Science, Stories and Sevagram: A Physician-Teacher's Reflections
SP Kalantri Shankar sat on the old wooden bench outside his workshop, absently rubbing his rough, unshaven chin. The bright sparks of welding had once lit up his face, but now it was worn, lined with worry. He had battled difficult customers, unpaid bills, and broken machines, but this was different. This was a fight he knew … Read more
Radhika was never one for outbursts. But that day, as she lay in the hospital bed, her voice shattered the silence like a storm. Her eyes burned with fury. βHow dare you talk to me?β she shouted, her chest rising and falling with anger. βGet out! Donβt come near me! Donβt touch me!β Her words … Read more
The namesβKabir, Ramdas, Vivekanand, Guru Nanak, Ramkrishna, Dharmanand, Martin Luther King, Patel, and Birlaβare more than just colonies in Sevagram. They hold memories of beginnings, struggles, friendships, and quiet acts of courage. Each name has a story to tell. Yesterday, a thought crossed my mind, almost by accident Dr. Sanjay Diwan had asked whether the … Read more
The old principal’s office, once the heart of MGIMS in 1969, is now nothing more than a pile of rubble. Today it lies in ruins. In 1969, when MGIMS began, the principal’s office was a plain two-room building. It stood quietly next to the old hospital, where the Community Medicine department is now, almost touching … Read more
Nostalgia has a way of sneaking up on you. You try to avoid comparing the “good old days” to the present, but somehow, you end up doing it anyway. The younger generation hates it. They roll their eyes when we compare the 60s and 70s to today. But as you age, those comparisons just happenβwhether … Read more
βStop this vomiting,β she said firmly, her voice steady enough to make even the nurse stop fidgeting with the clipboard. βEase the pain a little. Once I gather some strength, Iβll take you to my village. Youβll sit on the mud floor, eating from banana leaves. Hot jowar bhakris, fresh off the chullah, with just … Read more
Pandurang (name changed) is not a guru. He doesnβt stand on a stage, preaching to thousands. He isnβt a YouTuber making millions from daily wisdom. He hasnβt written books, nor made money from his teachings. He is a daily wage laborer from a village near Hinganghat, a 73-year-old man who never went beyond primary school. … Read more
Donβt forget to eat that πππππ πππππ,β he said again, his voice steady now. βI will,β I replied with a smile, stepping away. Only a week earlier, his son had wheeled him into the hospital OPD, visibly anxious. A driver in our hospital, his face betrayed his helplessness as he pushed the wheelchair into my … Read more
In our quiet ward, a son softly asked, “Can I take my mother home?” Usually, such requests mean relief. Patients leave with hope, their struggles behind them. Grateful families thank the doctors, smiling. It feels like a victory. But this time, there was no joy. No happiness. His question wasn’t about hopeβit was about saying … Read more
It was a typical Thursday, my OPD day. After completing rounds, I settled into the clinic, surrounded by my medical residents. The waiting hall buzzed with life, crowded with patients, many standing near the door, each waiting their turn. Mornings like these felt routine, but they never lacked purpose. Our hospital, a beacon of hope … Read more