Subhashini Mistry
Subhashini Mistry lives in a village called Hanspukur just about 20Km south of the city center of Kolkata. Her husband died of gastro enteritis in the 70s. He was a poor labourer. Soon after his death, she decided that she would not let anyone else face the kind of difficulties she had to face due to lack of healthcare. She had to bring up her five children and keep her own body and soul together. Over the next twenty years she toiled as a housemaid, manual labourer and vegetable seller and saved 20000 rupees. Meanwhile she educated her son Ajoy Mistry and got him to be a doctor with help from philanthropists. She got the residents of Hanspukur to pool in more money and established a trust called “Humanity Trust” and bought about half an acre of land and established a hospital in a small hut. "There is no work my hands have not done. I have cooked, mopped floors, washed utensils, cleaned gardens, polished shoes, concreted roofs" says Subhashini.
Subhashini at Park Circus market by Mahesh BhatUnsung
Subhashini sold vegetables in this market in central Kolkata for nearly two decades. Her daughter used to sell vegetables till recently at the same spot.
Humanity Hospital by Mahesh BhatUnsung
The hut where Humanity Hospital began
Humanity Hospital by Mahesh BhatUnsung
A view of the ward in the old wing of the hospital. Women patients wait to be operated upon for various gynecological problems
Humanity Hospital by Mahesh BhatUnsung
Subhashini’s daughter-in-law Mousumi dons many hats, that of a wife, mother, hospital manager and nurse
Brihaspati Purakayastha by Mahesh BhatUnsung
Brihaspati Purakayastha, one of the earliest recepents of the intra-occular lens at Humanity Hospital.
Humanity Hospital by Mahesh BhatUnsung
Subhashini’s grand daughter Sudeshna used to play in the ward when she was a child. Her laughter used to fill the hospital.
Subhashini and Ajoy by Mahesh BhatUnsung
Subhashini Mistry with her son Dr. Ajoy Mistry
Subhashini Mistry by Mahesh BhatUnsung
"This hospital means everything to me. It's my wealth,my knowledge, my happiness."
To read more please click here Unsung
https://humanityhospital.org/
