*A hospital story**
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 husbands 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 where he completed his
medical course. He worked hard as he studied, ran around from friends to
well wishers to any person/organization he had access and managed to raise
Rs.50,000 for his mothers mission.
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.
Humanity Hospital is certified and registered as a Hospital under the West
Bengal Clinical Establishment Act. of 1950, managed by Humanity Trust
formed on 4th March 1993. In the year 2000, in
appreciation of their
service to humanity and poor people in particular, both Subhasini Mistry
and Ajoy Mistry were honoured and named as the prestigious Paul Harris
Fellow by the Rotary International. Today, despite the financial crunch to
meet recurring expenses, the Hospital provides best services to poor and
underprivileged sections of the society.
Subhasini Mistry still sells vegetables in Kolkata market to sustain her
family.
Ashok
Chair ARPPC
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 husbands 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 where he completed his
medical course. He worked hard as he studied, ran around from friends to
well wishers to any person/organization he had access and managed to raise
Rs.50,000 for his mothers mission.
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.
Humanity Hospital is certified and registered as a Hospital under the West
Bengal Clinical Establishment Act. of 1950, managed by Humanity Trust
formed on 4th March 1993. In the year 2000, in
appreciation of their
service to humanity and poor people in particular, both Subhasini Mistry
and Ajoy Mistry were honoured and named as the prestigious Paul Harris
Fellow by the Rotary International. Today, despite the financial crunch to
meet recurring expenses, the Hospital provides best services to poor and
underprivileged sections of the society.
Subhasini Mistry still sells vegetables in Kolkata market to sustain her
family.
Ashok
Chair ARPPC
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