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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.”

Mohammed Siraj: The Relentless Warrior

In the annals of Test cricket, few series capture the imagination quite like a clash between England and India. The inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in 2025, named after two legends—England’s swing maestro James Anderson and India’s batting icon Sachin Tendulkar—lived up to its billing as a grueling, five-Test epic in English conditions. Amid the rain delays, swinging Dukes balls, and high-stakes drama, one player emerged as India’s unbreakable spearhead: Mohammed Siraj. The Hyderabad pacer, often called “Miyan Magic,” shouldered the bowling attack with unyielding stamina, finishing as the series’ leading wicket-taker with 23 scalps across all five matches.


His journey through the series was a rollercoaster of triumphs and trials, culminating in a fairytale finish that etched his name into cricketing folklore. In my view, Siraj’s performance wasn’t just about numbers; it symbolized the grit of a new-era Indian fast bowler thriving in alien territories.


Siraj’s highs were nothing short of spectacular, showcasing why he’s become India’s go-to enforcer in overseas Tests. From the outset at Lord’s, where the series began, Siraj set the tone with his aggressive seam bowling. He bowled tirelessly, clocking 185.3 overs—the second-most by an Indian seamer in a series since 2002—and delivered a staggering 1,113 balls, leading the charts for endurance. This workload was no mean feat in seaming English pitches, where pacers often break down. His peak came in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he dismantled England’s middle order with a spellbinding 6/70 in their first innings. Siraj’s ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his bouncer barrage, tormented batsmen like Joe Root, with whom he engaged in a tactical duel spanning 222 deliveries across the series—the longest individual battle of the contest. Root, England’s linchpin, fell to Siraj multiple times, underscoring the Indian’s tactical acumen.


Another highlight was Siraj’s consistency in hostile conditions. Unlike previous Indian tours where pacers faded, Siraj played every Test, becoming only the third Indian bowler to achieve this in three away series while picking 10 or more wickets each time. His 23 wickets equaled the record for the most by an Indian in a Test series in England, tying with legends like Kapil Dev. In the fourth Test at Old Trafford, amid overcast skies, Siraj’s four-wicket haul in the first innings helped India gain a foothold, even as England fought back. His raw pace, often exceeding 140 km/h, and reverse swing in the later stages made him indispensable. Post-series, Siraj stormed to a career-best ICC Test ranking, jumping several spots after his Oval exploits. For me, these moments highlight Siraj’s evolution from a fiery debutant to a mature leader of the attack, especially with Jasprit Bumrah sharing the load but Siraj out-wicketing him.


Yet, no fairytale is without its shadows, and Siraj’s lows reminded us of the unforgiving nature of Test cricket. His average of 32.43, while respectable, hinted at spells where he leaked runs, particularly in the first Test at Lord’s, where England amassed a mammoth total, and Siraj went wicketless in one innings while conceding over four runs per over. The third Test at Headingley saw him struggle against England’s aggressive Bazball approach; Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley feasted on loose deliveries, forcing Siraj to toil for minimal rewards. A notable low was a fielding blunder in the fifth Test’s fourth innings, where he dropped a crucial catch off his own bowling, allowing Chris Woakes to extend England’s resistance. Critics, including Sachin Tendulkar himself, snubbed Siraj’s ripping delivery to dismiss Crawley as the “ball of the series,” opting instead for a teammate’s effort—a subtle reminder that even stars face scrutiny. These moments tested Siraj’s mental fortitude; his economy rate occasionally ballooned under pressure, reflecting the challenges of leading an attack without consistent spin support on pitches that flattened out. In opinion, these dips weren’t failures but learning curves, exposing the fine line between aggression and control in English summers.


The series’ fairytale end, however, redeemed everything and elevated Siraj to heroic status. Trailing 2-1 after the fourth Test, India entered the decider at The Oval on July 31, 2025, needing a win to draw the series. Batting first, India crumbled to 224, but Siraj’s 4/84 pegged England back to 247. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s second-innings 118 propelled India to 396, setting England 374 to win. On a tense Day 5, with drizzle threatening, Siraj produced a performance for the ages: 5/104 in the fourth innings, including key wickets of Ollie Pope (lbw) and Ben Stokes. England, cruising at one point, collapsed as Siraj, Prasidh Krishna (4 wickets), and Akash Deep turned the screws.


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

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