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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.”

Electoral Illumination

As Maharashtra gears up for its Assembly elections on November 20, an unusual harmony looms between the ‘Festival of Democracy’ and the ‘Festival of Lights.’ The rare coinciding of Diwali with the election season underscores a unique opportunity for reflection, choice and renewal. This festive intersection invites voters to participate in the democratic process with the same zeal with which they approach Diwali, a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, wisdom over ignorance, and light over darkness. Much like the ‘diya’ that illuminates each household during Diwali, the ballot each voter casts will shine a light on the direction Maharashtra will take in the years ahead.


The stakes in this Assembly election are substantial, as is the anticipation. Maharashtra’s politicians, both from the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as well as the smaller parties, are vigorously competing to capture the public’s imagination, rolling out grand visions and promises for the state’s progress and development. Against a Diwali backdrop, campaigning has taken on a celebratory tone, a blend of hopeful pageantry and political manoeuvring. Yet, amid the banners, rallies, and slogans, the electoral landscape is also marked by competing challenges: inflation, unemployment, agricultural distress and the ever-present concerns about infrastructure and governance.


As politicians court the public with fervour, every citizen in Maharashtra must remember their indispensable role. Voting is not simply a civic duty; it is a moral imperative. Just as Diwali invites self-reflection on one’s actions and relationships, so too does election season call for introspection about the society one wishes to shape. Apathy, often creeping in on election day, is Maharashtra’s greatest adversary. To forego voting is to abdicate one’s stake in the future. Much as Diwali lights every corner of the home, so must every eligible citizen make their way to the polling booth, illuminating the path forward with collective will.


There is, of course, a cautionary tale embedded in this coincidence. Diwali’s bounty can sometimes blind people to the superficial shine of appearances, and elections are prone to similar illusions. As candidates pledge sweeping reforms and promise a brighter tomorrow, voters must look beyond the gleam of grandstanding and weigh each party’s record against its rhetoric. Maharashtra’s electorate must be clear-eyed about the transformative potential of their vote and not be swept away by the bombast of electoral fireworks.


And so, as Diwali celebrations ring through the state, Maharashtra is offered a rare alignment of festivals. The triumph of the ballot, like the flame of the ‘diya,’ will be a testament to the power of choice, enlightenment, and resilience. In a world often divided and polarized, the simultaneous celebration of Diwali and democracy is a heartening reminder of the values shared by both. May the electorate carry this torch forward, lighting the way toward a brighter, more prosperous future for Maharashtra.

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