Shankari Mansion

“I have been running this for the last 25 years. It began in the year 2000.

Let me tell you how it all started. Back in 2000, I went to Tata Memorial Hospital with one of our next-door neighbours from Kolkata, who was diagnosed with cancer. It shook me to my core to see children, senior citizens and patients with feeding tubes and colostomy bags sleeping on the footpath. I could not get over that level of human suffering being ignored as if it was nothing.

That day, on my way back home, I decided to act instead of feeling helpless. I chose to give my own room to patients because charity begins at home. My father was a doctor in Kolkata and I grew up watching him go out of his way to help patients, so naturally, compassion is ingrained in me.

After returning, I shared my intention of helping patients with my father-in-law, since we had many rooms as we owned the whole building. He gave it thought for a week and agreed to the cause.

I remember the first patient I took home from Tata Hospital in my own car. He was a father of a six-month-old from Nanded. The only reason that infant was on the footpath that day was because his father had been diagnosed with cancer.

After a few days, Tata Hospital learned about my work and invited me to serve as a social worker. I agreed, but only on the condition that I would do it voluntarily, not for money.

For nearly two decades, almost daily, until Covid hit in 2020, I was at Help Desk No. 59. Even now, I go there whenever I can, but I am not as regular as before since I also need to focus here.

Here, at Shankari Mansion, at any given time, there are around 28 to 30 people including patients and their family members who live in the rooms, use the kitchen, toilet, washroom and other amenities free of charge. We never ask for money. If any patient insists on paying, we accept it only as a donation, which is then used for food, medicines, blankets, bed sheets and other needs.

Frankly speaking, I do not want publicity for my work. I have never appealed for donations from anyone. But if someone wants to donate to a patient, not to me, they can contact me, as I know those who are genuinely in need.

Being with cancer patients day in and day out is sometimes depressing. But one thing that gives me hope is that many patients now, compared to a few years ago, are getting cured because of advancements in technology and the availability of new medicines.

One thing I must say is that cancer can be beaten if caught early, so I urge everyone not to skip their regular checkups.”