top of page

By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

Cricket’s Latest Gift to the Lazy Elite

In a move that’s sure to revolutionize domestic cricket – or at least give senior players a golden excuse to lounge in the pavilion with a cold one – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has graciously introduced the “serious injury replacement substitute” rule for the 2025-26 season. Inspired, apparently, by heart-wrenching tales like Rishabh Pant’s injury woes, this noble edict allows teams to swap out a player who’s suffered a “serious” injury mid-match, preventing them from heroically hobbling on and risking further damage. How thoughtful! Because nothing says player welfare like handing over the reins to a fresh substitute from the bench, all while the umpires play doctor and decide if it’s legit. On paper, it’s a masterstroke of compassion. But let’s peel back the layers, shall we? This rule is a sarcasm goldmine, ripe for rampant misuse by those grizzled veterans who’ve seen more IPL auctions than actual fitness drills.


Picture this: It’s a sweltering afternoon in the Ranji Trophy, the pitch is a minefield, and your team’s star senior batsman – let’s call him “Captain Evergreen,” a 35-year-old legend whose knees creak louder than the stadium gates – faces a fiery young pacer. One bouncer whizzes past his helmet, and suddenly, oh dear, he’s clutching his shoulder like he’s been shot by a cannon. “Serious injury!” he wails, dramatic as a Bollywood death scene. The physio rushes in, the umpires confer, and poof! In comes a spry substitute from the reserves, while Captain Evergreen retires to the dressing room for an “extended recovery session” that suspiciously involves scrolling Instagram and sipping chai. Misuse? Perish the thought! This is just the rule working as intended – if “intended” means giving seniors a get-out-of-jail-free card for when the going gets tough.


And why stop at genuine discomfort? Senior players, those wise old foxes who’ve mastered the art of selective participation, could turn this into a veritable art form. Imagine the excuses: “Ouch, my hamstring twinged while tying my shoelaces!” or “Doctor, it’s a serious case of… selective amnesia about how to face spin.” The rule stipulates the replacement comes from the nominated substitutes at the toss, but who’s to say teams won’t stack their bench with all-rounders ready to step in at a moment’s notice? It’s like having a backup band for when the lead singer decides he’s too “injured” to hit the high notes. Humorously, one could envision a scenario where the entire senior brigade coordinates “injuries” in rotation – today it’s the opener’s mysterious back spasm during a chase, tomorrow the all-rounder’s sudden elbow flare-up when bowling uphill. The youngsters grind it out, while the vets preserve their bodies for those lucrative T20 leagues. Player welfare, my foot; this is welfare for the well-paid!Let’s not forget the wicketkeeper exception, that delightful loophole where teams might snag a specialist gloveman from outside the original subs if their keeper goes down. Brilliant! Now, a crafty senior keeper could “injure” himself early – say, by “diving” for a ball that was miles wide – and summon a fresh face while he kicks back. “Sorry lads, my gloves are giving me blisters… serious ones!” he’d quip, as the team suddenly fields two keepers for the price of one mishap. The potential for abuse is endless, especially in multi-day formats where fatigue sets in like an unwanted houseguest. Senior players, already masters of the “strategic rest” in international cricket, could exploit this to dodge the drudgery of fielding on day four or batting against a reversing ball. It’s almost comical how this rule, meant to shield the brave, might instead empower the cunning. Teams could even game the system: Nominate a bunch of versatile subs, then “injure” a senior to unleash a tactical wildcard. Umpires and referees might as well carry stethoscopes alongside their light meters.


Of course, the BCCI assures us this is all above board, with umpires holding the veto power. But in the heat of domestic cricket, where passions run high and scrutiny runs low, how foolproof is that? We’ve seen players milk timeouts for “cramps” that vanish miraculously post-match; now amplify that with a full substitution. It’s a recipe for hilarity – or hypocrisy, depending on your view. Senior players, those paragons of experience, might start viewing matches as optional excursions. “Why risk my golden years on this dusty track when I can invoke the magic rule and watch from the sidelines?” they’d chuckle. And let’s be real: In a country where cricket is religion, fans might even cheer it on, mistaking it for “smart management.” But deep down, it’s a farce that could erode the spirit of the game, turning domestic cricket into a senior citizens’ spa retreat.


In conclusion, kudos to the BCCI for this “innovative” rule – it’s sure to keep our veterans fresh, fabulous, and far from the fray. Who needs grit when you have substitutes? Perhaps next, they’ll introduce “serious boredom replacement” for when the match drags on. Until then, let’s watch as this well-intentioned safeguard becomes the ultimate loophole for the elite. Cricket just got a whole lot funnier – and a tad less fair.


(The Writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page