6 days ago
The Bradford group giving back to generation who 'came with nothing and built lives'
A COMMUNITY group that brings joy to Bradford's older generations is set to celebrate its 20 year anniversary.
Anand Milan Elderly Centre - a place for making friends, enjoying chai and homecooked meals, exercise or other activities - started in 2005.
Now it has more than 160 members, a waiting list and a calendar jam-packed with events and even holidays to Croatia.
It has members who are in their 50s all the way to their nineties.
Based at St Wilfrid's Church, the group is held from 9am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Some of the founders and trustees at Anand Milan Elderly Centre (Image: Newsquest) Centre manager Harkishan Mistry said: 'If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be where we are now. Our parents' motto when they came to this country was education, education, education. They spent all their money, working night shifts, day shifts, whatever money they had put it to the side and made sure we had a good education. Because of that we're all living a really good life.
'But the hardship they went through, coming to this country in the 60s and 70s. The sacrifices they made for us was incredible.
'I would say over 90 per cent of the children have gone to university. It's because knowledge is power.
'A majority of these people have come from Africa, went from India to Africa, Africa to this country - when Idi Amin kicked everybody out from Kenya and Uganda. The majority of them came with nothing and they've built lives here.
Members of Anand Milan Elderly Centre enjoy music from some of the trustees who perform bhajans - lyrical songs expressing devotion to Hindu deities (Image: Newsquest) 'They just love coming here.
'35 people on the waiting list says it all.'
One of the original founders of the group - now aged 87 - remains as a trustee despite handing the baton onto the next generation.
The club had many homes before moving to St Wilfrid's church hall in 2012.
Some members of the group played Chokri - a popular card game from India (Image: Newsquest) Shantilal Mistry said: 'I personally come from Tanzania back in 1964 so I've been here 60 years now.
'When we came life was very difficult. People used to work in mills. We were renting a room, only a few people had houses. There were not many facilities in the house - no toilet, they were outside, no central heating.
'Most of them were really poor.'
He added: 'In 2005, a few of us got together and then decided that we should do something for the elderly people. We had a meeting and we started with a few people.'
Chefs Daxa Mistry, Ramila Kalyan, and Manjula Mistry (Image: Newsquest) At 1pm, the trio of chefs in the kitchen cook up a fresh, nutritious meal - from daal and roti to sweet desserts like lapsi - for £3.
It is cooked up by volunteers Daxa Mistry, Ramila Kalyan, and Manjula Mistry.
'I feel I forget about everything,' said Chanchal Mistry, whose husband and son sadly died.
'If I miss it I don't like it at all.'
Jagdishbhai Lad struggled to cope after his daughter and two grand-daughters died in a stabbing at their home in Clayton.
'Afterwards I was really bad,' he told the T&A.
'After joining I had my spirit back again.'
