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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.”

Mumbai’s Known Unknowns

Amit Thackeray

The late U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, during a 2002 press briefing, famously distinguished between “known knowns,” “known unknowns,” and “unknown unknowns” - a framework that sought to categorize the complexities of intelligence and decision-making. His remarks, emphasizing the importance of understanding the limits of one’s knowledge, were made context of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. As Mumbai gears up for a fiercely contested electoral battle, the phrase rings eerily true where established political dynasties and their legacies clash with the unpredictability of voter sentiment, emerging challenges, and the shifting alliances that characterize the electoral arena.


This election cycle, filled with familiar names and entrenched rivalries, poses challenges that few can foresee, even as the players remain well known.


Amit Thackeray, the son of Raj Thackeray and a new face in Maharashtra’s political landscape, has thrown his hat into the ring by contesting from the Mahim constituency. While one might assume that a legacy associated with the Thackeray name would afford him an easy path, he faces significant hurdles. Sada Sarvankar, the incumbent MLA from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is steadfast in his candidacy, refusing to step aside despite being part of the Mahayuti alliance. Sarvankar’s past victories, including a decisive win in 2019, suggest that the Thackeray scion is in for a tough fight.


Meanwhile, the dynamics are further complicated by the presence of Mahesh Sawant, the candidate from Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena (UBT). With a history of strong electoral performance in Mahim, Sawant could siphon votes away from Amit Thackeray, presenting a formidable barrier in a contest already rife with uncertainty.


The looming presence of minority communities in Mahim, coupled with the shifting alliances among the traditional powerhouses, creates an unpredictable voter landscape. Will Amit Thackeray succeed in rallying support from Raj Thackeray’s legacy, or will Sarvankar’s established credibility prove insurmountable?


In Worli, a neighbouring constituency steeped in Shiv Sena tradition, Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora from Eknath Shinde’s Sena is stepping into a duel against incumbent MLA Aaditya Thackeray, whose own political journey is now fraught with precariousness. The younger Thackeray’s 2019 victory by a margin of over 68,000 votes feels like a distant memory, as recent Lok Sabha electoral results (where his lead from Worli had significantly reduced) signal a waning grip on the constituency. This once unassailable bastion is now vulnerable, with Deora poised to capitalize on any faltering support from Aaditya’s base.


In the Vandre East assembly constituency, Zeeshan Siddique, who finally quit the Congress to join Ajit Pawar’s ruling NCP, has carved out a robust base of support among young voters and the local Muslim community. His reputation is bolstered by a direct engagement with constituents, addressing local issues head-on and leveraging social media to foster connections. Additionally, the recent daylight killing of his father, Baba Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister, may elicit sympathy votes that could prove crucial in this election.


Conversely, Varun Sardesai, Uddhav Thackeray’s nephew, has positioned himself as a steadfast loyalist during the political turbulence of 2022. His influence in Vandre East is notable, largely stemming from the enduring loyalty of the Shiv Sena’s traditional voter base, which remains a significant force in this constituency.

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