Hospital by the Poor and for the Poor

Thirty-five-year-old Sadhan Mistry’s life could have been saved if a doctor was available in the village. Life then became hard for his 23-year-old widow. She told everyone that she would educate one of her children to become a doctor and open a free hospital in the village so that no other family would have to meet her fate. That happened on 13 April 1971

- F. M. BRITTO

After a month, her in-laws forced her out of the house. To feed her four minor children, the landless Subhasini started selling vegetables in her village of Hanspukur, 20 kms away from Kolkata in South 24 Parganas district.

While her two daughters helped her, her eldest son went to labour in the fields. Her youngest son, Ajoy, washed dishes at a local tea stall. Once when he broke a glass, the owner hit him on his head and cheeks and threw him out. He then went to work as a house help. Once when he was sent by the family to buy groceries, he spent 50 paisa for a candy. The family’s head thrashed him badly. His ragged clothes earned him the nickname “Dustbin Boy”.