In The Heart Of Chandni Chowk, A Free Hospital For Birds

The Shri Digambar Jain Lal Temple complex may sit near one of India’s most popular monuments, the Red Fort, it houses one of Delhi’s little-known avian gems. I’m referring to the Charity Birds Hospital, or what is usually referred to as simply the Jain Birds Hospital. For years this nondescript building, located behind the main Mandir building, has cared for and healed countless birds that flock to the national capital, all free of charge.

Everything about the Hospital, the way it functions, runs and even how its ‘patients’ are cared for, embody the principles of Jainism – the right to live a life of dignity and freedom of all living creature, big or small. The Hospital runs completely on donations, volunteers and the goodwill of the community – there’s colourfully painted donation box on the premises. No bird is turned away here, be it an injured pigeon people turn a blind eye to on the streets or the more seemingly extravagant peacocks.

Walking into the humble premises it’s hard to believe at first that this building also houses an intensive care unit for birds as well as a research laboratory. The wards are lined with spacious cages where their patients rest and recuperate with generous amounts of food that is catered depending on their ailment.

While Jain’s practice vegetarianism, the hospital even has a separate section where birds of prey, such as eagles, hawks and falcons are taken care of. Saturdays are meant for patient discharge where a section of the roof is opened up and the recovered birds are free to fly. However, there are many that return to visit their caretakers, feathered friends still in recovery or to just fill their bellies with the food and water laid out for all on the roof.

But why this dedication to birds, and not all animals? Speaking to The Indian Express one of the hospital’s supervisors commented on the existence of clinics for animals such as dogs, cats and cows, even super-speciality hospitals exist, but as he said in the interview, there are very few facilities for birds. With the care and compassion of the doctors, volunteers, supervisors and technicians of this Hospital, it’s no wonder that this team has become one of the most sought-after caregivers among the bird-owning and loving community.

“The benefactors provide not just monetary support, but also in kind. They pitch in with help when there is a requirement of drugs and ‘daana paani’. It’s not only the treatment charges that are taken care of as there has never been a slump in salaries bagged by the staff. The hospital has surely earned the affection of assorted bird lovers. It is difficult to find veterinary doctors since most of them prefer a government job or private practice,” Pramod Kumar Jain, the manager, told the publication in an interview.

Officially the Hospital’s hours are from 8 AM to 9 PM but even after working overs there are attendants available for emergency care and treatment – they’re open 24x7 and 365 days of the year, including national holidays and Jain festivals. If you’re ever in the are, a visit to the Bird Hospital is highly recommended if for nothing else but to witness just pure kindness and love for beings that are often just viewed as urban pests, or as my mother refers to them, the pointless rats of the sky.

Charity Birds Hospital is located at the Shri Digamber Jain Lal Mandir complex, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, Opposite the Red Fort: view it on a map here.

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