DOST Mumbai

20/12/2025

✨ Leadership Development Program of DOST Mumbai ✨

DOST Mumbai successfully organized a Leadership Development Program for its core team and senior student members on 20th December.

Dr. Dilip Nikam, Professor & Head of Radiation Oncology, Bombay Hospital, shared valuable insights on cancer prevention and treatment, inspiring the initiation of the Leelabai Chunchuwar Cancer Control Program with a focus on cancer awareness.

A session on Communication Skills & Networking by senior journalist Mr. Pramod Chunchuwar emphasized confidence, reading habits, general knowledge, and the power of networking in today’s world.

The program concluded with Pasaydan and prayers for world peace.
A truly enriching and inspiring experience for all participants. 🌱🙏

20/04/2024

Meeting with Hon Sunilji Gavaskar

There will not be any person who doesn't know about legendary cricketer Hon Mr Sunil Gavaskar. He is one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time, and certainly the most successful. He played 125 test matches and 108 one day matches for the Indian team. He did 34 test centuries which was a world record for many years. He is famously known as the 'little master' due to his short height and batting techniques. During my childhood days we used to watch cricket on black and white television and also listen to commentary on Radio. I never thought that a day would come when I would get an opportunity to meet him and interact with him.

On 16th April, Satya Sai Sanjivani Hospital organised a mega event to celebrate completion of 30000 pediatric cardiac surgeries in their various setups. There was also an inauguration of skill centres for various allied Health courses. Dr Shrinivas, MD invited me and Pramod to join this event. Both of us were keen to meet Mr Gavaskar.

After inauguration a press conference was held in which information about hospital functioning, patient profiles, type of care given and purpose of starting skill centre was explained. As a journalist Pramod asked Dr C Shrinivasan to tell about the reason for choosing cardiac problems and whether they are doing something in the field of organ donation and transplantation. Dr C Shrinivas informed that the decision to work in the field of cardiac problem was done after he came across a patient who was diagnosed with cardiac problems at the age of 3 years but she has to wait for 17 years to get operated due to lack of surgical facility. She was the first patient to get operated in Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital. After the operation her life changed miraculously. This change in her life was inspiring. After this case, they decided to develop more centers and now there are three centers of excellence in the field of pediatric cardiac surgeries. Regarding work in the field of organ donation and transplantation they have a separate wing to create awareness about organ donation, there is a tissue bank for cardiac valves and they are going to start a cardiac transplantation center in one of the centers.

Pramod asked Mr Gavaskar about his views and how he decided to work in this field. The answer given by Mr Gavaskar was very interesting. Mr Gavaskar's aunt was a doctor and during childhood when he used to visit her clinic he was thinking of becoming a medical doctor. Later he chose cricket as his career. In his cricket debut match while playing, great cricketer Garfield Sobors couldn't take a simple catch and he got a chance to play. He made 65 runs in that match and could continue to play for Indian cricket. In his second match again he got the same chance and he could make a century. Then he continued to play and created a history. He feels the gift of life and continues to play was important in his cricket career. He feels that such a gift of life is more important in real life where people are suffering from life threatening diseases

Mr Gavaskar's family is a devotee of Shree Satya Sai Baba. He met Satya Sai Baba several times and baba advised him to do something for society. After completing his cricket career Mr Gavaskar became a commenter for many years. Now this is his third inning and he wants to do something for the society. As during childhood he wanted to become a doctor which he could not become at that time now he is capable of doing something for the medical field; he got connected to Dr C Shrinivas in his mission. of Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital. He is one of the trustees of Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital Kharghar. He is happy to see small children getting the gift of life after their successful surgery and he feels it is the most satisfying thing.

After the conference Pramod introduced me to Mr Gavaskar. We have a good interaction. I briefed him about the work which we are doing in the field of organ donation awareness and our health care activities. It was a great and memorable meeting. Also I told him about my dream of starting a charitable institution like Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital working in the field of liver, kidney and digestive diseases where kidney and liver transplant can be offered free of cost to the underprivileged sector of society.

19/04/2024

Meeting with Dr Srinivas, MD, Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital, Kharghar

Dr Sasindran was one of the best Dean I have come across. He was not only a knowledgeable person but also he always used to think for the students. For allied Health care science students he has a special concern; he used to say, "they should be skilled and trained properly as they are the backbone of the healthcare delivery system." One day he called me and our academic director Dr Prakash Roplekar and he said, "you have to go and meet Dr Srinivas at Satya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital, Kharghar Navi Mumbai." He told us that we have to go and discuss with him regarding the possibility of sending our students for the training in that institute.

Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centre for Child Heart Care & Training in Pediatric Cardiac Skills was inaugurated in Nov 2018 in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. It is started and run by trust. While Mumbai is known for being the city of dreams, the genesis of Sanjeevani in the commercial capital of India is seen as disruptive innovation in child heart care where all services are provided totally free of cost. The Govt of Maharashtra has declared this as the centre of excellence for Congenital Heart Disease in the state of Maharashtra. They also focus on Training of Medical and Para Medical professionals through recognised courses in Pediatric Cardiac skills thereby contributing to this scarce skill set.

When we met Dr Srinivas, Managing Director of the institute for the first time, it was a great day for me. He took us to the hospital round and explained how the care is given to all the patients. As he rightly said, "empathy is the most important aspect of medical care!" They focus on empathetic care of all the patients. He inspired me a lot and therefore when I was thinking about our Pandharpur camp departure ceremony I thought of his name as the guest of honour. I talked about that to my friend Mr Pramod Chunchuwar and we decided to meet him in person.

Mr Pramod Chunchuwar, our PRO Mr Srikant and I went to meet Dr Shrinivas. He politely welcomed us. When he came to know that Mr Pramod is a journalist and keen to know about this institution, he was very happy. He took all of us for the hospital round. He explained how the care is being given to all the patients who are coming from the underprivileged sector of the community. When I asked him, "how can you manage to run the hospital without taking any charges?" He simply answered, "it is because of the blessings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba!" He said, "you have to do everything transparently so that people will trust you and then they are ready to support you!" This is a very important lesson for me, as I am also keen to start a similar charitable institution in the field of kidney, liver and digestive diseases but I am not in a position to do so because of lack of financial support. After talking to him I realised many things, which will help me to make my dream come true.

As a journalist, Pramod took his interview and also did the recording of various places in the hospital. He decided to make a story and spread this work so that most people come to know about this institution and take the benefit of the services rendered by the institute. it was again a very great day for me.... With great inspiration all of us come back...

09/04/2024

23/06/2022

प्रस्थान सोहळा 🚩

आम्हां नांदी विठठ्ल
आम्हां छंदी विठठ्ल
हृदयपरी विठठ्ल मिळतेस!

22/06/2022

Coonecting organ donation with warkari sampradaya will help make it public movement

20/06/2022

आतुरता तूझ्या दर्शनाची 🛕❤🙇‍♀️

21/12/2020

*गुरू- शनी महायुतीची पर्वणी आणि आकाश दर्शनाची मेजवानी!*

सर्वांना नमस्कार. काल परभणीजवळ तुळशीबाग फार्म हाऊसवर गुरू-शनीच्या महायुतीचं निरीक्षण श्री निरंजन वेलणकर यांच्या सोबत केलं. तुलसी बाग परभणीपासून सहा किमी अंतर असूनही इथे अतिशय अंधारं आकाश उपलब्ध आहे. इतकं अंधारं आकाश खूप दुर्मिळ गोष्ट आहे. सूर्य मावळल्यानंतर थोड्याच वेळामध्ये गुरू- शनीच्या महायुतीसाठी निरंजन सरणी टेलिस्कोप सज्ज केला आणि खूप सुंदर दृश्य दिसलं. ५० पट आणि १२५ पटीच्या फिल्ड ऑफ व्ह्यूमध्येही गुरू आणि शनी एकत्र बघता आले! चांग़ला अंधार पडल्यावर गुरूचे तीन उपग्रह आणि शनीची सुंदर कडी एकत्र बघता आली! आणि हा अविस्मरणीय सोहळा कॅमेरामध्येही पकडता आला. त्याचा फोटो सोबत जोडत आहोत. मोबाईलचा ब्राईटनेस पूर्ण वाढवून व फोटो झूम करून बघता येईल. गुरूचे तीन उपग्रह आणि शनीची कडी स्पष्ट दिसतात! अनेक वेळा हा सोहळा बघितल्यानंतर हळु हळु शनी- गुरू क्षितिजाजवळ पोहचले व हळु हळु अंधुक झाले.

तोपर्यंत निरभ्र आकाशामध्ये शहरामधून न दिसणारे किती तरी तारे डोकावण्यास सुरुवात झाली. शहरामधून केवळ तेजस्वी तारे दिसतात. पण इथे प्रत्येक तारकासमूहामध्ये इतर मंद तारेही बघायला मिळत होते. आणि मग एकामागोमाग एक मेजवानीची सुरुवात झाली. टेलिस्कोपमधून देवयानी आकाशगंगा (अँड्रोमिडा M 31) चा पुंजका शहरापेक्षा छान दिसत होता. चंद्राचे खड्डे इतर इतके विलोभनीय दिसत होते की बघणा-याच्या प्रतिक्रिया बघायला मजा येत होती! आणि ज्यांनी टेलिस्कोपमधून चंद्र बघितला ते कोणत्या सुंदर चेह-याला चांद सा मुखडा म्हणू शकणार नाहीत! किंवा खूप वेगळ्या सौंदर्याच्या अर्थाने म्हणू शकतील! कात्रीने कापल्यासारखा कातरलेला चंद्र, त्यातील विवर व कुठे कुठे तर विवरामध्ये विवर! तेजस्वी चद्रकोरीला लागून अंधारा भाग आणि अंधा-या सावलीच्या भागामधून मध्येच चमकणारा चंद्र (तिथे असलेल्या पर्वताच्या उंचीमुळे सूर्यकिरण तिथे पोहचतात).

तुळशीबागेच्या शांत परिसरातलं आकाश इतकं विलोभनीय होतं की थांबावसं वाटत नव्हतं. सोबतीला वैष्णवी वाढी तिची बहीण श्वेता व भाऊजी तसेच नीकेत व ते नोड असलकर व इतर परिचितांना बोलावलं आणि मग मेजवानीची रंगत वाढत गेली.

अनेक तास चालेल्या ह्या आकाश दर्शन मेजवानीमध्ये नंतर कृत्तिका (M45), गॅमा एरीस जोडतारा, मंगळ, ओरायन नेब्युला (M42), शर्मिष्ठा तारकासमूहातल्या आकाशगंगेचा भाग असलेला तारकागुच्छ, सारथी तारकासमूहातला आकाशगंगेतला तारकागुच्छ, पुनर्वसू जोडतारा, पुष्य नक्षत्राचा तारकागुच्छ (Behive cluster M 44) असे नजारे दिसले! आणि पहाटेच्या सत्रामध्ये शुक्र, वसिष्ठ जोडतारा व अरुंधती आणि व्हेस्टा हा लघुग्रहसुद्धा बघता आला. निरंजन वेलणकर मुळे हे सहज शक्य झालं.

तुळशीबागेच्या शांत ठिकाणी गुरू- शनीच्या महायुतीच्या आकाश दर्शन सत्राचं आयोजन केलं आहे. त्याचे तपशील लवकरच कळवले जातील. आणि आपण शहरातूनही गुरू- शनीची ही महायुती बघू शकता. नुसत्या डोळ्यांनीसुद्धा! तेजस्वी गुरू व त्याला चिकटून मंद शनी असं दृश्य तुम्ही अगदी शहराच्या प्रकाशातूनही बघू शकता. तेव्हा हे दृश्य व इतरही अनेक तारे-ग्रह बघण्यासाठी आपल्याला खूप शुभेच्छा!