Akan Aahvaanam’s Independence Day Feast with a Purpose

On most days, Akan in Hyderabad is a lively, bustling space where conversations flow as easily as the food. But once a year, on Independence Day, the mood shifts. The clink of cutlery and the hum of chatter remain, but there’s something deeper in the air — a sense of purpose.

“This day is special for us,” says Nihal Reddy Gurrala, Founder of Akan. “Every August 15th, we take a step back from business as usual. It’s a dry day, so the bar is shut, but that gives us the time and space to do something that matters. We open our doors for a free community lunch — not just to serve food, but to serve a cause.”

This year’s cause was one close to the heart of both Nihal and his wife, a doctor — spreading awareness about Thalassemia in collaboration with the Blood Warriors Foundation. “We met Krishna at an event,” Nihal recalls. “When I heard him speak about the issue, it struck a chord. It’s preventable, yet so many families suffer simply because they don’t know about it. That’s when I knew we had to do our bit.”

For Krishna Vamshi, Founder of Blood Warriors Foundation, partnerships like this are vital. “Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder,” he explains, his tone turning serious. “Patients can’t produce enough hemoglobin, and they need blood transfusions every 20 days just to survive. We’re talking about four to five lakh patients in India. Each one needs 20 donors a year. That’s a huge strain on the healthcare system — and it’s completely preventable if people know their carrier status.”

Krishna’s journey into the cause began in 2020, during the pandemic. “A parent called saying their child needed blood urgently. I wasn’t eligible to donate. A week later, the same parent called to say their child might not make it because blood wasn’t available in time. That broke me,” he says quietly. “We decided to act. Today, we run awareness campaigns, manage donor networks through our ‘Bloodbridge’ model, and push for preventive testing.”

At Akan, the awareness didn’t come with a lecture, but with warmth. Guests were welcomed with the aroma of traditional dishes from North Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Telangana — each plated on banana leaves. “Our team took this as a personal challenge,” Nihal smiles. “Most of them are from Mumbai, so they had to research recipes, try them out, and get every flavour right. And the best part? Everyone volunteered — from the kitchen crew to the servers.”

Donations weren’t compulsory, but many guests contributed generously after hearing Krishna’s story. “Events like this reach people we normally wouldn’t,” Krishna says. “Yesterday, someone called me just to say, ‘Put a standee in my clinic. I’ll tell everyone who comes in.’ That’s how awareness spreads.”

As the last plates were cleared, Nihal looked around at the full tables and the easy mingling of strangers who’d become part of something bigger than themselves. “It’s simple,” he says. “Every year, on Independence Day, we feed people. And in doing that, we hope to free someone — even if it’s just one person — from the chains of ignorance about a preventable disease. That’s our way of celebrating freedom.”