An Account by Dr. Rakhee Thakkar

On May 16, 2003 - Budha Purnima, Baba Muktananda’s 95th birthday was celebrated at Shanti Mandir, Magod like all other ashrams and centers around the world. It was after many years that Baba's birthday according to both the solar and lunar calendar came together on the same date. At Shanti Mandir, Magod the day was commemorated by the launch of Shanti Arogya Mandir - the ‘Mobile Dispensary’ envisioned by Gurudev, in honor and remembrance of Baba. Baba also provided a similar service to the adivasis in the villages around his ashram in Ganeshpuri.

Kirtibhai Desai, a long time devotee, donated the mobile van for the project to Shanti Mandir. The service has been started with the aim of providing primary health care and creating health awareness amongst the rural population of the surrounding villages. In addition to providing basic medical services, it is Swami Nityanand’s desire that education about health, hygiene and prevention of environment pollution is also imparted to the villagers.

Two Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Gujarat formally inaugurated the mobile dispensary. It was gratifying to see two politicians of opposing political parties speak in harmony, in the same note, under one roof. Daulatbhai Desai, the MLA belonging to the BJP Govt. in Gujarat praised Gurudev's efforts towards social service and reforms in addition to his spiritual work. He said that the country can progress only under the leadership of spiritual leader's like Swami Nityanand and not by dirty politics.

Lakshmanbhai who is the MLA of the Congress party, a devotee of Baba since 1974 and associated with Shanti Mandir expressed his love and gratitude for Baba. He said that whatever he had attained was due to Baba's grace. He wanted to work for the people and the ashram and fight against corruption. For this he had sought a ticket to the Legislative Assembly. He said that it was only due to Baba's grace that he won the election in the area, which is the stronghold of the opposition party.

After the inaugural speeches, the two guests were led to the van, which had been beautifully decorated with flowers and pictures of Bhagawan Nityanand and Baba. Amidst recitation of mantras by the priest Shri Anant Lavar Shastri, a coconut was broken and the ribbon cut. Thereafter, everyone chanted Om Namo Bhagavate Muktanandaya. The programme concluded with a delicious bhandara.

Since the day of its launch, Shanti Arogya Mandir travels daily, with a doctor and nursing assistant to the villages surrounding the Shanti Mandir ashram in Magod, Gujarat and provides free medical advice and medicines to the ailing and needy. In addition to medical consultation, medicines are provided free of cost. As of now 10 villages have been adopted under this project, they are Magod, Attar, Dived, Hariya, Bhagod, Nanu Soorvada, Mota Soorvada, Meh and Segvi. The sarpanchs of the villages selected a convenient place where the van is parked and the clinical services are provided. Typically it is the local temple or the courtyard of a centrally located house in the village. Unlike cities, the mode of communication here is quite different; no advertisements required for publicity. The message just spreads by word of mouth. On the very first day 70 patients queued up for consultation. Within 6 weeks of its launch, over 1600 patients have been provided free medical aid, which includes medical consultation and drugs.

Each day we cover two villages. Sunday is a day of rest. The van leaves the ashram at 8am and returns around lunchtime between 12 and 1pm depending on the number of patients. In the evening from 5pm to 6pm medical consultation is provided on the ashram premises. Saxenaji, the driver and I have been the constant members of the team with assistance from others from time to time. In the beginning Mukti from Bombay had the seva of dispensing the medicines. After she left, a gentleman was hired for the job; but he left after a month without any notice. The very next day two young boys, one of who is studying medicine landed up in the ashram for the seva!! They are sons of Baba's old time devotees and were visiting Magod for the first time. It is just wonderful to see how the Shakti thus unfolds and the work goes on uninterrupted as constant help comes in from unexpected quarters and with such perfect timing! Some of the local doctors were so impressed that they sent the free samples of drugs they get from pharmaceutical companies to be distributed in this service. Suman Bhai, who is a local person is always eager to help. He accompanied us to all the villages initially, made the initial introduction and even provided translation into Gujarati to facilitate communication.

The main problems in the area are malnutrition and alcoholism, which are so closely interrelated. They arise from poverty, ignorance and unemployment. Leprosy, tuberculosis, scabies, asthma and fungal skin infections are the commonly encountered ailments. Now with the monsoon season setting in, gastroenteritis, typhoid and malaria are also fairly common.

Baba once said in response to a question by a devotee, "It's much better to provide people with a means to earn their bread rather than provide them free meals." Similarly, we have undertaken to create awareness about hygiene, nutrition and the ill effects of alcohol, which will be able to prevent many ailments. This project requires preparation of material – billboards, handbills, charts etc. and a few more people. As soon as we get more resources, this project will get even greater focus.

The response of the villagers has been quite encouraging. Following an injury, a woman’s hand got infected. It was swollen and very painful because of the large amount of pus accumulated inside. Due to this she had fever and could not go to work. By a minor surgical procedure the pus was drained and medication was provided to prevent infection. A local villager observed that this treatment otherwise would have cost her 5 days of her salary. The patient has recovered completely and came up to express her gratitude the following week. Similarly another patient with filaria whose entire leg was swollen was experiencing difficulty in walking. The treatment provided has led to complete recovery. These are just a couple of examples of the satisfaction which the Shanti Arogya Mandir crew is experiencing through the seva.

There is even greater satisfaction when treating the aged. Many of them live all alone in a hut with nobody to care for him or her. The concept of nuclear families is fast catching up in the villages too. One such old lady who had otherwise no one to take her to the doctor for medical help, was very happy to see that Shanti Arogya Mandir came to her. She was so happy to be relieved of her long time ailment that she came the following week only to express gratitude and shower blessings. Every Saturday the clinic visits the vrudha ashram (the home for old). It is sad to see how old people are shunned by their own children in these homes, in a country where the scriptures preach the virtues of matru devo bhava and pitru devo bhava. They long to have someone just talk to them and express some concern about them. One is forced to reflect on the decay of values.

It has been a great start, but it has brought into sharp focus how much more needs to be done and how some very basic medical infrastructure is missing in the area. There is a lack of laboratory and investigational back up facilities. Also though facilities are available, they are inconsistently provided due to either lack of man-power or other resources. For example there is an ultrasound machine in the hospital but no sonologist to operate it. Similarly an x-ray is not done each time that it is requested. These problems need to be addressed and will take time to be fixed. Shanti Arogya Mandir in the meantime needs all the help it can get in sustaining the supplies of medicines, some of which are fairly expensive. Donation of time by devotees is required, not only for dispensing medicines but more so to explain dietary modifications and changes in life style such as exercises, which will accelerate and sustain the patient’s recovery and healing.

Personally for me, it is a great time not only to put to use all that I have learnt in medical school but also for introspection; all this in the sublime environment of the ashram. Evenings are spent learning Sanskrit grammar. I am also having a great time picking up Gujarati from the villagers. Now I don't need a translator and am able to communicate with the villagers though they sometimes have a hearty laugh at my language. It is the most carefree, yet disciplined and fruitful time of my life. I only pray that by Guru's grace, I can continue to serve and be worthy of the great honor bestowed on me by giving me this opportunity.

Dr. Rakhi Thakar is M.B.B.S. M.D. (Pediatrics), Child Specialist. She is a long time devotee of Baba Muktanandaji. and continued her sadhana under the spiritual guidance of Swami Nityanandji. She is associated with Shanti Mandir since its inception. She left her job in Delhi and has moved to Shanti Mandir, Magod for offering her service as the Doctor for Shanti Arogya Mandir.