The Doctor Who Found Her Purpose in Life Doing Good in Egypt

DR SHIBAL Bhartiya was working as a senior research fellow at Geneva, when she was assigned to a humanitarian mission to a poor community in Egypt. As a doctor, she had learnt about 'clinical detachment' but what she saw here - lack of drinking water and the stark difference between high privilege and abject poverty - hit her hard!

- Krishan Kalra

She had grown up as a sensitive child - despite being a DM's daughter she was teaching poor children at the age of nine. She did MBBS and MS at a top college in Delhi, followed up by super specialty research work in advanced Glaucoma studies at AIIMS - and had seen sufferings of patients - before going to Switzerland. The visit to Egypt transformed her towards embracing inclusivity and giving. Her perspective shifted from not just doing well but also 'doing good'.

Beginning of a Journey

Back in Delhi, as a single mother of a five-year-old son, she came across perfect strangers being kind to her and realised that every small act of kindness and support leads to a ripple effect of positive change. She started with a small food bank for her needy neighbours and also began teaching their children in a park. Her journey of doing good had begun.