He would spend his own money on patient care and go to villages regularly on a bicycle or a motorbike
An estimated 60,000 tribals from 24 panchayats in Korukonda block were in tears when Dr. Suryakant Patjoshi was relieved as the medical officer of the Public Health Centre at Korukonda, about 20 km from Malkangiri, in 2008. For the people of Potrel, Gongalaguda, Koyaguda, Siraguda, Mohulput, Bonur and other hamlets in the area, he had become a god for rendering yeoman service.
Tribal people here not only hold him in high regard but have also built an ashram in his honour to promote education and health awareness in this district, known as a hotbed of Maoist activities.
During his three-year stint before undergoing specialisation in neurosurgery at the SCB Medical College, Cuttack, he earned the name ‘Bhagaban Sir’.
According to the villagers, the recent deaths of 24 children in the area due to Japanese encephalitis could have been prevented had Dr. Patjoshi been present in the area.
So steadfast was his following that farmers Joga Madhi and Raju Kobasi donated four acres of land to the Neelachal Adivasi Sevasram at Tikaguda, near Korukonda, so that locals can be served under his guidance.
Representatives from 10 hamlets formed a committee with the former Sarpanch of Potrel, Bhima Barshe, a Koya activist, as the president. Now they undertake padayatras every week to distribute medicines in interior hamlets. Incidentally, the medicines are gifted by Dr. Patjoshi.
“Bhagaban Sir is not a human but for all of us is a real god. He would spend his own money on patient care and go to villages regularly on a bicycle or a motorbike,” recalls Bansidhar Muduli, vice-chairman of the Malkangiri Zilla Parishad.
“I know him very well as I hail from Korukonda. Bhagaban Sir won the confidence of patients not only from Korukonda but also from areas bordering Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. He used to perform surgeries with a Midas touch on those suffering from life-threatening ailments,” he points out.
According to Mr. Barshe, the ashram is now home to 25 tribal boys and girls who study at the nearby Saraswati Sisu Mandir. The children are provided free lodging and boarding.
“Bhagaban Sir is against raising contributions from outside. He himself contributes half of his salary and comes here during holidays to conduct medical camps. We also contribute from our savings,” he explains.
Self-help groups have been formed in various villages with encouragement from the ashram committee. Vocational training is promoted for self-employment.
When contacted on the phone, Dr. Patjoshi, who works at SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack, told The Hindu that he was doing nothing great. “I feel it is my duty and my dream is to set up a modern hospital on the compound of the ashram,” he discloses.
Keywords: Dr. Suryakant Patjoshi, Bhagaban Sir, Korukonda block, Malkangiri, Maoist hotbed
I respect the decision against contributions from outside. I wish to pay, at least
partially, towards the upbringing of one child.
This is really great in the jungle of so-called educated people, in my
childhood this type of self-less silent workers were less but not
rare, people used to donate and build school, college, hospital and
library, there are instances in my village also, now, in the name of
Liberalization and Market Economy ( Crony Capitalism ) everything is
getting commercialized, education, family, society, public relation
and even thinking. Somebody told me that this commercialization in
thinking may be intentional, so that ordinary people do not think
rationally and unselfishness has become synonyms to foolishness, so
that corrupt does not get isolated. People like Dr Suryakant should
be a norm, not exception
Among tax evading doctors & those who see this profession as money making machines, here is a man who contributes half his salary to the welfare of others..if only the taxes we pay are put in to proper use, your hospital will not be a distant reality..The World needs people like you Dr Suryakant Patjoshi...hats off to you!.. i wish you from the bottom of my heart!
Dr. Suryakant Patjoshi should be honoured by the government and should
be made in charge of health in Tribal regions. The doctor will do a
much better job than an politician or an IAS officer as his heart is in
improving the health of the tribals. And he should continue to help
them which he will anyway.Give him funds and not a paisa will go waste
or unspent. Thanks for bringing out such an inspiring example to the
outside world.
Real Human being and great Doctor , i had great respect for him.
All Drs in India should work under him for 6 months training post to leran etics of medicine service.
Medicine should bbe for saving life and healing rather than big corportae like Hopsital.
Most of treatemnt can be included in Medical college curriculum
1 Ayurved
2 Yoga
3 Allopathy last resort
We must change our teaching in Medical colllge and need teaching in mother tongue to communicate better to locals.
English should be minimal in day to day communication.
Hats of to you sir...Even 10% of Indian individuals think in your way. we see drastic improvement in our so called modern society.
Truly inspiring!!!
In this era of greedy doctors,Dr.Patjoshi is really a Baghwan
This Story is quite captivating and humbling as well. It reminded me of
another great service man and Dr. Binayak Sen. Inspiring story Dr.
Suryakant Patjoshi, I hope your story will be emulated by many in the
medical fraternity and thanks for the sincere contribution!
Regards
Mohd Afzal
He is a true Bharat Ratna, a Padma-Vibhushan. Worthy of adulation and all the public
and media support.
My Salute to the great person. Thank god it was not done my missionary otherwise whole area would have been converted.
If you can do the service, but not conversion in disguise of helping poor tribal people.
Thanks and my red salam to you
This is indeed very inspiring. I wonder how many of our "honorable"
representatives will donate half their income for charitable work? If
they did India would cease to be a poor country
great human being
It is an exemplary service to the human community, such individuals need
to be recognized & honoured. Where tribals made to dance for
entertainment, this Man ( Bhagaban Sir) is completely the other way
round, understands pain, suffering & help them to lead a respectful
life.
India has no meaning without such “ Sir”.
Such people are the real bhagwans and the world will continue to exist because of such people, not Goverments and others
Kudos to you sir. People like you stand as an inspiration to many to make a difference in the society that we live in.
Dr Suryakant Patjoshi is an honourable man. Salute to him for his selfless services to the needy. Hope local bodies read this news and provide the necessary assistance to Dr Patjoshi in furthering his assistance to these and other tribal areas.
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