The Modi government has changed the way how the prestigious Padma awards are given out as the government has brought India’s hidden gems to the forefront. It is a welcome break from the erstwhile UPA era where the government’s loyalists and fixers were meted out the prestigious awards in lieu of favourable coverage. Throughout the tenure of Prime Minister Modi, the Padma awards have become a source of inspiration as India’s unsung heroes finally get their due. In this year’s list of the Padma Awardees one such unsung hero is Dr Ravi Kannan who left his home comforts in Chennai to take the road less travelled as he moved to Silchar, Assam to serve the underprivileged.
In 2007, Dr. Ravi Kannan was working at the premium Adyar Cancer Hospital in Chennai before he decided to move to remote Silchar to serve for the greater good. Not only did he convince his wife and daughter to leave with him and build a hospital from the ground in Assam, he also inspired several young professionals to follow him to Assam and help him manage the hospital.
The commitment of the hospital staff is commendable despite the fact that the young professionals, live in very simple residential quarters. They bond like a family, working into the night and celebrate festivals with staff and patients. The Cachar Cancer Hospital pretty much runs like a close-knit family.
It was only fitting that DD News describe him as the “Medical Messiah for Cancer Patients in Remote Barak Valley”. Through the years, his drive to provide the best medical treatment to patients irrespective of their socio-economic status has witnessed several innovative measures. Some of these include ‘Home Visits’ and ‘Satellite Clinics’ that bring medical care to the doorstep of patients, who are mostly daily wage workers.
As a matter of fact, he has treated around 70,000 cancer patients free of cost till now. On being nominated for the Padma Shri, Dr Kannan said, “The hospital is not about only one man or an institution. So many people have contributed to it and the award is rightly to the spirit of the community of this valley. It was only possible together. The achievement is not only mine but all my colleagues in the hospital from top to bottom, and also the society who supported us.”
It must be mentioned that Barak Valley is located in southern part of Assam and Silchar is the hub of the valley. However, the region has always been neglected by the state government as well as the Centre, due its remote location and lack of proper connectivity, and also partly due to political reasons. It is perhaps for the first time since BJP government came to power, both at the Centre and the state, that the Barak Valley has received due attention from the authorities.
Moreover, due to Barak Valley’s remote location and lack of good medical facilities, it was quite tough for the poor people from the region to receive quality treatment and mostly they had to travel to Guwahati, which is located more than 300 kilometres away.
When mentioned that he did make numerous sacrifices to shift base to service people of Barak Valley, Dr Kannan smiled to say, “What sacrifices? There are people who are out to sacrifice their life, while their family waits back home. I am doing what I like. I have also found a lot of friends and happiness here. I don’t consider it a sacrifice.”
India needs more people like Dr Kannan to change the face of India’s medical industry.