National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Nagpur !!
Yesterday on the occasion of Devendra Fadnavis filing his nomination at Nagpur, I along with my friend Shantanu Agasti planned to be with him, watch the mania that surrounds Fadnavis, meet long time Nagpurkar friends and come back home. But after doing all of this in the first half, an unplanned visit to a place moved me and when I sat and thought about this man, Devendra Fadnavis, I thought to myself–WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE HIM SO MUCH? I have an answer to that but before that let me remind you, what we all know of Devendra Fadnavis as a person or as a politician, he is way beyond and miles away from the common perception we all have about him. His collection of friends, his personal life up close, his never say die attitude, his strengths are all together way beyond that we can even comprehend !
I will write a separate blog on “A Day with Fadnavis”…but today the blog cannot be started by the mention of Shri Shailesh Joglekar…No, he is no one you would google about, he ain’t a celebrity, he ain’t a politician, he is not a bureaucrat nor a businessman. He is just Shaliesh Joglekar..That’s it…From being Bajrang Dal’s president of Vidharbha to knowing Devendra Fadnavis who is 4 years younger to him since his childhood, and 10 years elder to Late Amol Kale these 3 have been best of friends since eons. I think very few of us come across as a man who lives for others. Such people do exist and their sole intention in life is not money or power or being best friends with Devendra Fadnavis. Their motto is to help people. One of them is Shailesh Joglekar and in spite of being the only person who has more access to DF apart from Amruta Vahini, Divija and Kaku, it has to be ONLY this man . When we entered the living room on the first floor of DF’s home early in the morning, it was occupied by the VVIPs of our state. There were businessmen, politicians waiting for an audience to DF. But on one side of the sofa reading the newspaper and ordering TARRI POHA for us and sitting quietly next to me was Shailesh ji. I knew the name before a little bit but the curiosity in me to know him better made me want to speak to him. I just said, sir, after the form filling and rally, I am very much interested in seeing the “Institute”. I meant the ‘National Cancer Institute’ located 20 minutes away on the Wardha road inaugurated in 2023 by the hands of RSS head Mohanji Bhagwat, CM Eknath Shinde, Nitin Gadkari and of course, the late Shri. Ratan Tata in presence of several top businessmen like Adani and Jindals. To my surprise, he immediately said yes, and after the rally we spent in some 100 degree heat of Nagpur, without even blinking an eyelid, we had started our journey to this charitable institute.
The minute our tired eyes fell upon the structure- a question arose which I asked Shailesh ji immediately –sir, is this a 7 star hotel or a cancer institute? Readers, the journey had just begun…The dream to construct this place in the eyes of Fadnavis and Joglekar began after DF had lost his father to cancer and Shailesh ji lost his beloved wife to the dreaded disease. When the research began in 2001, it was observed that most of the cancer patients during that time were either going to Tata or in some known hospital of the South. In the South, along with looting of patients by various corporations in the name of treatments and running of hospitals there were conversions going on. Helpless patients along with relatives were falling prey to this racket. The loss of Fadnavis and that of passing away of Shailesh ji’s wife somehow had shaken these “Sanghache Potte” (RSS Boys) and the idea began to have a world class facility for every person be it the richest or the most poor, in Nagpur.
It was then when DF became the CM in 2014 and couldn’t be as active, it was Shailesh ji who took up this work and constructed a hospital as a mission. The real planning to have a massive hospital which will be and is, affordable to all began. It took them 2 years to plan this. Yes, as Shailesh ji tells me, once planning was done with so much perfection that the implementation went as per plan exactly and how it should have been. Biggest need was for the land parcel and finances. Since both these best friends wanted to construct a never seen facility, a visit to the top architect of Mumbai was mandatory. After listening to the idea, the Mumbai architect told them the cost and asked them to go and take services of a Nagpurian architect to help them save the cost. Such comments did not deter these guys one bit. At the end of the meeting, Shailesh ji told DF only 2 things I will want from you DF–I will complete this project as my life’s mission but never ever call me to give any work to anyone. Yes, Shailesh ji took in upon him as a MISSION and today it will put shame to any 7 star hotel, hospital you have visited in your lifetime to shame and mind you, it is only for cancer for any age and type. The Institute was inaugurated in 2023.
When a new architect was appointed, there were clear instructions from Shailesh ji –It should NOT feel, smell or look like a hospital anytime. I will say, this dreaded disease should never ever enter anyone’s home but if it does, Nagpur’s National Cancer Institute is your go to place. Guys don’t think if it is so well and plushly built with all the latest machines and technology and world class doctors and staff’s present–it will be unaffordable. No, various government schemes and corpses are built to take care of you. In fact, pediatric cancers are treated free of cost. Everything is so technically sound there. Every floor is cleaner than our homes, the whole hospital, even though the lowest rank of citizen visits, will feel at home. There is a huge garden area with a huge water body for patients’ relatives to relax and every room be it a general ward, or for the most prestigious person’s presidential suite is equipped with clean rooms, top equipment, cleanest bathrooms I have seen and huge windows enabling ample daylight. Every floor has a balcony and a sit out area for relatives with sofas and not those typical chairs. Every inch of the hospital is air conditioned with some 1600 tons of AC’s and ample parking space.
The land mafia around the hospital shouldn’t loot them, hence the surrounding 80 acres of land has been bought by this institute. A housing facility with rooms and flats for the relatives is their next motto. Some 1600 staff’s work everyday here and there is no outside agency for anyone. everything is managed ably by Shailesh ji. DF and Amruta madam frequent their visits here as and when they get time, sometimes 5 to 6 times in a month. Likes of Adv Sunil Manohar, Ajay Sancheti and world famous Dr Anand Pathak are on board who too, contribute every single day. You have to see it to believe it. Late Shri ratan Tata visited and inaugurated this space and called it as a younger brother of Tata Institute for Cancer located in Mumbai. Imagine the scale and don’t be scared– it is absolutely affordable.
Shailesh ji, everyone lives for themselves, very few live for others, and you are one of them of the later category. You are like Baba Amte who believed in serving mankind. May your tribe grow. Fadnavis ji, what do I say about you–When people say Sharad Pawar has competition when it comes to politics, I say, DF has crossed that path a few years ago, but as a person and as a sevak to mankind–he is THE BEST we have in Maharashtra.
Vikrant Hemant Joshi.
