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Mehak Bhojwani

Joined 16 October 2018

Seva Cafe

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Introduction

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Seva café is a pay-it forward café located in Ahmedabad, India. Seva is a Sanskrit word that means selfless service.[1] This cafe runs on the concept of gift-economy [2] and peer-to-peer generosity.[3] It was founded in the year 2006 by an NGO named Manav Sadhna[4]. The bill from this cafe always reads zero with a footnote stating: "Your meal was a gift from someone who came before you. To keep the chain of gifts alive, we invite you to pay it forward for those dine after you."[5]

History

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The first SEVA cafe was established in the year 2006 in Ahmedabad. The cafe is the brainchild of John Silliphant and Jayesh Patel, who also founded Manav Sadhna, a NGO. [6] SEVA cafe has inspired creation of cafes like itself in India and abroad.

In year 2012, SEVA cafe came up with its second branch in Bangalore, Karnataka. It was started on Sunday December 2nd[7] by Anupreet Dhody and Susheel Nair [8] with 15 volunteers. The Third branch was established in Mumbai, Maharashtra on Sunday January 13' 2013[9] .It is located in Shantivan Gardens [10] The fourth branch of SEVA cafe is in Pune ,Maharashtra .It was established on 2nd October, 2015 [11].It is located in The Green Vegan cafe, Phoenix Mall, Pune.[12] Some of these cafes do not run on regular basis but they host free lunch/dinner monthly.[13]

Seva café also operates in Los Angeles, United States of America.[14]

Beliefs

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According to the website of Manav Sadhna”Seva Café is based on five important principles: the spirit of volunteerism, Vasudeva Kutumbakam (Global Family), Atithi Devo Bhava (Guest is God), Gift economy (selfless and heartfelt offerings), Circle of Giving (supporting the experiment and creating a sustainable movement by contributing-what-you-wish).”  Seva café also supports various slogans like “living is giving” and “love all serve all”. [15]

It runs on gift economy and peer to peer generosity, the guests can pay for their dishes as per their wish, they can also volunteer in the cafe.[16]

Infrastructure

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The café is divided into two segments inner and outer. The outer segment includes an open kitchen with some tables and a board for the menu which reads “today’s menu”. Menu is changed daily. The inner part of the café has an AC room with seating arrangement for the visitors. The cafe also has a library, where people can read books.

The café’s infrastructure looks like a mix of urban and rural techniques of architecture. The walls of the café are engraved with  quotes on “Seva” like “living is giving”, “love all serve all”, “in a gentle way we can shake the world”, including several prayers and messages of Seva and. There is a stage made for performance where the customers can sing. There is a Guajarati handicraft store for the customers. [17]

Events

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Save Café organizes many events which are in sync with its beliefs. There are three key events namely “head, heart and hands”, “Startup Service” Gatherings and”Gandhi 3.0 “.

Head, Hearts and Hands

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This event is organized in Ahmedabad, every month. It takes place for three days and participants visit the outskirts of Ahmedabad.[18]

Startup Service

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It is organized for entrepreneurs.  People from diverse fields gather; to discuss startups, people can collaborate on the emerging projects and also work for the existing projects. The aim of this event is to mix entrepreneurship with generosity and kindness. This event is organized once in a year. [19]

Gandhi 3.0

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An event called Gandhi 3.0 was organized in the end of January 2017, by the volunteers at the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram, which was 5 day gathering ceremony for the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This event was attended by people from different walks of life who resided in different places around the world.[20]

Other events

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They also hold events like India Inclusion Summit, which focuses on generating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Youth Retreat, an event organized for people under thirty years of age, etc.[21]

In the year 2012, Wikipedia held its meet up at Seva cafe. [22]

Recognition

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This café is recognized across India and abroad for following a unique concept.[23] It is often mentioned in lists like “unique cafes in India” etc.[24][25][26][27][28][29] Several blogs have been written about the café. [30][31][32][33][34][35] Seva café was also mentioned in articles by Forbes.[36][37] It was also discussed in an TED X event at NMIMS Bangalore.[38]

References

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  1. ^ "Selfless service", Wikipedia, 2018-10-20, retrieved 2018-11-04
  2. ^ "Gift economy", Wikipedia, 2018-10-19, retrieved 2018-11-04
  3. ^ "Pay-it-Forward Peer-to-Peer Generosity - P2P Foundation". wiki.p2pfoundation.net. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  4. ^ "Manav Sadhna". www.manavsadhna.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  5. ^ "Seva Cafe: Where Living is Giving". India Today. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  6. ^ ScoopWhoop (2017-04-17). "You Don't Have To Pay At This Ahmedabad Cafe. Your Bill's Already Paid By The Customer Before You!". ScoopWhoop. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  7. ^ "Seva Cafe, Bangalore". www.movedbylove.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  8. ^ "Seva cafe serves food for thought - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  9. ^ "Seva Cafe, Mumbai". www.movedbylove.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  10. ^ karmatube@charityfocus.org. "Seva Cafe in Mumbai | ServiceSpace.org". www.servicespace.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  11. ^ sheetal sanghvi (2012-10-16), Seva Cafe, Pune (2nd October), retrieved 2018-11-04
  12. ^ "| Moved By Love". www.movedbylove.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  13. ^ Järvisalo, J.; Saris, N. E. (1975-09-15). "Action of propranolol on mitochondrial functions--effects on energized ion fluxes in the presence of valinomycin". Biochemical Pharmacology. 24 (18): 1701–1705. ISSN 0006-2952. PMID 13.
  14. ^ "Seva Cafe LA - Where Guests are Unconditionally Divine". Hyphen Magazine. 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  15. ^ ":: Manav Sadhna :: SEVA CAFE". www.manavsadhna.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  16. ^ "A cafe where the bill reads zero, and only generosity counts". www.freepressjournal.in. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  17. ^ "Moved By Love: Experiments in Generosity". www.movedbylove.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  18. ^ "Moved By Love: Experiments in Generosity". www.movedbylove.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  19. ^ Ris, M. M.; Deitrich, R. A.; Von Wartburg, J. P. (1975-10-15). "Inhibition of aldehyde reductase isoenzymes in human and rat brain". Biochemical Pharmacology. 24 (20): 1865–1869. ISSN 0006-2952. PMID 18.
  20. ^ "Gandhi 3.0: To Unlock The Law Of Love | ServiceSpace.org". www.servicespace.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  21. ^ "Moved By Love: Experiments in Generosity". www.movedbylove.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  22. ^ "Wikipedia:Meetup/Ahmedabad/Ahmedabad4", Wikipedia, 2012-12-05, retrieved 2018-11-04
  23. ^ "A cafe where the bill reads zero, and only generosity counts". www.freepressjournal.in. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  24. ^ Kröger, H.; Donner, I.; Skiello, G. (1975-9). "Influence of a new virostatic compound on the induction of enzymes in rat liver". Arzneimittel-Forschung. 25 (9): 1426–1429. ISSN 0004-4172. PMID 24. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "10 Unique and Weird Indian Restaurants You must Visit once - Daily Hawker". Daily Hawker. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  26. ^ "Must try concept restaurants and cafés across India - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  27. ^ "7 Restaurants That Offer So Much More Than Just Good Food". NDTV Food. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  28. ^ Conway, C. M. (1975-8). "Editorial: "Old lamps for new"". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 47 (8): 811–812. ISSN 0007-0912. PMID 27. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Ahmedabad/West Zone – Travel guide at Wikivoyage". en.wikivoyage.org. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  30. ^ Kothari, Dipti. "Seva Cafe - Where Your Meals Are Free! by Dipti Kothari - Plattershare". Plattershare. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  31. ^ Mier, P. D.; van den Hurk, J. J. (1975-7). "Lysosomal hydrolases of the epidermis. I. Glycosidases". The British Journal of Dermatology. 93 (1): 1–10. ISSN 0007-0963. PMID 30. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Mier, P. D.; van den Hurk, J. J. (1975-10). "Lysosomal hydrolases of the epidermis. 2. Ester hydrolases". The British Journal of Dermatology. 93 (4): 391–398. ISSN 0007-0963. PMID 31. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Beck, M. L.; Freihaut, B.; Henry, R.; Pierce, S.; Bayer, W. L. (1975-1). "A serum haemagglutinating property dependent upon polycarboxyl groups". British Journal of Haematology. 29 (1): 149–156. ISSN 0007-1048. PMID 32. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "From Entrepreneurs to Doorkeepers, Everybody Serves with Love & Warmth at This Ahmedabad Cafe". The Better India. 2017-05-29. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  35. ^ "Volunteering at Seva Café - Volunteer Weekly". Volunteer Weekly. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  36. ^ Behal, Ambika. "This Mumbai Analyst Quit His Job To Move To An Ashram -- And He's Back To Teach How To Invest Compassionately". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  37. ^ "Seva Cafe Serves Generosity on a Platter | Forbes India". Forbes India. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  38. ^ TEDx Talks (2013-04-10), Siddharth Sthalekar at TEDxNMIMSBangalore, retrieved 2018-11-04
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  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4L6Dde9PHc
  • https://www.huffingtonpost.in/the-better-india/this-ahmedabad-autorickshaw-driver-personifies-love-all-serve-a_a_21596068/
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