and ensures that the food being served is fresh. The team packs food into large containers, loads them onto scooters, and visit the slums near the community hall. "Before we deliver leftover meals to the needy, we always check the quality of the food by tasting it ourselves. If its bad, we don’t distribute it. It’s a simple rule we follow," said Hussain. “It isn’t just about distributing meals; it is about spreading kindness. Seeing the happiness on their faces makes all the efforts worthy,” he adds.

Hussain and his team begin their work late evening around 9 pm, once the community gathering wraps up. By 11 pm they finish with the distribution of the leftover food—ensuring zero food wastage. Reflecting on their journey, he shares, “Before we started this initiative, we were oblivious about the existence of slums in our nearby local areas. Now, we actively track these places to make sure we provide food to those who are hungry and needy.”

"It isn’t just about distributing meals; it is about spreading kindness. Seeing the happiness on their faces made all the efforts worthy"

-Hussain Hebatullah

Team building

Getting connected with more community halls opened the door to Hussian for receiving more leftover food, especially during Ramadan and other big community events. As the years passed by, their initiative expanded and the team realised that they needed more hands, as they were facing challenges to meet the growing demand for food distribution. Thus, they turned to friends and members of their community for help. Before they knew it, they became the family of 200 dedicated volunteers.

Hussain recalls how this community service became the Dana Committee. With blessings and guidance from Dr. Syedna AaliQadr Mufaddal Saifuddin, spiritual leader and the 53rd Da'i al Mutlaq of one million Dawoodi Bohras, the initiative was formally named Dana Committee. He gave it the tagline “Ek Dano bhi zaae na thai" in Gujarati langauge, which means “Not a single grain of food should go to waste".

“His holiness was deeply connected with the idea and encouraged us to take it to other cities,” Hussain says. To spread the message, the team made preaching videos to invite people to join their noble cause. Hussain personally shared these videos at community gatherings around the world and inspired others to be part of this mission of kindness.

Going global

Hussain’s hard work paid off as his preaching video was shared in community halls across the country and around the world in cities like Houston (in the US) and Singapore, including Nagpur, Mumbai, Secunderabad, and Chennai, in India. Today, this effort has grown into a network of over 500 community halls in 25 countries with more than 9,000 active members, supporting the Dana Committee worldwide.

Taking the committee to an international level was not easy for Hussain. Every country had its own set of rules and challenges, which makes the distribution process of leftover food quite difficult. However, the large gatherings during Muharram in Dubai gave him the perfect opportunity to spread the word about the initiative and invite people to join. Hussain recalls, “Last year, His Holiness observed Muharram in Dubai, where nearly one lakh community members from all over the world came together. We used that chance to encourage people to join us in this noble cause. Now, we make similar efforts during every Ramzan and Muharram.”

Today, Hussain manages the committee through a WhatsApp group, where people from different parts of the world join to become part of the Dana Committee. Once someone joins, the team conducts an orientation session to guide them on the protocols and practices for distributing leftover food across various countries, including India. He says, “Coordinating food distribution in countries like the UK, USA, and UAE has been quite an experience. But after all the effort, to see someone smile and feel their blessings, makes it all valuable. It’s what keeps us going".

Family support

It is said that no achievement is complete without family support, and Hussain agrees to it. As a father of two children, he juggles family responsibilities with community service, and it has not been easy for him. But, his family’s support helps him work harder. “Their support keeps me motivated,” he shares. “Sometimes, they even join me when they can. It’s a beautiful way for them to understand the value of food and connect with this cause,” he concludes.