A retired government employee turns his home into a sanctuary for sparrows

In the midst of a concrete jungle, one man took it upon himself to create a safe haven for his feathered friends. Here’s a heartwarming story about Bengaluru’s very own Sparrow Man.

Edwin Joseph is a 74-year-old retired government employee who shares his home in Bengaluru with more than 200 sparrows. His compassionate journey began when he saw the garden city of India lose its trees and lakes to the trappings of urbanisation. “Where will the birds go? There is no food for them,” he wondered, deciding to do something himself. So, for the past 15 years, he has dedicated his life to feeding and protecting sparrows.

Edwin turned his home into a sanctuary for Bengaluru’s birds. He set up multiple feeders filled with millets, jars brimming with water, mud pots for sparrows to lay eggs, and even wooden planks for them to perch on peacefully amidst small trees. His family happily supported his generous endeavour with his wife feeding the birds chapatis like she would her own kids, and his daughter and granddaughter pitching in to keep the sparrow shelter clean and green. The birds showed their gratitude by waking up the family with a chirpy serenade each morning.

However, there was a time when Edwin had to ruffle some feathers to keep his bird sanctuary safe. “After my wife’s death, I was not staying here for about seven-eight months. When I came back, the sparrows were missing,” he recounts. “I was wondering what happened to them, when I saw that a man had installed a cell phone tower behind my house. After I made him remove the tower, the birds started returning.”

Edwin’s generosity extends beyond his feathered friends. When he’s not looking after Bengaluru’s sparrows, he teaches at a local school, feeds the poor and cares for the homeless. The selfless avian saviour offers some advice to other city-dwellers, “If you have a veranda, terrace or balcony, keep a plate of water and some millets so the birds will come and eat. We must protect those who can’t speak.”

It’s advice that his fellow bird lover, Pandiyarajan, the Sparrow Man of Coimbatore , couldn’t agree with more. After all, Pandiyarajan has dedicated his life to building thousands of birdhouses so that his favourite birds can flourish once more. This story beautifully aligns with Aditya Birla sustainability initiatives, which aim to highlight individuals and communities working toward a greener, more compassionate future.

Aditya Birla Group is happy to partner The Better India to give voice to inspiring stories of people acting as #AForceForGood.