A Place to Die with Dignity: The Story of Navajeevan Holistic and Palliative Care Center in India
In the small rural town of Shivamogga, near Bangalore, India, a dream to offer dignity and peace to the dying has become a reality. It began when Marilyn Kaleel, a Board Member of the Global Action Coalition, met Father Joseph Chacko, a Catholic priest working at the Haley VA Hospital in Tampa. Hearing about the desperate need for a proper hospice facility in his hometown, Marilyn was immediately moved and determined to help. Their partnership developed and was instrumental in this unique project.
Recognizing the importance of seeing the need firsthand, Marilyn traveled to Shivamogga — a seven-hour drive from Bangalore after a long international flight. Exhausted but resolute, she arrived to find a small, run-down building where a handful of Catholic nuns and Father Abraham cared for nine terminally ill patients. Despite the poor conditions, the compassion and dedication of the staff — many of whom earned only about $150 a month — were overwhelming. Patients like a 22-year-old woman battling AIDS, contracted from her late parents, showed the urgent need for a proper place to die peacefully. In India, particularly for women and the poor, access to hospice care is virtually nonexistent.
Seeing the depth of the need, Marilyn knew this project had to happen. Global Action Coalition, together with generous friends from the Indian community of Greenville and supporters across faiths, initially committed $25,000 to renovate the buildings and other support for the mission.
But as the vision grew, so did the project. The plan evolved from simply renovating an old building on half an acre to constructing a brand-new center on four acres of land. Ultimately, thanks to widespread support, around $85,000 was raised.
Today, the Navajeevan Holistic and Palliative Care Center stands proudly — two beautifully constructed buildings with granite doorways, modern bathrooms designed for hospice care, a separate kitchen building, and a dormitory for the nuns who work there. The project represents a coalition of compassion, uniting Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews in a shared mission. Built under the leadership of Father Tomy Kariyilakulam and a trusted team of Muslim craftsmen, and operated by the Catholic Diocese of Shivamogga, the center welcomes people of all religions without any conditions or religious indoctrination.
Marilyn, who personally donated $5,000 to the effort, was deeply moved during the Center’s opening ceremony, attended by more than 200 people. There, the gratitude expressed by the local community was palpable, with tributes given to Global Action Coalition and the many donors who made the dream a reality. A particularly emotional moment for Marilyn was seeing a plaque dedicated to her late husband, Talat, placed alongside a plaque honoring Global Action Coalition’s support.
One humorous memory also stayed with her: during her speech, a man she had met on her first visit was so excited to see her again that he kept energetically waving and jumping up and down, almost throwing her off her prepared remarks — a joyful reminder of the deep human connections built through this work.
This Hospice center is more than a collection of buildings; it is a testament to what can happen when compassion, faith, and community come together. Thanks to the dedication of Marilyn Kaleel, Father Joseph Chacko, Father Abraham, Father Tomy, and countless others, the people of Shivamogga now have a sacred place — a place where they can leave this world surrounded by love, dignity, and peace.
Global Action Coalition wants to thank the following people for their generous donations to this project: Marilyn Kaleel, Joseph Baldassarra, Neelina Surendra Jain, Meena and Sunny Handa for being major sponsors. We also want to thank Dr. Kumar Dongre, Barbara Hartke, Rajeev Malik, Garesh Thankkur, Damian Bertucelli, Sanjay Tellur, Penelope Salmons, Alexa Jessee, Neil Dongre, Meghan Lal, Kolapassi Restaurant, Sally Ordway, Betty Mathew, Joy Rudnicki, Jan and David Trout, Krishnaraj Sambandhan and our bank Synovus for their help with the wire transfers.
