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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.”

The Narrative Building Around Religion

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

The Narrative Building Around Religion

Entertainment and sports are meant to be free from religious bias, as we’ve always believed in India. But it’s painful to see that certain narratives in films and sports still play into religious stereotypes. For example, a badge with the number 786 is portrayed as a protective symbol, while Hindu characters like a crooked Munimji or a temple priest are shown in a negative light. If sports truly have no religion, then why did the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, show more love to India, or why did players from other countries express support for the Indian community in tough times? Filmmakers often try to appease minorities, assuming the majority won’t object. This has been the trend for years, but when movies like the Kashmir Files or The Tashkent Files show a different side of the story, liberals quickly raise objections.

Let me be clear: I’m against both kinds of narratives. Why bring religion into any story at all? If it’s fiction, don’t use it to push an agenda; if it’s based on real events, just tell the real story—nothing more, nothing less.

Take Netflix’s IC 814 series, which is an adaptation of the book Flight into Fear: The Captain’s Story by Captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury. It’s based on the December 24, 1999, hijacking of an Indian aircraft by five terrorists, just 40 minutes after the plane took off from Kathmandu. The series, however, presents a half-truth. By the time this article is published, Netflix might have added a disclaimer with the real names of the hijackers to pacify the outrage. But why did this happen in the first place? Was it a PR stunt to gain attention? Why did the creators play the religion card, instead of following the principle that entertainment should be free of religion?

The series doesn’t discuss Pakistan’s role—why? If they briefly show Pakistan in a negative light, it seems like there could be a hidden agenda. The story focuses on Afghanistan and Kandahar while conveniently ignoring Pakistan’s involvement and the role of its intelligence agency, the ISI. Why?

The captured terrorist in the show talks about the brutality of Indian forces in Kashmir, but there’s no mention of what these people were doing in the valley. Why?

Respected actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, and Kawaljeet Singh portray politicians and bureaucrats behaving childishly. Why? They were supposed to be on a mission, in a war-like situation, yet they’re shown gossiping about other departments. This portrayal could give the younger generation a wrong impression of how officials work—do you want to create such a reflection?

The pilot, who was unfairly criticized for things he didn’t do, doesn’t get a positive portrayal. Why? His wife reassures their children that the world will know the truth, but the series doesn’t clarify his side. Why?

The terrorists are shown as decent, not just in appearance but in behavior too.

Why? They’re seen playing Antakshari—really? But there’s no mention of how one of the terrorists asked passengers to convert to Islam (an incident documented in the public domain). Why?

The terrorists use fake names, with two of them called Bhola and Shankar, which could have easily been Engineer or Professor. Is this a PR strategy to demean Hindu names and get away with it?

The worst part of the Netflix series is how it tries to humanize the terrorists involved in the hijacking. They repeatedly say they don’t want to harm any passengers, but they killed innocent Rupin Katyal and slashed another passenger’s neck. Despite this, they’re shown as considerate enough to allow an air hostess to call home to check on her father.

The negotiations with the terrorists, which should have been serious and emotionally disturbing, are depicted comically, portraying the negotiator as incompetent.

Overall, the series has many loopholes, and the actors weren’t used effectively—any actor could have played these roles. However, the most problematic part

comes at the end, where the released terrorists are shown celebrating with Osama

Bin Laden. It’s suggested that Osama kept ISI away from the celebrations, implying

that ISI wasn’t involved in the hijacking and that it was all Osama’s idea. Why?

This could have been a great story if it had been told from an Indian perspective, rather than from another viewpoint.

(The writer is a communication professional. Views personal)

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