Anoop Khanna is an Indian social worker and businessman, best known for his campaign “Dadi ki Rasoi”, which provides affordable food to the poor living in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Wiki/Biography
Anoop Khanna was born on Thursday, August 21, 1958 (62 years old in 2020) in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Leo.
Anup Khanna as a child
To ensure that he gets the best education, his parents sent him to Dakpatta town in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He studied at Asha Ramvedi College in Vikas Nagar, Dehradun. In 1978, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Hindu College, Moradabad, which is affiliated to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University.
physical education
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Black
Family and caste
He was born into a Hindu family and practices Hinduism.
Parents and siblings
His father PN Khanna was a freedom fighter who worked with legendary social activists and politicians Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Not much is known about his mother. He has a younger sister named Rita.
Anoop Khanna and his family
Anoop Khanna with his mother and wife
Childhood photo of Anoop Khanna and his sister
Wife and children
On Wednesday, October 19, 1983, he married Nirmal Khanna, a housewife.
Anoop Khanna and his wife
He has a son, Bharat Khanna, who is a ship manager for the Anglo-Eastern Group, and a daughter, Sakshi Khanna.
Anoop Khanna with his wife and children and their spouses
Profession
After graduation, due to his interest in pharmacy, he opened a pharmacy retail store in Noida. He runs four pharmacies in Noida and is also the chairman of a pharmacy association in Noida.
Honey
On 21st August 2015, he started ‘Dadi ki Rasoi’, an initiative to provide quality food to the common man. The initiative started when his mother decided to give away the surplus food to the needy. They initially made and served food to 15-20 people per day and as of 2020, they feed 500-1000 people per day. The name which translates to ‘Grandmother’s Kitchen’ was given by his daughter Sakshi after her grandmother decided to help the needy. They charge a fee of Rs. 5 in exchange for feeding one person. When asked in an interview why they don’t provide it for free, Anoop said,
The nominal fee is charged to respect the dignity of every person and not treat them as beggars.”
Dadi ki Rasoi is located at 39, Block I, Ganges Mall, Sector 29, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301. The motto of the scheme is,
“Roti Canai, Kapurda and Dawai”
Dadi ki Rasoi by Anup Khanna
Later, Anoop also opened Sadbhavna shops under this initiative where the needy could buy clothes, shoes, books and many other items at just Rs 10.
Anoop Khanna donates clothes at Sadbhavna store
He also participated in the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojna’ and opened the first ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra’ in Noida. The centre ensures that everyone has access to quality medicines at affordable prices. Initially, he invested Rs 30,000 to set up the centre, but as the word spread to the public, he started receiving donations. When asked how he was able to feed so many people with such little money, he said,
Shop owners give me raw materials at a discount. Many residents donate special meals for special occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, etc. Their support is tremendous.”
Other social work
In 2004, when Bihar was hit by severe floods, he helped the Barabanki and Purnia districts of the state with trucks full of relief materials. During the 2011 India Anti-Corruption Protests, he extended his full support to Anna Hazare and the India Against Corruption Movement. He mobilised people for the anti-corruption movement and went on a 12-day hunger strike in Noida in support of Anna. Anup was the president of the Noida District Student Guardians Association and worked hard to improve the education system. He even participated in the massive movement against the exorbitant hike in private school fees. He even organised mock drills to prepare the children for any eventuality. In 2013, during the massive floods in North India, he helped the poor people of Kedarnath. He was a member of Khel Vikas Sansthan, which organised many sports events to promote sports in Noida.
Anoop Khanna during sports events
He also promoted and encouraged students to participate in sports, especially karate, badminton and athletics. He also actively carried out activities to encourage students to participate in elections.
Awards and Honors
- Rajnigandha Silver Pearl Certificate of Appreciation
Anoop Khanna receives a certificate of appreciation from Rajnigandha Silver Pearls
- Indian President Ram Nath Kovind attends the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi 2019 at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Anoop Khanna and his wife with President Ram Nath Kovind
- Won the Purushartha Award
Anoop Khanna receives Purushartha Award
address
A-86, Sector 47, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Assets and Net Worth
His movable assets are valued at Rs 15,78,835 and immovable assets are valued at Rs 39,30,000, so his net worth is estimated to be Rs 55,08,835 (as of 2012).
Facts/Trivia
- He was interested in sports from childhood and would play sports whenever he had time. He loved playing table tennis and participated in many competitions since childhood. In 1975, he participated in the table tennis championship; in 1975, he won the Garhwal District Championship and the Dehradun Table Tennis Championship. He was also a prominent member of the 1977-78 champion Rohelkhand team.
Anoop Khanna wins table tennis title
- In addition to sports, he also frequently participated in cultural activities such as drama during his college years.
Anoop Khanna during the show
- In 2012, he contested the assembly elections from Noida constituency in Uttar Pradesh on behalf of the Lok Satta Party.
- He is politically inclined towards the Aam Aadmi Party and often appears at AAP rallies.
Anoop Khanna and AAP members
- His story has been covered by YouTubers like Technical Guru (Gaurav Chaudhry) and Varun Pruthi, media outlets like Indian Express Online and Zee News, and talk shows like Zindagi with Richa.
DNA Anoop Khanna of India
- In 2018, he was featured in the ‘Pearls of India’ section of Rajnigandha Silver Pearls.
- In 2020, when India was locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic, he had to shut down Dadi ki Rasoi, which made him worried about the people who depended on food from his kitchen. So he decided to make dry food packets and distribute them to the poor in the slums; he delivered the dry food in his car.
Anoop Khanna distributes food during lockdown
- In 2021, he appeared along with Raveena Tandon and Sylvester Peter (another social activist from Delhi) in Kaun Banega Crorepati’s Karamveer Special, which aired on SONY TV and was hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
Anoop Khanna as Kaun Banega Crorepati
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education