Biryani Baba who fed over 1 crore poor people dies in Vizianagaram

Vizianagaram: Ataulla Shariff Shataj Khadri baba, popularly known as Biryani Baba, who has been feeding the poor for the past 60 years breathed his last at Cheemalapadu in Krishna district. He was 85. It's estimated that he has fed more than one crore people.

Born on 25 November 1936 in Cheemalapadu under A. Konduru mandal, Shataj Baba grew up reading Sufi ideology. He adopted the words of his guru Khader Baba and established two centers at Vizianagaram and Cheemalapadu. The main aim of these two pilgrim centers (darga) is to serve the poor, including providing food and clothes.

Anyone who enters the baba's darbar at Vizianagaram or Cheemalapadu is cordially received, honored with love and affection, and provided delicious food. MLAs, MPs, ministers, and many officials in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are among his devotees and used to visit him frequently.

Shataj Baba's final rites will be held on Sunday at Cheemalapadu. A huge number of followers are expected to attend his final journey.

He is survived by his four daughters and four sons.