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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.”

Prithviraj Chavan’s staff in soup

Former CM’s close aide has multiple entries in voter list; Chavan says applied for removal of names

Mumbai: The BJP has accused personal staff of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan of voting multiple times after multiple entries of their names have been found in the voters list of the South Karad Assembly constituency. Chavan, however, has said that he has found over 6,000 duplicate names in his constituency and he is planning to move to court over the issue.


“We found that Gajanan Avalkar, the Personal Assistant (PA) of Prithviraj Chavan, Avalkar’s wife and brother, have their names in the voter list twice. They are registered as voters in Vathar village as well as in Karad,” said Mohan Jadhav, a BJP worker from neighbouring Saidapur village.


Jadhav had worked with Chavan for several years in the past.


“Part 295 of the voters’ list of the 260-Karad assembly constituency has an entry in the name of Gajanan Shankar Avalkar (Age 63) with sr. no. 1359, while name of his wife Sangita Gajanan Avalkar (Age 56) is on sr. no. 1358 and his brother’s name Jayprakash Shankar Avalkar (Age 49) is with sr. no. 717. While, part 127 of the voters’ list of the same constituency again has their names as Gajanan Shankar Avalkar (Age 62) with sr. no. 573, Sangita Gajanan Avalkar (Age 54) with sr. no. 574 and Jayprakash Shankar Avalkar (Age 48) is with sr. no. 425,” Jadhav said.


He also accused Avalkar of purposefully registering his name at multiple places to facilitate multiple voting and asked Chavan to explain whether he has blessed such fraud in the voters’ list.


“While Chavan was the CM Avalkar had great influence on the district administration and using that influence he had even made one BLO resign. That is the reason why his name is still there on two voting booths of the constituency and he has voted in both the booths,” Jadhav said.


Jadhav also accused Avalkar of using forged or bogus documents with registering himself twice in the voters’ list.


When contacted, Chavan was forthcoming over the issue. “This is a simple case of half work done by the administration,” he said. Avalkar earlier stayed at Vathar and hence had his name in the list of that village. He registered his name in the list of Karad when he moved to the city. “He had given an application to remove his name from the old list. However, the administration doesn’t seem to have done that,” Chavan told ‘The Perfect Voice’.


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