“God has Wonderful plans for each one of us and without his mercy, care and help nothing can be accomplished”.
This was very true with Sister Damien, the founder of Ashadham Ashram. In last days of her teaching career, sister thought to learn ayurvedic medicine and serve the society. Henceforth she took permission from her Mother Superior and went to do a diploma course in ayurvedic medicine. After the completion of her course, Sister Damian along with Sister Bernadette came and visited Dr. Joseph Pathalil, Bishop of Udaipur to seek his grace blessings to start this new work.
After Listening to their interest, bishop suggested them to do something for the poor and needy people of the society. Sisters agreed to his lordships advice. As they came out of the House, they found Lali, an 85 year old lady who was lying on the roadside with both legs fractured and the wounds decaying, as there was nobody to look after her. People were seeing her and passed by on the other side.
But the sisters, as they were passing by, saw the lady and took pity on her. They went to her and bandaged her wounds. Then they put an old and wounded lady in an auto and brought her to the hospital . The doctors and nurses, cure her wounds. Sisters were there to look after Lali. Simultaneously Sister requested district collector to help Lai and identify her house/ relative. Lali was glad to see her relatives and willing to go with them. After a few days while going through the city, Sister Damien saw Lali again lying on the road side. Sisters put her on a bed and took her to a rented house. She was morally supported by Advocate Shri Fateh Singh Ji Mehta who stood strongly with them to face all the legal challenges.
Thus with her first inmate “Lali” the noble mission of Ashadham Ashram started on 11th November 1997 As destitute numbers increased they were shifted to the staff quarters of St. Paul’s school given by the bishop of Udaipur.
The People around were very helpful and supplied them with all that was needed for their maintenance. Within few days more such people were brought to the sisters and the number soon increased. As there was no room for more people in the house, Bishop granted them a house at the suburb of the city, in a locality called “Sajjan Nagar” and since then the house is being run there.
With the increase in number of inmates, more and more donors joined with us to construct facilities like building, kitchen, dispensary, drinking water facility etc at Sajjan Nagar. They helped the ashram in cash and in kind to cater the needs of the ashram. Among the donars these were some important people and their contributions The goal is to provide shelter, holistic care and reunite the sick and depressed destitute.