An Inspirational Story
(Mr Vivek Kumar)
(Mr Vivek Kumar)
A
hospital story
A story that should inspire all. The Power of One…
On 13 April 1971 Shri Sadhan Chandra Mistry, aged
35 years a vegetable vendor (a total non-entity) in the obscure village of
Hanspukur, District South 24-Parganas, West Bengal, died of a very common and
minor ailment, only because he could not get access to any medical attention
whatsoever. He left behind his illiterate wife Subhasini (23 years then) with
two sons and two daughters four to eight years in age. Naturally the family
plunged into utter poverty and Subhasini was forced out of her home within one
month of her husband’s death, to sell vegetables in that hamlet market. That
day, while she sat under the scorching sun selling vegetables and worrying
about her children, she took a vow that one day she will build a hospital in
that very village so that no poor villager would die for want of medical
attention.
Her fellow vendors and every person who heard of
her vow just laughed and made fun of her. How can she build a hospital, they
jeered, when she cannot even mend her own thatched hut? Plus she has to feed a
family of five and marry two daughters; all humbug and pure day dreaming must
have lost her mind was the considered conclusion by the village elders.
However, day in and out, Subhasini went on selling
vegetables silently and looking after her children never allowing the fire in
her frail body to douse even for a moment. After persevering for twenty full
years, ultimately she could start a clinic at her home for poor people. She
managed to coax a doctor into coming to her village every week. And week after
week, while tens of poor patients got medical attention from this lone clinic
in the region, Subhasini became the most popular household name in her village.
Now her fellow vendors and all others started respecting her. That was enough
of a support for her.
In the meantime, her children grew up. The two
daughters were married off. The eldest son chose to be a labourer, working in
agricultural fields. Her other son, the youngest of the lot, Ajoy Mistry was
identified by Subhasini to carry on her mission. He successfully completed his
secondary education and passed the All India Medical Entrance Test. Aided by
the German Scholarship, he joined Calcutta
Medical College
In 1993, Ajoy Mistry authored the trust deed of
Humanity Trust with his mother Subhasini Mistry as the co-founder trustee. On
5th February 1995, the foundation stone for the Hospital was laid and on 9th
March 1996, the hospital was inaugurated and opened to public. Within one year,
the trust could raise ten times the initial money to complete the first
structure of the hospital. Soon, more donations followed and today, Subhasini
Mistry can say with pride that she has fulfilled her pledge made to her husband
two and half decades earlier.
The will and spirit of a woman who defied social
norms and obstacles all along to establish the first hospital in that region
The Humanity Hospital underscores a saga of dedication, commitment, vision,
ambition and unflinching determination of a resource less illiterate village
woman in acute penury and distress.
Subhasini Mistry still sells vegetables in Kolkata
market to sustain her family.
Nobody realizes that all the wealth they have
created cannot be taken by them beyond the hour of death.
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