How ‘Devashis’ ended up being ‘Deepshika’ for numerous shedding hope and instructions–

Devasish Sharma, a politician by occupation, made headings in May 2020 when he embarked on a remarkable 2,731 kilometres roadway trip from Mumbai toGuwahati Leading a convoy of 6 buses, he came with 132 individuals– 65 of whom were cancer cells clients, with the remainder being their assistants. Among them were 40 females, consisting of both clients and caretakers, along with 6 youngsters that had actually lately undertaken surgical treatment at Narayana Hrudayalaya in Mumbai.

Despite the blistering summertime warmth, the impending risk of Covid -19, and the danger of clinical emergency situations, the whole team got to Guwahati securely– many thanks to the strength of the clients, the devotion of the assistants and bus team, and the steady resolution of Sharma.

At the helm of this goal was Sharma, Assam’s joint homeowner commissioner in Mumbai, that exceeded and past his management obligations to directly go along with and look after the 132-member convoy. His dedication was so extensive that, when no clinical team wanted to aid as a result of worries of Covid -19, Sharma took it upon himself to carry out shots, complying with remote support from physicians.

Currently the area commissioner of Morigaon, Assam, Sharma is a guy of numerous abilities. An enthusiastic artist, he additionally runs the Deephika Foundation, an NGO with a motivating beginning tale. Additionally, he is the founder-chairman and trustee of Deepsikha, a trust fund devoted to cancer cells treatment.

The birth of Deepshika

“This was way back in 2003 when I was posted to Mumbai. When I arrived, the Assam Bhavan was in a very dilapidated condition, and I was asked to go and establish a normal guesthouse. As you know, Assam Bhavans cater to VIPs, VVIPs, tourists, and people from the state who visit for various purposes.

“When I met the Assamese diaspora in Mumbai, I realised that many people from Assam, especially patients seeking treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital, faced a harrowing time finding accommodation. At that time, accommodation near Tata Hospital cost around Rs 600 per day, including food, transport, and other expenses,” Sharma stated over the phone as he was preparing yourself to carry out a cancer cells discovery program in a remote location of his area.

“I visited Tata Hospital and spoke with many patients from Assam. They told me that one of their biggest challenges was accommodation, as many of them had to sell their land and property to afford treatment. Back then, the situation was very different from today.

“Hospitals in Assam were not as well-equipped or sophisticated as they are now, and many patients preferred to come to Mumbai for treatment. While some still do, the numbers have significantly decreased.

“We proposed to the government that Assam Bhavan be dedicated to assisting these cancer patients who struggled to find accommodation in Mumbai. Although we did not receive an official order, many senior officials and influential people supported the decision. As a result, Assam Bhavan, Mumbai, was dedicated to cancer patients, and it continues to serve that purpose even today,” he stated.

Sharma swiftly understood that leading the Assam Bhavan in Mumbai was not simply a specialist obligation however a contact us to humankind that he just might not overlook.

“I believe that is the only government Bhavan in the entire country that is entirely dedicated to cancer patients. However, once the Bhavan started operating, we began facing many challenges because a single cancer patient would occupy a room for the entire duration of their treatment.

“In the case of blood cancer, for instance, a child undergoing treatment for ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) would need to stay for at least 8 to 10 months. Similarly, for other cancers, during the entire period of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or post-surgery recovery, a patient needed to stay for around 3 to 4 months. As a result, each room would be occupied for no less than 3 to 4 months, leading to a scarcity of available accommodation,” the Morigaon area commissioner stated.

“This created the need for additional accommodation and various services such as blood and platelet donation, transportation, financial assistance, and more. I realised that within the framework of government service, it would not be possible to provide everything required. So, I decided to start an organisation, and that is how Deepsikha was born.

“I sought special permission from the government because, as government officers, we are required to inform the authorities before starting an NGO or getting involved in such initiatives. At that time, Jishnu Barua was the secretary of personnel (later retired as Assam chief secretary), and I obtained permission from him to begin the work. That is how Deepsikha was established,” Sharma remembered, defining exactly how Deepshika revived as a ray of hope.

Deepshika: Light of the light

‘Deepshika’ is a Sanskrit term that converts to “flame of light” or“light of the lamp” It symbolizes knowledge, hope, and the spread of understanding, typically stimulating a feeling of support and lighting in a symbolic feeling. True to its name, it ended up being a sign for cancer cells clients that have a tendency to shed hope instead swiftly.

“It started with the establishment of a cancer shelter for patients in a place called Masjid Bandar, which is very close to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. During that time, many patients sought treatment at Prince Aly Khan Hospital, where a renowned doctor, Dr Sultan Pradhan, practiced, along with Dr Tapan Saikia.

“Since Dr Saikia is from Assam, many patients preferred to consult or be treated by him because they had the comfort of speaking in their mother tongue. Dr Pradhan, as we all know, is globally recognised for his expertise in head and neck surgeries. From Assam, we had numerous cases of head and neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, and, among women, cervical and breast cancer,” Sharma stated.

Although Tata Memorial Hospital provides even more budget-friendly therapy choices, safeguarding a place at the center was unbelievably tough, as individuals from around the nation gathered to it for cancer cells therapy. There is a consistent space in between the need for solutions and the offered supply.

“This led to a spillover from Tata Memorial Hospital. When I say ‘spillover,’ I mean that patients had to seek treatment elsewhere due to the overwhelming demand at Tata. This remains a challenge in most government hospitals even today, as the cost of treatment there is significantly lower compared to private hospitals.

“Many times, there are people who are economically so challenged that they do not have a choice but to wait in that queue. And it’s very natural—when you have such a huge number of patients coming into Tata Memorial Hospital, there is bound to be a long waiting list, and people need to wait for a pretty long time.

“Within that number, there would be a few patients who might be able to organise some money, and they would look around for private hospitals around Mumbai to get an early date for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy,” Sharma stated.

“So, there would be that category of patients too, who would be wanting to, you know, be treated in those private hospitals. Taking that into account, we started accommodation for around 20 patients initially at Masjid Bandar, and then we started organising blood and platelets for the patients.

“Staying in a different land where you don’t know anyone can be challenging. So, there are people who run from pillar to post, trying to find out where to get blood and platelets. We tried to help them there. Then they needed transport to move from Assam Bhavan to Tata Hospital and back. We provided that as well,” the Morigaon area commissioner stated.

The message tied in tune and songs

What progressively ended up being clear to Sharma was the absence of understanding concerning cancer cells in Assam, particularly in backwoods, and the unpredictability concerning what actions to take if the condition is discovered.

“But slowly, the need for acute awareness was deeply felt. In fact, that was one of the first things I did. I took earned leave and came to Assam with a small team and we started conducting awareness drives in different villages of Assam. And our first place was Barpeta district, where Ajay Shanker Tewari, was the deputy commissioner (the then equivalent of district commissioner). He provided us accommodation in the government circuit house. With my team and with popular singers Kumar Bhavesh we started our mission to spread awareness,” Sharma stated.

Bringing in vocalists and artists was a tactical step, as it made it simpler to communicate the message while maintaining the target market involved. It aided develop a prompt link with individuals.

“When discussing cancer awareness, the anti-tobacco movement, or the harmful effects of betelnut and paan mixed with tobacco and lime, people often lost interest. To keep them engaged, we decided to mix in some music.

“We brought in renowned musicians who, over time, joined our cause and performed in remote villages, not just to entertain, but to keep the audience engaged with our message. The routine would involve a brief talk about cancer, followed by a song or two, and then more awareness. This approach turned out to be incredibly effective. As we continued, we realised the need to expand, increasing the number of Bhawans and cancer shelter homes both in Assam and in and around Mumbai,” the politician stated.

And after that to Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai

Let’s currently transform our emphasis to Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai, which lies near to the Assam Bhawan inVashi While the Assam Bhawan is described as Assam Bhawan in Mumbai, its real physical area remains in Navi Mumbai, a satellite city of Mumbai.

“At Kopar Khairane, we organised accommodation for around 70 people. From there, we went to Sector 28, Navi Mumbai, where we took a house on rent on a long-term lease, which could accommodate around 90 people. Then, slowly, we started taking houses on long-term lease in and around the Assam Bhawan.

“In those Bhawans, or shelters, we began providing accommodation at a very low cost. When I say low cost, it would come to around Rs100 or maybe Rs200 per day. For instance, in the dormitory seats at the Assam Bhawan, Deepshika started paying that amount to the government — Rs100 per seat. We have around 72 seats there,” Sharma stated.

“We secured sponsorships so that economically challenged patients staying in the dormitory could do so free of cost. Then, we started reaching out to donors for food, and eventually, meals were being provided by Deepshika. Vegetarian food was offered at just Rs10 per meal making things much more comfortable. We also received donated buses, allowing patients to travel free of cost between their place of stay and the hospital where they were being treated,” he stated.

Now simply understanding in Assam

While elevating understanding was definitely a worthy initiative, similarly important were the testing projects targeted at very early discovery, particularly at the initial indicators of cancer cells.

“In Assam, we continued our crusade against cancer by creating awareness and conducting screenings. Screening is a crucial part of a holistic approach to cancer care. Unless a cancer care programme includes awareness and screening, there is a high risk of late detection.

“If people are unaware or do not undergo early screening, many cases will be diagnosed at an advanced stage, which is still happening in Assam today. Screening must be conducted scientifically. There is a proper way to go about it.

“When we talk about cancer screening, we cannot assume that screening the whole body will guarantee a person will never develop cancer. However, there are specific areas where we can focus effectively,” Sharma stated.

“For instance, oral cancers are rampant in the northeastern states. They often begin with a white patch inside the mouth, known as leukoplakia, or sometimes a red patch, called erythroplakia. In some cases, people experience difficulty opening their mouths fully, a condition known as submucous fibrosis. These are early signs of cancer, and if detected in time, they may not progress into full-blown cancer with proper treatment,” he stated.

There are additionally numerous very early indication of cancer cells that ought to not be disregarded. For circumstances, esophageal cancer cells might appear as trouble ingesting, where an individual seems like food is stuck and needs to consume alcohol water to ascertain. This might be an indicator of a tumor establishing in the esophagus.

“Other red flags include unexplained fatigue, anemia, persistent wounds that won’t heal, and, for women, the emergence of a painless lump in the breast that gradually increases in size. Awareness of these early signs is essential for early detection and prompt action,” Sharma stated.

“Deepshika began its journey by creating awareness and conducting screenings, particularly in Assam and some northeastern states where we were invited. For screening, we were fortunate to receive donations from generous individuals and organisations.

“We acquired fully equipped buses with mammography machines, digital X-rays, ultrasonography machines and a team of doctors and nurses. Before conducting screenings, we always collaborated with local clubs or organisations to act as our local contacts. We travelled to different locations, where logistics were arranged by these local groups.

“The screening camps were sponsored by organisations working in cancer care. During these camps, we not only performed screenings but also conducted awareness sessions, educating people about cancer,” he stated.

Sharma stressed that developing understanding and carrying out correct testings are both locations emphasis is absolutely required today.

Economic benefit of very early discovery

“We are focussing on building hospitals, which is good and very important. But simultaneously, the burden on the government—especially from economically challenged people seeking cancer treatment at these hospitals—will decrease if cancer is detected early.

“The amount the government spends on treating these patients will be significantly lower if the disease is caught in its early stages. So that needs to be a priority. In achieving this, we will need many NGOs to step in, because unless there is community participation in screening and awareness efforts, it will be difficult to spread the message effectively. Community involvement is essential to take these initiatives forward,” Sharma stated.

A skilled specialist in such efforts, the area commissioner of Morigaon takes a systematic strategy to his job.

“Your strategy should be a combination of your own efforts, equipment and expertise, but the focus should be on training the community so that they can carry the message forward,” he stated.

Moving in the direction of quality in therapy

“Today, after the B Barooah Cancer Hospital became part of the Tata Memorial Hospital, along with our state cancer hospital and the Gauhati Medical College’s Haematology department—which specialises in blood cancers—these institutions have become highly active. Our state cancer hospital, in collaboration with the Tata Trusts, established the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, which has proven to be highly effective. The government has announced an ambitious plan to set up 19 cancer hospitals across Assam,” the area commissioner stated.

He additionally specified on the Assam federal government’s initiatives to make cancer cells treatment and therapy both budget-friendly and advanced within the state.

“The plan follows a hub-and-spoke model. The state cancer hospital in Guwahati, located next to Gauhati Medical College, will serve as the hub. It will have research facilities, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and all necessary medical services. It will be connected to medical colleges in different parts of the state, which will function as spokes.

“These colleges will provide services like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, though they may not have research capabilities. Further down the chain, the system will be linked to sub-centres, which will operate as daycare centres where chemotherapy can be administered. This is a highly ambitious plan,” Sharma stated.

The Morigaon replacement commissioner stated that at the grassroots degree, the emphasis will certainly get on understanding and testing.

“This comprehensive initiative is gradually taking shape, and Assam’s efforts—particularly those of the government—are significantly ahead of the rest of the country in the field of cancer care,” he stated.

NGOs vital to battle on cancer cells

However, the police officer made it clear that NGOs should additionally add to make the program a lot more efficient.

“This is why we launched Deepshika’s Shishu Ashray Sthal, a facility where children from all over the northeastern states who come to Guwahati for treatment can stay free of charge, with food and transportation also provided at no cost. Additionally, we started organising blood donations, platelet donations, and other essential services. Another key development was the government of Assam facilitating cancer treatment in Dibrugarh,” he stated.

Dibrugarh, situated in eastern Assam, is quickly becoming the state’s 2nd resources.

“In response, we set up a shelter home there, offering the same support—free transportation, food, and other necessities. We also established a rehabilitation centre in Jorhat, currently under construction in Titabar, to support cancer survivors who have lost their jobs due to illness.

“Many patients recover but struggle to regain employment, especially those who were self-employed or working in the private sector. At the Jorhat centre, we will teach survivors various trades that they can perform despite their physical limitations. We will also sponsor them by providing the necessary equipment or machinery, enabling them to reintegrate into society and earn a livelihood,” Sharma stated.

Another vital facet, palliative treatment plays an important function in cancer cells therapy by concentrating on boosting the lifestyle for clients. It intends to handle signs, reduce discomfort, and offer psychological and mental assistance for both clients and their family members, no matter the phase of cancer cells.

Palliative treatment addresses not just the physical difficulties of cancer cells however additionally the psychological, social, and spiritual elements, making certain thorough treatment. By decreasing suffering and offering convenience, it permits clients to live their staying time with self-respect and tranquility, enhancing medicinal therapies when feasible.

“In terminal cases, when doctors determine that a patient is beyond cure, palliative care becomes the primary focus to ensure comfort in their remaining days. Unfortunately, the concept of hospice care is not widely prevalent in the northeastern region. To address this, we established a hospice in Mirza near Guwahati with 25 beds. Currently, 10 to 15 patients receive palliative care there on a regular basis,” the Morigaon area commissioner stated.

“Often, when a hospital discharges a terminal patient, the caregivers are informed that further treatment is not possible, and only palliative care can be provided. For economically challenged families, caring for such a patient at home can be extremely difficult, as they need to work while also attending to a loved one who may be in severe pain.

“To address this issue, we offer free-of-cost hospice care, where one attendant can stay with the patient at no charge for as long as needed. Additionally, we launched a home care initiative in Guwahati, providing palliative care at patients’ homes. Many people prefer to remain in their homes rather than move to a hospice, but they may struggle financially due to the costs associated with long-term care,” Sharma stated.

Caring for the caretaker

Cancer therapy leaves not just many individuals monetarily drained pipes however they additionally mentally worn down consisting of caretakers.

“They need emotional support. They require counselling. You’d be surprised to know that it’s not just the patients, but also the caregivers who experience burnout. The term “burnout” is utilized since they are subjected to a lot psychological stress and face such traumatic times that they might surrender at a particular factor.

“They need to be counselled properly, from time to time, to help maintain the connection between the patient and caregiver. These are the areas we are working on, and slowly, we’re trying to focus on palliative care and providing holistic support to cancer patients. We are not limiting our efforts to Assam alone.

“In Mumbai, we take care of any cancer patient, not just those from Assam. Of course, there is a special focus on people from Assam, but the doors of Deepsikha are open to any cancer patient,” he stated.

A direct viewpoint on life

Sharma is not simply an additional politician hidden in documents and restricted to his main tasks. He has actually redefined his function, mixing his occupation with concern by proactively assisting individuals in their most hopeless times, especially those fighting cancer cells. While it might be difficult to count the lives he has actually touched, his steady dedication has actually definitely changed his very own viewpoint on life and improved his understanding of real satisfaction.

“When you go through such experiences, your priorities in life change. I used to think differently, especially in government service, where you focus on offering your expertise and facing challenges. The most significant change I see in my life is in my perspective and my goals. Today, achievement doesn’t mean the desperate quest to reach the top. I’m no longer part of that rat race,” he stated.

“I find a lot of peace being with these patients. To be honest, in terms of goals, I just live in the moment. I now know that it’s the moment that really counts. Planning is important, but life is unpredictable. In my field, one small diagnosis can change everything for someone who was healthy, ambitious, and wanted to conquer the world. A cancer diagnosis can alter a person’s entire perspective on life.”

“I try to live by the day. I do have plans, but for me, this moment—right now, as I am talking to you, conversing with a journalist—is the most important. Because I don’t know what will happen in the next moment,” Sharma stated as the moment to carry out an additional testing goal exists a couple of mins away.