Rich Man Gives His Daughter Ultimate Wedding Gift by Donating 90 Houses for the Poor

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In India, it’s not unusual for parents to spend a fortune to throw a lavish wedding for their children. For one father, he chose to spend the wedding money on the poor.

In late 2016, a wealthy businessman, Manoj Munot, from the Aurangabad district of the state of Maharashtra, decided to take wedding gifts to a whole new level—in a more meaningful way.

Illustration - Getty Images | SAM PANTHAKY

Instead of spending 7 million to 8 million rupees (approximately US$97,000–$110,000) to buy his daughter, Shreya, bridal fineries and other wedding ceremonial items, Munot used that money to help underprivileged families in India.

“Weddings are expensive and people end up spending a lot. But there is such a thing as duty to the people,” Munot told ANI.

In place of an extravagant wedding, he celebrated Shreya’s nuptial by donating 90 houses on 2 acres of land to the homeless. To be eligible to stay, the person had to be poor, live in a slum, and not be suffering from any addiction, according to IndiaToday.

Each house, measuring 12 by 20 feet (1.11 by 1.85 meters) is furnished with lighting, two windows, and two doors.

Newlyweds Shreya and her husband were tasked with handing the keys to the underprivileged families.

Shab Ali Shaikh, one of the beneficiaries, told the Quint, “I work as a domestic help in four households. Now I won’t have to worry about water and electricity here. Also, the burden of paying a monthly rent has been eased.”

Munot was inspired by politician Prashant Bamb to partake in this humanitarian act.

Of course, Shreya couldn’t be happier over her father’s noble cause and said her dad has given her the biggest wedding gift.

“This is the new chapter in history and I hope that the same concept will be followed by the other rich communities,” Munot said, according to IndiaTimes. “We have some responsibilities towards our society and we tried to comply with it.”

It’s a real blessing to bring joy to needy families. The happiness that you’ll experience when you sacrifice self-interest to extend compassion to others is something money can’t buy.

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