Finding Hope in Adversity: My Father-in-Law’s Journey at Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital.”

My intention for writing this blog is not to brag about the actions I took when my father-in-law was in a critical condition and required hospitalization. Rather, I want to share my experience of admitting him to the Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital, which is run by the government, located in Thane.

Eye Opening Experience at Government Run – Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital

Let me begin by dispelling the misconceptions surrounding government hospitals. Prior to my father-in-law’s admission, I too held a negative perception of these institutions. However, my experience has shown me that this perception is far from the truth.

As someone who works in the software industry, I am well aware of the pressure that comes with the job. However, witnessing the emergency ward of a government hospital firsthand made me realize the true meaning of pressure. Every minute, critically ill patients would arrive, some with serious accidents, some with stab wounds from fights, and others with heart issues. Despite the overwhelming influx of patients, the doctors were tirelessly attending to each one of them.

There were patients who suffered from alcoholism and those with critical conditions due to smoking habits. There were also emergency walk-ins of patients who had consumed poison. Witnessing these situations, I couldn’t help but wonder how there are people who don’t respect life, while doctors are working hard to save lives.

I must say that I was impressed with the efficiency of the hospital staff. Upon arrival, patients were immediately given the initial diagnosis and first aid within 15 minutes. The doctors were able to attend to each patient, regardless of the severity of their condition.

The emergency ward had 15 beds, and every 15 minutes, patients were moved to different wards, such as the ICU, for further treatment. I witnessed firsthand how the doctors were doing their utmost best to provide care to every patient.

You may have heard various rumours about the quality of care in government hospitals. However, my experience contradicts these rumours. The staff was dedicated and attentive, and the facilities were well-equipped.

Overall, my experience at the government hospital was an eye-opener. It made me realize that our perceptions are not always accurate and that sometimes we need to witness things firsthand to truly understand them

The Journey towards Recovery.

After sharing with you the experiences of patients receiving treatment at Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital, I would like to talk about my own personal experience with the hospital when my father-in-law fell ill.

My father-in-law is 84 years old and has been (almost) bedridden for some time now. He was diagnosed with pneumonia last week, and although he had received treatment from a local physician, his condition took a turn for the worse on a Sunday morning. He was having trouble breathing and looked extremely unwell. We knew we had to get him to a hospital as quickly as possible, so we took him to two private hospitals in Dombivli. Unfortunately, both hospitals refused to admit him due to various reasons, such as a lack of ventilation facilities. With no other options, we decided to take him to a government-run hospital.

We arrived at Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital, a government hospital located in Thane, around 11:30am. Despite of many critically ill patients in the emergency ward, a senior doctor attended to my father-in-law immediately, just as I noticed they do for all patients. Within just 30 minutes, a diagnosis was made and a chest X-ray was performed. The diagnosis report was handed over to me, and I was informed that my father-in-law required oxygen and needed to be admitted to the ICU. Unfortunately, the ICU was fully occupied, and there were no available beds. I was at a loss as to what to do, but then I reached out to my friend Arun Iyer, who connected me with someone from the Dr. Shrikant Shinde Foundation.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde Foundation at Thane

The foundation is managed by the son of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and provides medical assistance. I met with a gentleman from the foundation who listened to my situation and immediately called the CMO of Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital to request a bed. I went back to the hospital and met with the CMO, who quickly arranged for an emergency bed to be installed in the ICU. I am grateful to CM Eknath Shinde and his son Shrikant Shinde for the foundation that provided medical assistance.

“Miraculous Recovery: A Testament to the Care at Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital

Within only five days of being admitted to the ICU ward, I was astounded at how rapidly my father-in-law (FIL) recovered at Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital. It was truly miraculous, and I couldn’t help but feel thankful for the care and attention he received. The doctors and nurses were always vigilant in his treatment, continuously monitoring his condition and making adjustments to his care plan as required. FIL made a remarkable recovery and was given a clean bill of health. He looked and sounded like his normal self, and it was incredible to witness such a transformation in such a short amount of time.
In Conclusion

In conclusion, I am grateful for the incredible care and attention given by the doctors and administration staff of Hospital. Their professionalism, dedication, and selflessness in the face of immense pressure and challenging circumstances is truly admirable. The speed with which they treated my FIL and the efficiency with which they operated is a testament to their commitment to their profession and to their patients.

It is heartening to know that there are hospitals like Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital and doctors like those who treated tirelessly to ensure the well-being of their patients. Their kindness and compassion towards the family of each patient are remarkable and deserves our utmost appreciation.

In times like these, when healthcare workers are facing unprecedented challenges and risks, we must not forget to express our gratitude and acknowledge their efforts. Therefore, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the doctors, nurses, and administration staff of Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital for their unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of their patients.

Lastly, My experience has made one thing clear: health is an essential part of our lives. The phrase “health is wealth” rings true, and it’s crucial that we make an effort to preserve this wealth by taking care of ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and neglect our well-being, but we must prioritize our health above all else. After all, it is the most important asset that we’ve been given by God. Let’s make a conscious effort to lead a healthy lifestyle and take care of ourselves.

The Journey of Building Lord Ayyappa Temple: My Story.

As I reflect on my life, I realize that my father’s devotion to Lord Ayyappa had a profound impact on me. It was through him that I learned about the significance of Lord Ayyappa and his temple in Sabarimalai. I vividly remember my first trip to Sabarimalai when I was just five years old. It was a journey that would shape the rest of my life.

Ever since that first trip to Sabarimalai, I have made it a point to visit the temple every year without fail. And on some occasions, when time and circumstances allowed, I went two or three times in a single year. As far as I can remember, my devotion to Lord Ayyappa has only grown stronger with each passing year, and my visits to the temple have become an integral part of my spiritual journey. Back in the late 70s and well into the 1990s, the only way I went to Sabarimalai was via the Errumelli route, which involved trekking a distance of 61 kilometers from Errimulli to Pampa, including the Azudha and Karimalai hills. It was the traditional path through Erumeli that we followed, as it was believed that Ayyappan himself had taken this route to subdue Mahishi. Despite the challenging terrain and long journey, this route held special significance, as it was a part of Lord Ayyappa’s own story and journey.

My Pooja Room

My Pooja room is filled with the divine presence of Lord Ayyappa, as three magnificent Vigraham (Idols) graced my pooja room. One of them was skillfully sculpted by the renowned Varkala Mani of Kerala, reflecting the divine aura of Lord Ayyappa. My heart always fills with immense devotion as I worship all of the Vigrahams. The latest addition to my Lord Ayyappa Vigraham collection weighed around 30 kg, symbolizing the grandeur of Lord Ayyappa. While I may not be a priest who chants mantras fluently, my devotion was unwavering as I chanted my mula-mantram, “Swamiyae Sharanam Ayyappa”. This simple yet powerful chant filled me with spiritual strength and connected me with the divine presence of Lord Ayyappa.

Calling from God

As a software professional with a demanding job that required frequent travel to different countries, my routine upon returning home always included giving a bath to my idols and doing Alangaram (decorating them with ornaments). My wife assisted me in cleaning the pooja room while I attended to the idols. One day, as I was giving a bath to the idol, I realized that I might not always have the strength to do this as I grew older. It was then that the idea of building an Ayyappa Temple came to my mind, and I felt as though it was a calling from God himself. I shared this idea with my wife and later with my mother and my sisters. And so began my journey of constructing the Lord Ayyappa temple.

I shared this idea with my dear friend and mentor, JP, whom I have known for over 25 years and who has been my companion on trips to Sabarimala. Together, we set out to find a suitable location for the temple, and after searching 2 properties, JP suggested a property in a remote village of Maharashtra called Shilar, Near Karjat. When we visited the place, I felt an overwhelming vibration that confirmed to me that this was indeed the right place for the temple.

Upon returning home, I found myself unable to sleep that night. I kept dreaming of a temple being built on that land, and I knew deep down that I had to make it a reality. The following day, I called up JP and expressed my interest in the property. We worked quickly and efficiently to finalize the purchase within just 41 days, and the land registration was completed shortly thereafter. And so, our journey to construct a temple in honor of Lord Ayyappa began. We chose to name the entire property “Hari-Hara Kshetra”, a name that reflects the unity of Lord Ayyappa as the son of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Shilar Ayyappa Temple in Making

I feel immensely blessed and humbled to have this opportunity to contribute towards the creation of a sacred space where devotees can worship and seek the blessings of Lord Ayyappa. It is my sincere hope that this temple will serve as a source of inspiration and spiritual nourishment for generations to come.

As the construction work for the Ayyappa Temple in Shilar, Karjat progresses, I am excited to share updates with you all.

To create an authentic and traditional experience for devotees, we have invited construction workers from Kerala who specialize in building Ayyappa temples. We are grateful to my Cousin Brother P S Rajan for recommending one of the best Shilpi’s of Kerala, who is a skilled Temple Architect and Builder.

These workers are highly skilled and experienced in the art of traditional Kerala-style temple architecture. Their expertise will ensure that the temple is constructed to the highest standards and resembles a typical Kerala Ayyappa Temple, providing a truly authentic experience for devotees.

We are excited about this aspect of the construction process and are committed to creating a temple that is not only beautiful but also steeped in tradition and culture

I felt blessed to have received this divine calling and was grateful to have such supportive friend and family to embark on this spiritual journey with me.