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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.”

Overworked, Overstretched

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, has long been known for his relentless work ethic, but this dedication has come at a cost. Overexertion has taken its toll on Shinde’s health, forcing him to cancel a crucial cabinet meeting before the model code of conduct ahead of the Assembly election comes into effect and prompting doctors to advise complete rest. This is not the first time the CM has been unwell due to his exhausting schedule, but the recent episode underscores a growing concern: Shinde may be pushing himself beyond his limits.


Well before he staged his coup to become CM, Shinde has cultivated ‘a man of action’ persona: during the 2018 Kerala floods, he reached the water-logged state with boxes of medicines and first-aid tools. Since taking office in June 2022, Shinde has been a man in perpetual motion. Immediately after taking oath as Chief Minister, his schedule had been a whirlwind of tours, meetings, and late-night trips to Delhi. This punishing schedule has continued ever since. His supporters point to his hands-on approach, whether visiting flood-hit regions or overseeing relief efforts in landslide-stricken areas, as evidence of a leader who leads from the front. In one moving instance, in July 2023, Shinde did not merely review the situation in Irshalwadi, a village buried by a landslide; he climbed the steep ascent in torrential rain to reach the settlement, directing rescue operations to show solidarity with rescue workers.


 This ‘field-man’ persona has earned him praise, but has also raised concerns about sustainability. Shinde’s determination to be everywhere has left him sleep-deprived, with his public engagements often stretching into the early hours. His insistence on connecting with every constituent, addressing even minor grievances, has endeared him to the public but strained his physical well-being. Even senior figures in Maharashtra’s government have noticed the toll his work habits are taking.


Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar recently admonished his own party workers for extracting too much work from Shinde. Despite this, Shinde continues to take on more than most politicians would dare. He frequently visits disaster-hit areas in person, often stepping into roles that could easily be delegated to local officials. His recent visit to the site of a fire accident in Chembur, for instance, could have been handled by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner, but Shinde chose to lead from the front, underscoring his desire to remain connected with the grassroots. The CM’s gruelling pace has now raised concerns about his ability to continue at such a breakneck speed. While his loyalists argue that this commitment is a testament to his rise from the ranks, it is evident that such a schedule is unsustainable. For all his devotion to the role, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister may need to learn that even the most dedicated leaders require rest.

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