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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.”

Jarange to enter Mumbai

The activist gets permission for a day’s protest at Azad Maidan. He says he is prepared for a month’s protest

Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is all set to hold protest at Azad Maidan starting Friday. Mumbai police have granted him conditional permission to hold protest for a day along with 5000 protestors. However, Jarange-Patil and his followers are said to be prepared for a month-long sit in protest.


Jarange-Patil, along with a large number of supporters, started off from Shivneri fort in Pune district on Thursday. On his way activists from Nashik, Ahilyanagar and Pune district joined him.


While speaking to media, Jarange Patil clarified that the permission for just a one-day protest is not acceptable, reiterating his decision to undertake an indefinite fast in support of his demand for the Martha reservation from the OBC quota, which would be sustained within the legal framework.


“Justice should be done to the children of the Maratha community, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should support this. We will go to Mumbai. CM Fadnavis should accept our demands and implement them, and stop being stubborn,” said Jarange-Patil.


Jarange-Patil said even though the police have granted permission for a day, the Maratha community protesters will stay at other grounds. “They have given permission only for 5000 protesters. So, we will stick to that. Only 5000 protesters will be there at Azad Maidan. Others will wait at other grounds. Once the first batch of Maratha community protesters go back, Another 5,000 protesters will come in their place. Therefore, the terms and conditions of the government will be followed. There will be Marathas at the gates of Mumbai. And after one group leaves, another group will reach Azad Maidan,” he added.


Patil claimed that he would not back down; instead, he was firm on the indefinite fast at Azad Maidan. “The protest will be peaceful. I have appealed to the Maratha brothers to be patient. Do not break any law. Do not act in a way that will cause trouble to anyone. Do not create chaos. Not to act in a way that will bring down the name of the caste and community,” he said.


Jarange-Patil has demanded that the Maratha Kunbi be one and should be implemented in education and recruitment. The government should implement the Hyderabad Gazetteer, the Satara and Bombay Gazetteers to do justice to the Maratha community.


Negotiations in Mumbai: Vikhe-Patil

Water resources minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who also heads the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha quota, said, negotiations with Jarange Patil would be held in Mumbai. “A solution can be found quickly if both sides approach the issue positively,” he said. He enumerated decisions made by governments under Devendra Fadnavis for the Maratha community while elaborating on the government’s stance while dealing with the protesters.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde too is said to have cancelled his scheduled tour to his ancestral village Dare in Satara district in wake of Jarange-Patil’s agitation.


Shinde committee not in favour of demands regarding Gazettes

One of the major demands being raised by Manoj Jarange Patil is implementation of provisions of Hyderaband Gazette, Satara Gazette and Mumbai Gazette. The said gazettes have concrete proofs regarding registration of ‘Maratha’ community as ‘Kunbi’ and hence their implementation would easily include all Marathas as Kunbis and hence open up their way to avail OBC quota, they have argued. However, the Justice (rtd.) Sandeep Shinde committee formed to look into the issue, is not of the opinion to do so.


According to the committee the gazettes have numerical data on various castes and communities prevailing in the society back then and they lack individual data to back the claim being raised by Jarange-Patil. According to sources, the committee also tried to discuss the issue with Jarange Patil. The committee had recently travelled to Chattrapati Sambhaji Nagar in order to understand the Maratha quota activists ideas as to how they want the government to accept the demands in absence of concrete individual data. However, they couldn’t meet Jarange Patil even while they had sought time for a meeting, the sources said.The committee had travelled to Telangana in order to verify old documents. However, when they examined the documents they had sought from the government, they realized that the claims by the activists is not supported by the documents. However, earlier this week the state government extended the tenure of the committee by six months and the cabinet sub-committee head Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil stated that the study of the gazettes has begun.


Jarange's supporter dies of heart attack

A 40-year-old activist, who was accompanying Maratha quota movement leader Manoj Jarange for his protest in Mumbai, died of a heart attack near Junnar in Pune district on Thursday, police said.


The deceased, identified as Satish Deshmukh from Beed district, was part of the group traveling with Jarange to Mumbai, where the latter will launch his indefinite fast at Azad Maidan. "Deshmukh complained of chest pain near Lenyadri in Junnar tehsil on Thursday morning and was rushed to a hospital in Narayangaon, where he was declared dead," a senior official of the Pune rural police said.

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