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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.”

Skilling young India to aim for the sky

Mumbai: Australian NRI Sharad Patel comes across as free, frank and friendly chap though heading a unique AI-aided startup, Skitre.ai – propped by least three youthful pillars from the rural areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Maharashtra – as he launches a major expansion program for India’s gen-next.


With a dozen-strong compact team of ardent geeks in different states, remote-controlled from Melbourne and other centres, Patel, 55, founded and built up Skitre.ai after a staggering eight years of research & development, to make it relevant for all people – toddlers to top corporates - across the social-political-economic spectrum.


“There is abundant talent in India, among the ‘youngest’ nations in the world, but it needs to be polished and channelized to make them both - job-ready or become entrepreneurs, based on their in-born expertise and abilities – as the world hugs the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution,” Patel told ‘The Perfect Voice’, raring for real action.


He said that after working practically 24X7 Skitre.ai has developed and launched around 500-plus interactive self-learning special courses under five different heads, to equip all people, right from pre-school Playgroups to Directors in boardrooms, housewives, professionals, students, farmers and others.


“More importantly, these are aligned with the government’s New Education Policy-2020, and in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Future India where all are skilled… For me this is a challenge with Modi as my Dronacharya and myself as a humble Eklavya, aiming for his target,” smiled Patel.


Lack of a practical approach

Ruing the lack of a practical approach in traditional theoretical education, the Skitre.ai chieftain said this is one of the reasons “what you learn is barely relevant in your real-life situations, be it academics, medical, farming, Social Media influencing, or… name any other sector/industry”.


“There are very few companies, say like Tata Group, which invest in skilling-upskilling their new or existing employees. In fact, we firmly believe that at least 15 per cent of a person’s career should be dedicated to self-enhancement and self-development, but this is hardly visible in India or most other countries,” Patel pointed out.


Patel frowns at India’s chain of Industrial Training Institute (ITI’s), saying their intake is dropping sharply and though industries face manpower shortage, youngsters churned out from ITIs are lured by more glamourous professions or cushy but low-paying or without long-term security.


“For instance, India’s furniture industry is worth nearly Rs 100,000-crore, but it struggles to hire people, as young ITI-ians feel ‘why become a mistri’, and prefer to set up tiny shops or work somewhere. Like furniture-makers, there are many other industries starving for skilled people,” Patel said gravely.

 

Filing the vacuum

Here, Skitre.ai is attempting to fill the vacuum through a Learner Centric Approach, by offering polished courses that can develop efficiency at multiple levels, including soft skills, retain knowledge, tailor-made based on the preferences and abilities of each individual, deploying the VARK (Visual, Auditory, Reading-Writing and Kinesthetics) model with full support to the individuals, and help them achieve their goals, however lofty.


So far, Skitre.ai has trained over 500,000 people all over the world, and their ratings feedback is usually “5-Star”, he said with a proud smile.


Now the company hopes to collaborate with the Centre and state governments on various aspects, educational institutions, corporates, or even certain NGOs working with a similar philosophy, he said.


“The aim of Skitre.ai is to train the New India that has eagerly embraced AI and other futuristic technologies, make them adept at taking things in their control and ensure a rosy, prosperous life for them and their families,” declared Patel confidently.


Skitre.ai’s rural whizkids make waves

DHANANJAY BARHATE, 26, lives in Irlad, Parbhani, the son of a farmer who did his BSc.(Agriculture), and is at home on a laptop oraa with his pair of buffalos, while development various courses/programmes, etc, at Skitre.ai for over three years.


KANAK JOSHI, 25, is based in Dhar town of Madhya Pradesh, Dhar, who completed his M. Tech before joining Skitre.ai. Deals with Cyber Security, Recruiting Platforms, Video-Resumes, etc since Jan. 2024. M. Tech. Cyber Security. Recruiting platforms, Video Resume, et al.


KARTIK PATEL, 22, hails from Undera village near Vadodara (Gujarat), is a B. Tech in Computer Science who joined Skitre.ai in May 2023. He is mastering as an AI Agent, Resume Builder.


The three youngsters aver that though the current pay package is modest, they are thrilled to be part of the management, pleased to ‘own’ the company with ESOPs, remain totally independent and are amply satisfied with their choice rather than chasing high-paying insecure jobs.

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