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,...

min read

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.”

National Sports Day: Beyond Names, Towards a Sporting Nation

Bhalchandra Chorghade
Nov 1, 2025
3 min read

National Sports Day is not just a tribute to Dhyan Chand, but a reminder of India’s potential to become a sporting powerhouse.

India celebrates National Sports Day on August 29, marking the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, regarded as the greatest player in the sport’s history. More than symbolic, the occasion reminds us of the values sports instil and their role in shaping a healthy, disciplined, and aspirational society.

Sports has its own language of identity, with athletes given unique titles based on their disciplines. Volleyball players are ‘spikers’, basketball players ‘cagers’ or ‘hoopsters’, and cue-sport professionals in snooker and billiards ‘cueists’. Boxers are pugilists, weightlifters are grapplers, and badminton players are shuttlers. Cricket, India’s most popular sport, has batsmen, pacers, spinners, and all-rounders. Footballers, too, are dubbed strikers, sweepers, or keepers. These titles are more than playful synonyms; they reflect a culture that celebrates specialisation, skill, and sporting identity.

Deeper significance

Beyond names and terminology lies the true essence of sport. For individuals, it fosters discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and resilience. A boxer learns not just to fight in the ring but to face setbacks with courage. A shuttler develops reflexes and endurance, along with patience and strategy. Grapplers show strength but, more importantly, embody persistence, building capability through years of training.

Sports uniquely mould character. The discipline to follow training, the commitment to stay fit, and the toughness to face victory or defeat prepare athletes for life’s challenges beyond the field. They also foster community and belonging. When basketball hoopsters share the court or football strikers coordinate with midfielders, they exemplify teamwork—a lesson relevant across personal and professional life.

Nation-building

At a societal level, sports are more than recreation; they are tools of nation-building. With its demographic dividend, India cannot afford to ignore the need to channel youthful energy into constructive avenues, such as sports. It fosters physical well-being, inclusivity, and gender equality. The rise of women in boxing, wrestling, badminton, and weightlifting—with icons like Mary Kom, P.V. Sindhu, and Mirabai Chanu—reflects this shift.

Sports also aid diplomacy and international recognition. From the Olympics to the Asian Games, every medal projects soft power and enhances India’s global standing. National Sports Day is thus not just a tribute to Dhyan Chand but a reminder of India’s potential to become a sporting powerhouse.

Recognising this potential, the Indian government has undertaken several initiatives to nurture sporting talent. The Khelo India Programme has become a cornerstone for spotting and nurturing young athletes across various disciplines, providing them with scholarships and structured training. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) has been instrumental in preparing elite athletes for international events by providing financial and infrastructural support.

In addition, the development of sports infrastructure—stadiums, training centres, and academies—has been prioritised in several states. Schemes like the Fit India Movement aim to take fitness and sporting culture beyond athletes to the wider population, encouraging every citizen to make exercise and sport a part of daily life.

Yet, challenges remain. The concentration of resources in urban areas often leaves rural talent under-supported. Moreover, while cricket enjoys massive attention and sponsorship, other sports often struggle for visibility, funding, and media coverage. This imbalance continues to raise questions about whether India’s sporting culture is holistic or cricket-centric. National Sports Day provides an occasion to introspect on this imbalance and to strive towards giving every sport and every sportsperson their due recognition.

Road ahead

As India aspires to win more Olympic medals and expand its presence across international competitions, the need of the hour is a comprehensive ecosystem—one that combines grassroots training, modern infrastructure, scientific coaching, and most importantly, a cultural shift that values sport not merely as entertainment but as an essential pillar of holistic development.

The nomenclature of athletes—spikers, hoopsters, cueists, shuttlers—shows the diversity of disciplines that enrich the sporting world. But National Sports Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves that behind these names lie stories of grit, struggle, and triumph. Honouring them means more than celebrating their titles; it means supporting their journeys, recognising their sacrifices, and embedding the values of sport into everyday life.

In the words of Major Dhyan Chand himself, sports are not just about winning medals but about fostering unity, discipline, and character. On this National Sports Day, India must reaffirm its commitment to nurturing a sporting culture that lives up to his legacy.

1 Comment

Tim Smith

Nov 03, 2025

This article really made me reflect on how much sports shape not just individual lives but the broader culture of a nation. Growing up, I watched athletes train relentlessly, and it taught me that discipline, resilience, and teamwork aren’t just lessons for the field—they carry over into everyday challenges. What struck me most here is the emphasis on recognizing every sport and its athletes, beyond cricket’s massive popularity, which is something India is gradually addressing through programs like Khelo India and TOPS. While exploring ways to stay connected with different sports digitally, I came across resources like https://1winapk.pro/ where you can read review and get insights into various sports offerings, even though it’s not for playing. It’s a reminder that…