New Delhi: Maharashtra BJP MLA Parag Shah, who owns assets worth around Rs 4,000 crore, spent four hours begging on the streets of Mumbai to experience life from the perspective of an ordinary person. During this period, people gave him a total of Rs 84.
The MLA followed the advice and went out without revealing his identity. He visited a railway station and sat there among other people seeking help.
Later describing the experience, he said it taught him lessons about human behaviour, humility and the way people judge others. He said the idea came from his Jain spiritual teacher, Shri Namramuni Maharaj, who advised him to become a beggar for a day. Shah said the experience made him understand that a person’s identity is not defined by wealth, caste, religion or social position. “I begged on the streets of Mumbai for four hours, and people gave me a total of Rs 84,” he said.
Shah Describes Public Reactions During Railway Station Visit
Shah recounted his experience at a railway station, where he sought assistance from passersby. He noted that police officers observed him with suspicion during this time. He interacted with a woman who provided him with kitchen items, which he later handed over to a police officer. That evening, he returned to retrieve the items under his name, Parag Shah.
The BJP legislator reflected on the varied responses he received when asking for money. Some individuals scolded him, others ignored his requests, while a few offered help without inquiring about his identity.
