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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.”

Rags to riches story of Mathadi worker

Curious Case Of Datta Pawar - Part 1


Mumbai: During recently concluded session of the state legislature, BJP MLA from central Nagpur Pravin Datke revealed a mysterious story of rags to riches of a Mathadi worker in Mumbai, who allegedly has amassed a wealth of over Rs 300 crore in a span of about a decade while exploiting various industrial as well as commercial units as well as the Mathadi workers.


According to what Datke told the legislature, Dattatraya Bhaleghare alias Datta Pawar, who has registered himself as a Mathadi worker (the porter who carries load over his head) has at least two luxury bungalows, several vehicles worth Rs 10-15 crore, many houses in his name and several acres of land in his name. Interestingly the guy also runs dozens of companies. Datke accused him of conspiring with high-ranking officials from various Mathadi boards and duping both, the workers as well as the commercial establishments and demanded that a thorough inquiry be conducted in the case. Minister Akash Fundkar immediately accepted the demand and announced setting up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the charges.


However, while some of the officials of the various Mathadi boards were put under suspension when the SIT probe began, the SIT has ironically excluded Datta Pawar from the probe. But whatever little probe has been done, too has reveal several interesting facts about the so called Mathadi worker.


The story of the riches of this Mathadi worker begins with two PAN cards. The PAN cards appear to be in the name of two different persons, Dattatraya Bhaleghare and Datta Pawar, interestingly names of their fathers and grandfathers too are the same and their signatures also match. It was revealed during a case of alleged extortion against him at Thane wherein the sessions court directed the income tax department to verify and furnish information on how many IT returns were filed by this one person in these two names and also to calculate the income tax evaded and the penalty for the same.


The humble Mathadi worker also has at least 10 high-end luxury vehicles like the Mercedes, Fortuner and Innova Crista.


Interestingly all the vehicles have the same registration number 4499. The court has also asked the police to investigate into the case of these many variety of vehicles with one single number.


Dattatraya Bhaleghare aka Datta Pawar was born in a humble family of Kolewadi village of Jawli taluka of Satara district. Because of dependency of rain-fed farming the family had hardly any means for living. This led Dattatraya Bhaleghare to migrate to Mumbai in search of job in late ‘90s.


He registered himself as a Mathadi worker and started working along with young men from nearby villages. Due to his sharp mind, he quickly became popular among the fellow Mathadi workers. Apart from working as a Mathadi labour, he also started doing some small odd jobs like driving an auto rickshaw.


His nature to involve associated in his businesses led in his popularity growing leaps and bounds and the popularity among fellow labourers raised him in the eyes of politicians. He moved close to some of the politicians. His old associates say that he had a good opportunity to use the closeness with politicians for the betterment of his fellow workers, instead he used it for his own benefit and amassed huge wealth.


He still has a good hold among his followers so much so that a demonstration march too is organised in his home district next week to shield him from any inquiry that might be conducted against him.


Apart from strong political backing, with the ill-gotten money he has made friends not within the Mathadi boards but in various arms of the state administration. These invisible hands are currently said to be shielding him from any action against him and his name was even excluded from the SIT probe. However, he still has several cases registered against him in various police stations of Mumbai and Thane. Even if the police and other departments like the IT follow the instructions of the court and initiate probe against him, the mystery surrounding the rags to riches story will fade away and the crimes behind it will come forth, say the people who have been closely following the case.

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