On 6th and 7th of April, 2019 I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I was invited to Navsari a town just 35 kms from Surat. The place where JRD Tata was born. It is also 18 kms from Dandi Beach the famous salt satyagraha was done by Gandhiji.
First, I would like to introduce my host Dr Rajan Shethji and Mrs Kavita Shethji, wonderful and jovial couple. Together they have been able to change lives of many people. They are the most sort after couples of Navsari not just because they are Doctors but because they have the power to influence and do things.
Accompanying Mr Rajan were another couple Mr Pranav Shethji and Mrs Dhwani Shethji. Mr Pranav a business man and a cancer winner, twice operated and very enthusiastic to intervene and influence the lives of the cancer patients, they started the ADDlife foundation at Navsari.
Dhwani a teacher and a story teller, very sober and supportive lady.
Around 11 oclock I was introduced to a group of 7 Parsis led by Mr Yezdi Contractor and some journalists. Mr Yezdi and his group formed Muskurahat 4 years ago. Mr Yezdi a banker, lost both his parents to cancer. Since than he has been working to make people tobacco free. The Muskurahat group who had never sung learnt singing. They would go to some village and first start singing hindi old songs and once people gather around them would talk about tobacco and would take the list of people taking tobacco and follow them and help them quit tobacco. Till date they have been able to completely free 120 people from tobacco addiction. A commendable work they are doing. The interaction with them was extremely cordial. I wish to value add their efforts in a more defined way.
In the evening I had a visit to Dr Arpan Desai’s dental Clinic. Came to know that tobacco is rampantly used in Navsari, and oral cancer rate is very high. Had interaction with some patients and guided two to quit tobacco.
In the evening, I had a meet at the IMA Navsari, gave a presentation on “Kill the arjun within you -Change the World”. Not surprised at the lukewarm response of the senior doctors. Although most set through my presentation I was able to impress upon them that treating patient as a whole is important and addressing the root cause, tobacco, of most of the disease they deal with is their moral responsibility. I did have some interaction.
Later in the night I was an invited guest at ‘Muskurahat’ by Yezdi and his group which include Monaz, Rohintan,Gaver,Aspi,Khushali at Tatahall. What amazing performance by the group. They sang some old Bollywood numbers as good as any professionals. The drama was too good and was on tobacco. I had a wonderful interaction with the audience and tell you yet to see such motivators. Tatahall with a capacity of around 800 was full till the end at 1 am. I met lot of people off stage who wished to do more on tobacco and join hands for the purpose.
Next day I was an invited guest speaker for the NMA talk. A well organised talk by the Navsari Management Group for its member. The audience was business owners, corporates and senior executives. My talk “The ripple effect” for the management how they can bring a change in their business houses and into the lives of workers and their family. The participants enthusiastically participated in the talk. It was a full house and not a single person walked out during the session on the Ripple effect talk of 90 minutes. The senior executives and owners went back with the message to adopt the SAVE the Youth campaign – win over tobacco in their premises. The Ripple effect was evident immediately! Who does not want to save money of the organisation!
The best part was visit to Gurukul Ashram sankul, Bhadarpada.village in Dang district. adopted by Dr Rajan shethji. He had been working in that area for the last 10 years. Uplifting and upgrading the school to provide education to the village children. It was amazing to know how a school in shambles once is now a multi-storeyed building, The children are provided with education food , books etc. with increase in education overall development of the village has improved rapidly. Further the village is alcohol free, thanks to the women empowerment. Now Dr Rajan and Kavita have got Mr Pranav and Dhwani to depend upon.
Considering the tobacco control in this town it is a unique situation. We have a group, muskurahat, led by mr Yezdi, working tirelessly for the cause. In addition they are well supported by Drs Rajan, Arpan, Dr Jamil etc. The support of large groups like Navsari Management Association is possible, who are ready to implement Tobacco free units. To make the efforts effective what is needed is simplification and amplification. Simplification and skill development with evidence based practice on tobacco cessation is required, setting up of tobacco cessation centres, so that the patients can be properly guided and results can be amplified.
ICanCaRe would be happy to help.
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