Picture this. The year was 1962. The village was Balwadi, nestled on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The small village was surrounded by thick and dense forests, home to many panthers. These predators often crossed the thin boundary between the forest and the village. Whenever they appeared, they incited panic and terror among …
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐
In 1973, at the age of 17, I enrolled at Government Medical College Nagpur as a medical student. During weekends, Suhas Jajoo and I frequently commuted between Wardha, where our parents lived, and Nagpur, where our college was located. Our mode of travel? The third-class train compartments. Those berths were made of hard, bare wood, …
Surprise and Sentiment: Mr. SR Halbe’s Memorable 76th Birthday
On May 10, an unknown number flashed on my phone. A few minutes earlier, I had received a message from the same number, introducing the sender as Mr. Halbeโs student and current colleague, requesting to speak with me about a surprise event for Mr. Halbeโs 76th birthday. The caller was Mr. Shrirang Padhye, a Mumbai-based …
How an ECG Foiled the Appendectomy Plan
In modern medicine, we often face a common problem: too much testing, diagnosing, and treating. We tend to believe that more tests and treatments mean better care. But sometimes, even simple tests can make things more confusing instead of clear. This confusion can lead to delays in making important decisions, more treatments than necessary, and …
Leading the Way: Introducing MGIMS’s New President
The Kasturba Health Society in Sevagram, which oversees MGIMS, is about to embrace its third President in its illustrious 55-year history. Dr. Sushila Nayar, the visionary founder, led the institute for 31 years, from 1969 to 2001. Following her passing, Dhirubhai Mehta assumed leadership, guiding MGIMS for 24 years. Sadly, Dhirubhai passed away on April …
Dhirubhai Mehta
(1936-2024) It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dhirubhai Mehta, President of Kasturba Health Society, Sevagram, who left us this morning. He was just about to turn 88 this weekend. Born on April 27, 1936, in Songadh, a village 28 km west of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Dhirubhai came from a middle-class family. …
Unstoppable: Dr. Chhabra’s Impact on Medicine and Beyond
As the news sinks in, some may rub their eyes in disbelief. Others may find their ears reluctant to accept the truth. Some might dismiss it as a cleverly planted premature April fool story. However, the truth does not change: tomorrow, Dr. Shakuntala Chhabra shall leave Sevagram for good, marking the end of an era. …
๐ ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ป๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐ง๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น
Alcohol and a snake. Two unlikely companions in the dark, yet both played a role in the mysterious arrival of Vitthal (name changed) to the emergency room of our hospital. Two days ago. It was well past midnight when Vitthal, consumed by alcohol, began to babble about a snake. In the quiet of his village …
The Anatomy of Compassion: A Tale of Generosity and Discovery
In the corridors of our hospital, a remarkable story unfolded just a day ago. A woman well into her nineties, her spirit worn by time but her resolve firm. Hailing from a village 200 kilometers east of Sevagram, she lived out her days in the company of memories and her devoted son after the loss …
Dr. Swarna Lata Samal
Dr. Swarna Lata Samal, born on April 14, 1948, passed away this morning. She leaves behind a legacy of simplicity and selfless service. Life, for Mrs. Samal, was a tumultuous journey. Filled with highs and lows , her life journey tested her resilience and spirit. She faced tempests that would have shaken the bravest of …