Cancer. The word itself sends shivers down anyone’s spine, and when my father was diagnosed with it at SGPGI Hospital, Lucknow, my world came crashing down. In the blink of an eye, our lives turned upside down. The doctors gave us the grim news, and suddenly, I found myself desperately searching for the best cancer hospital in the world, then in India. That’s when I found Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), a dedicated cancer care and research center. It felt like a beacon of hope amidst the overwhelming darkness.
I immediately requested the doctor to refer my father to TMH and booked the next flight to Mumbai. As we boarded the plane, I posted on social media, "Thousands of years back, Shree Hanumana brought #Sanjeevani after flying thousands of kilometers to cure #ShreeLaxman. Now, I'm flying to Mumbai, thousands of kilometers with Dad to cure him. In a hope, if #Laxman could be cured then why not my #Dad will..." TMH was, in my mind, that mythical mountain where I would find the sanjeevani, the last hope for my father’s treatment.
My father, ever the optimist, had already made friends with fellow patients during his 30 days at SGPGI. As I was taking him to TMH, he smiled at his new friends and said, "My son is taking me to TMH." For any cancer patient, TMH represents not just medical care but the last hope of extending life, of battling the disease with all the strength one has left. But, getting admitted to TMH is no easy task. Thousands of patients, unable to secure a bed, live in nearby ashrams or even on the footpaths, hoping for their chance at life-saving treatment.
When we met the doctor, I was prepared to do whatever it took. I told him, "Sir, I'm ready to pay any amount, but I know how difficult it is to get admitted here. I've never used my professional achievements to ask for personal favors, but today, I’m asking for the first and last time. Please trust me, I’m a man of my word." I explained who I was: a Computer Science and Engineering student, the Founder and President of GYG NGO—one of the largest student organizations in the world with over 400 young leaders across 72 countries. I told him about my father, a doctor himself, who had always tried to bring positive changes to society. I said, "If anything happens to him, it will affect my entire organization."
The doctor took my number and asked me to wait a few days while he consulted with his seniors. I left the hospital feeling a mixture of hope and dread. I wrote letters to some of the influential people I had met during UN conferences, asking for their support.
The next day, my prayers were answered. The hospital confirmed that my father had been allotted a semi-private room with only two patients, complete with AC, an attached bathroom, TV, and a couch for the attendant. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. If my father hadn’t been admitted, I would have been left utterly hopeless.
TMH is unlike most hospitals. In many places, fear and hopelessness pervade the atmosphere, but at TMH, every patient—whether in private care or outpatient—seems to carry a spark of hope. That hope, that belief in a better tomorrow, is one of the greatest things the Tata legacy has built. My father, though he was in the final stages of cancer and beyond recovery, was happy and hopeful throughout his time there. For that, I am eternally grateful.
Late Shri Ratan Tata’s legacy is not just about building organizations. He infused them with integrity, unwavering values, and a determination to believe in the impossible. TMH stands as a testament to that vision.
Today, I run Yantriksh Cybernetics, a company dedicated to quality, values, and innovation—principles I’ve learned from both my father and the Tata legacy. Our headquarters stands tall in the very building my father had dreamed of constructing after his return from TMH. It was my top priority to fulfill that dream, no matter how difficult it was or how much I had to fight for it. That building is more than just an office—it’s a symbol of my father's enduring spirit, and the first thing he wanted to see realized after his battle with cancer.
Through this journey, I’ve learned that hope is powerful. It can drive us forward, even in the darkest times. And when we fight for what we believe in—whether it’s for our loved ones or our dreams—the impossible can become possible.
