Watch video: One of Mumbai's richest MLA spends a day as a beggar after guru’s advice

A Bharatiya Janata Party BJP MLA Parag Shah one of the statersquos wealthiest legislators in Maharashtra recently gave up his usual security cars and expensive belongings to spend a day on the streets of Mumbais Ghatkopar dressed as a beggarA video of the Ghatkopar East MLA in beggarrsquos attire went viral on social media surprising many viewers before details of the unusual exercise emergedShah a businessman and real estate developer said the experience gave him a different perspective on life and helped him understand how people react to those seeking help on the streetsShah said he undertook the exercise on the advice of his Jain spiritual guru Namramuni during an ongoing period considered significant in Jain religious tradition according to the PTIFollowing the advice the MLA temporarily stayed away from his security personnel vehicles and expensive possessions He also underwent makeup to conceal his identity before heading out on the streets in the guise of a beggar the news agency reportedShah spent several hours seeking alms accepting food and money from people and sitting by the roadsideMaharashtra BJP MLA Parag Shah who declared assets worth over 3383 crore spent several hours disguised as a beggar on the streets of Ghatkopar On the advice of his Jain spiritual guru Shah gave up his security vehicles and expensive belongings to experience life from thehellip pictwittercomdVcoEYPfSPmdash Mid Day mid_day September 15 2026lsquoThat is the reality of lifersquoSpeaking about the experience Shah said it showed him how differently people are treated depending on their circumstancesldquoAll the respect and honour the people who line up to meet you mdash the same people when I go to them become taller than me So that is the reality of liferdquo he said as per the PTIThe BJP MLA also said the experience highlighted the willingness of ordinary Mumbaikars to help othersSamosa seller offers food for freeAccording to the PTI Shah recalled receiving Rs 20 from one person who told him to use the money to buy foodHe then approached a samosa seller and told him that he had no money According to Shah the hawker gave him a samosa free of charge and did so with a smileShah said the interaction left a strong impression on him particularly because the vendor himself was a poor street hawkerHe described the experience as an example of how people in Mumbai are often willing to help others despite their own limited meansMLA revisits the same placesShah did not stop at seeking alms After removing his makeup and returning to his normal appearance he revisited some of the places he had visited while disguised as a beggarHe also spoke to some of the same people again allowing him to reflect on their reactions without them initially knowing that the person they had encountered earlier was an MLA from the areaShah declared assets worth over Rs 3383 croreShah is known for his substantial wealth In his affidavit filed for the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections he declared assets worth more than Rs 3383 crore making him the richest candidate in the state at the time as per the PTIA businessman active in the real estate sector Shah has also previously served as a corporator of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCHis unusual experience of spending time on Mumbairsquos streets as a beggar has since attracted considerable attention on social mediawith PTI inputs