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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.”

Nilesh Rane comes full circle for the Shiv Sena family

Updated: Oct 25, 2024

Nilesh Rane

Mumbai: Completing the political circle for the family, Nilesh Rane, the elder son of former Chief Minister Narayan Rane, joined the Shiv Sena almost after two decades on Wednesday. He is likely to be the candidate for the party from Kudal-Malvan Assembly constituency.


Narayan Rane had quit Shiv Sena in 2005 after differences with Uddhav Thackeray. Nilesh immediately joined the politics at the age of 27 when he completed his studies in Philosophy. The next year, in 2009 he contested Lok Sabha from the Saindhudurg-Ratnagiri on a Congress ticket and won. His father was Industry Minister in the state at that time.


Known for his short temperedness Nilesh had managed to have a grip over the administration. However, he lost two back-to-back Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019 to Shiv Sena’s Vinayak Raut.

Narayan Rane joined the BJP in 2020 and eventually became MSME Minister in the Narendra Modi government. At present, Rane is a member of Lok Sabha from Sindhudurg.


Nilesh’s political journey has not been smooth since last decade. Fed up with the uneasiness he had announced retirement from the active politics in 2023 at the age of 42. This announcement compelled the BJP to take a serious note. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave Nilesh a patient ear and resolved his issues. Nilesh reverted his decision to quit politics.


Nilesh wanted to contest from the Kudal Assembly seat on a BJP ticket. However, since the seat falls in the quota of Shiv Sena and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was not willing to give up his party’s claim on that seat a mean way was found for Nilesh. He was offered an election ticket from Shiv Sena from the same Kudal constituency. The Ranes accepted the proposal happily.


Nilesh is likely to face his bete noire Vaibhav Naik of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Kudal. Naik had defeated Narayan Rane from the same constituency in 2019.


If he is elected he will be another aggressive face for the Mahayuti in the Legislative Assembly apart from his younger brother Nitesh.

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