The people behind our purpose
Mr. Vangapadu Lakshmi Naidu lived in Bangaramma Peta, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, India. A farmer, educator, and devoted Sanskrit scholar, he was known for his big laugh and love of learning. Each morning, he rose at dawn, completed his bath and prayers, and set off to teach at the local high school.
Books and language brought him lifelong joy. But as he grew older, vascular dementia gradually affected his ability to recognize the words he once loved, and eventually the people closest to him. With no local community center, he had few opportunities to spend time with other older adults, share his experiences, or find companionship.
Ms. Swarup Kumari’s story reflected a similar need. After earning a master’s degree in zoology in the 1930s, she overcame barriers facing women in science to become a professor. Her life was marked by determination, curiosity, and academic achievement.
When she developed Alzheimer’s disease, her family faced the painful changes that came with it. There was no welcoming community space where she could connect with others who shared her background and interests, or receive support that recognized the person behind the diagnosis.
Their experiences revealed a gap that would become the heart of India Home’s mission.
A daughter’s vision
Mr. Naidu was Dr. Vasundhara Kalasapudi’s father. His experience shaped her understanding of what older adults and their families need: compassionate care, meaningful companionship, and a sense of belonging.
As a physician beginning her career in the United States, Dr. Kalasapudi also understood the difficulty of balancing work and caring for a loved one. She recognized that the lack of culturally appropriate support extended beyond her father’s village. In New York, too, South Asian older adults had few places where their languages, food, traditions, and expectations were understood.
One response she received from a senior center stayed with her:
“Sorry, Doc, we don’t have curry for your father.”
The remark captured a larger problem. Familiar food was one part of a deeper need for services that understood and respected the people they served.
Dr. Kalasapudi envisioned something different: a place where South Asian older adults could feel comfortable, build friendships, and receive support without leaving their cultural identities at the door.
Building a community, one conversation at a time
To bring that vision to life, Dr. Kalasapudi, known to many as Dr. K, started conversations in temples and other South Asian community spaces. She distributed flyers in neighborhoods, spoke with families, and relied on word of mouth to reach India Home’s first members.
In 2008, India Home established its first senior center program at Services Now for Adult Persons (SNAP) of Eastern Queens. It was a response to the needs of a growing community whose access to culturally appropriate social services had not kept pace.
Members found a welcoming place to share nutritious, familiar meals, practice yoga, learn about their health, and celebrate Diwali and other cultural traditions. These gatherings created opportunities for friendship, creativity, and connection while supporting physical and emotional well-being.
As the community grew, India Home expanded its programs to Kew Gardens Community Center and Sunnyside Community Center. In April 2016, it returned to SNAP to offer culturally appropriate services for South Asian older adults once again.
Expanding our reach
In 2014, India Home opened the Desi Senior Center in the basement of the Jamaica Muslim Center in Jamaica, Queens, extending its reach into the neighborhood’s Bangladeshi community.
The center created a gathering place for older adults, including newer immigrants and people from low-income households. Members could share meals, exchange stories, celebrate traditions, and build relationships with people who understood their experiences.
As a secular organization, India Home’s commitment has always been to serve South Asian older adults across faiths and backgrounds. Working within familiar community spaces helped make that support more accessible.
Finding support in a new country
For many immigrant older adults, settling into life in the United States means navigating unfamiliar systems, often in an unfamiliar language.
Through community partnerships and bilingual presentations, India Home connected members with housing specialists, legal professionals, elected officials, and other resources. These conversations helped older adults understand available services, learn about their rights, and participate more confidently in community life.
English-language classes and computer instruction offered additional ways to communicate, access information, and stay connected. Alongside practical support, India Home encouraged members to share their knowledge, speak up about their needs, and advocate together.
A home away from home
India Home grew from a daughter’s concern for her father into a community where older adults could find friendship, dignity, and belonging.
That founding purpose continues to guide our work: creating spaces where people are known for their stories, supported through life’s changes, and valued for all they bring to the community.