I have been having Amma’s darshan for about 15 years. Amma had come to our place when I was in the 6th standard. We were staying in Suratkal at that time. The program was in a beach side village near Mangalore. My exams were going on at that time but my father forcibly took me to meet Amma. We started from our house at 1 am and reached the program site at 3 am. I had exams the next day so we thought that going early would help us get darshan earlier.
I met Amma during the morning program – it was a very nice feeling, even though I was small I still could feel something special in Her presence. My father became an ardent devotee in just that one meeting.
At that time the family had been going through a difficult time. We had little money and all three siblings were studying – so there was a strain on my father. But the moment we met Amma our lives seemed to change. After that our lives changed, all our problems started disappearing. Since that first darshan I have been meeting Amma every year.
So naturally as soon as I finished my internship my father wanted me to start my career in Amma’s hospital. In the time I have been here I have also finished my post grad diploma in clinical research.
My father had always wanted me to see the different facets of life – how difficult it is for some people to eke out a living. Though our family had gone through tough times because of my father I never knew any hardship. So I too wanted to meet people who really needed help. When I told my father that I was going to Bihar as part of the ashram team to help people there, my father cried.
In Bihar I found a different India. A face which was not shining. At Patna station I talked to a newspaper vendor. I bought a railway timetable from him and he could not even tell me the price. He asked me to read out the price and pay him. Poverty, lack of hygiene, lack of education and proper housing – these sites met my eyes as I went further in.
I feel so good that I am able to do something at our camp. Every patient who comes – who tells me that he or she is feeling better, when they come with a smile on their face – I feel so touched. It encourages me to do more for the people. When a patient comes back and expresses relief from some ailment it is an incomparable experience for a doctor. You are able to help another human being – that is the ultimate satisfaction for a doctor.
Since we have a wide range of drugs, vitamins & minerals, health tonics and health supplements – we are really able to help the patients. This is what we really need here – just antibiotics, etc would have been but half a cure, for there are so many cases of malnutrition, anemia, deficiency disorders, etc. Lack of vitamin A could make a person blind – but just 2ml of vitamin A supplement could prevent this. It is fulfilling to be able to provide this. We also have lots of food supplements for children.
I am also learning from this experience. In complicated cases I have been able to get expert advise from our doctors in Amrita through our telemedicine facility. I feel that this is one of the cheapest methods to provide expert medical guidance in far flung remote areas in a country as vast as ours. For an ordinary doctor such consultation is the only proper means to reach a proper diagnosis.
Now as I head back to Kerala, I think on what I have gone through in these past few days and I can feel that I have grown from this experience.
– Dr. Nishank
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dr. nishank,
thank you so much for this lovely article. it is so heartfelt, and i sense the fact that you are amma’s own child in every sentence. thank you!
Thank you sir. May all of us tune our minds to the service of humanity. May all of us be worthy of Amma’s infinite grace.
I am unable to express my feeling. I just thank you for posting this message. Nishank, may Amma always be with you. Amma Sharanam.
Dear Dr. Nishank, thank you for the work that you and all of Amma’s medical staff and volunteers are doing. Having read the stories of what the people in Bihar are living through here on the blogs, a group of us in Boston are planning to put together a cultural show to raise funds to support Amma’s pledge. We are praying for Amma’s Grace to help us in this.
it is so good to see Amma’s message turned into action
Dear Dr. Nishank, more People like you are needed in this world. Amma says “MY CHILDREN ARE MY ASSET”. You rightly belong to Amma’s noble children category. Keep the good work going . My prayers are with you.
“Manava Seva Madhava Seva”…Let Dr. Nishank’s work inspire us also…AMMA, please give us courage to become a grateful children of u…
Like father, like son! Dr. Nishank, I admire your father who has gifted a son like you to Amma.
Thank you for the post and the photograph. It is through devotees like yourself that those of us who are far away can stay connected to the relief efforts and to Amma in general. Thank you for all of the work you are doing…and thank your father!
Noble father, noble son! May Amma bless your family to do more good work! Moving article!
dear nishanth
blessed are the souls who can help the needy… many want to help but don’t get the chance… many get the chance, but they don’t see it….. many see it, but can’t utilise this golden opportunity….
Amma has blessed you with this “chance” and you have used it… so pls pls for us very far from that “chance”, pls help one additional human being for us..
Good work Dr.Nishank ……………………thank u amma for standing by us through all our tough times and happiness and we want u to stand by us throughout our life to serve the mankind .whatever we r amma is all becoz of you amma ………..we all love u amma -K.S.Shettigar and family,Kadike,Mangalore