On the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, the Harmony Foundation today saluted SEAL Ashram for its remarkable humanitarian work in rescuing and rehabilitating destitute, homeless, and mentally ill individuals from the streets.
Seal Ashram is the only place in the country where the destitute celebrate Independence Day with the same reverence and pride as every other citizen, honouring the nation’s freedom as the highest ideal it truly is. But here, something extraordinary happens alongside that pride. The very people singing the national anthem, saluting the flag, and celebrating the sacrifices that won our freedom are also people who have found a freedom of their own within the safe haven of SEAL Ashram. Men, women and children who once knew only abandonment, hunger, and the ache of not belonging anywhere have been given safety, dignity, and a home that asks nothing of them but to heal.
When the tricolour rises at Seal Ashram, it rises first and foremost for the nation, for the freedom fighters, the sacrifice, the identity every Indian carries with pride. And in that same moment, for those who call this Ashram home, it also rises as a reminder of their own journey from despair to dignity, from isolation to belonging.
Since its inception in 1999, SEAL Ashram has been dedicated to the mission of rescuing destitute and missing children from railway platforms and streets of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The organization has successfully reunited approximately 730 individuals with their families across the states of India. This Independence Day, as the nation celebrates its freedom, SEAL Ashram stands as a unique place where a dual freedom is celebrated, the freedom of the nation and the freedom of its 450 residents from 25 different states comprising a mini India, from the clutches of deprivation, destitution, and despair. The rescued inmates, including the elderly, mentally challenged, HIV-positive patients, and orphaned children, participated in flag hoisting ceremonies dressed in Tiranga T-shirts, celebrating their personal liberation from harrowing conditions.
Dr. Abraham Mathai, Founder Chairman of Harmony Foundation and Chief Patron of SEAL Ashram, expressed his deep appreciation for the organization’s selfless work. He said, “This Independence Day, as we celebrate our nation’s freedom, SEAL Ashram stands as a powerful reminder that true independence extends beyond our borders. It is a place where the destitute, the abandoned, and the forgotten also celebrate their freedom, freedom from the streets, freedom from hunger, freedom from despair. It is a dual freedom that we celebrate here.”
He further added “When no one was there to take care of these unfortunate ones, it was SEAL Ashram that came to their rescue and freed them from the clutches of their heart-wrenching condition of impoverishment and destitution. In a world that is easily swayed by materialistic pursuits, it is organisations like SEAL Ashram that revive our hope, faith, and trust in humanity.”
Dr. Mathai also lauded the dedicated team of SEAL Ashram, “The Harmony Foundation salutes the compassionate endeavours of SEAL Ashram, especially Rev. K.M. Philip, Rev. Biju Samuel, and their dedicated team, who have followed the truest ideals of our Constitution. They have lived up to the core values of equality, justice, and compassion that our freedom fighters and the makers of our Constitution envisioned for our nation.”
The annual Independence Day celebration at SEAL Ashram serves as a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of society. The Harmony Foundation takes immense pride in standing united with SEAL Ashram and its residents in celebrating this joyous occasion.
