What began with the aim of providing cheap and better alternative treatment to poor and helpless cancer patients has now turned into a great responsibility. Cancer Super Speciality Clinic at Lahartara Road, Maduadih, Banaras, and Saraswati Hospital and Cancer Centre in Chunar have grown on people’s unprecedented trust and have shaped the urge to help more and more cancer patients not just from the region alone, but from districts across the state. The growth story is unique in many ways and is far from over.
The whole success story is a result of a dream sculpted by Dr Ajay Kumar, son of the famous Chunar sculptor Avinash Chandra.Dr Kumar, who provided surgery and chemotherapy facilities to the patients admitted to his hospitals during Corona, wanted all government schemes for cancer treatment to be connected to his hospital so that the poor could easily benefit from TPA or other government assistance.
He has done more than 4,000 surgeries in the last two years. Dr Ajay Kumar plans to start a new hospital soon on Lahartara Road to provide affordable and quality medical care to the poor. “I never forget my days of poverty and suffering,” says Dr Kumar.
Medical experts believe that the steps initiated by Dr Ajay Kumar over the years to treat cancer patients will be appropriately recognised in the coming times.
Childhood and Education
Dr Kumar was born in July 1980 in Chunar Tehsil of Mirzapur District, 25 km from Banaras. He was well aware that the financial condition at his home at the time was far from comfortable. Early on in school, he was identified as a promising student.
He had a deep interest in art and culture too, so along with his studies, Ajay Kumar would often help his father in his works. “Due to financial constraints, my father could not study much, but he always understood the importance of education. My father encouraged me to dream big and acquire knowledge and higher education in pursuit of the same,” says Ajay Kumar.
Ajay Kumar was determined to live up to the expectations and trust of his parents and pursued education wholeheartedly. After passing 10th, he chose Mathematics and completed his Intermediate studies in Mathematics.
Early days
Dr Kumar sat for the Combined Medical Service (CMS) examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. He cleared the exam with good grades, and in 2012, he got an offer from Indian Railways. Dr Kumar was posted in Allahabad as a Divisional Medical Officer in North Central Railway and served the Railways till 2016.
Dr Kumar however, was not content to do a regular job, and something in him urged him to do service for the society where there is a larger impact. He felt he was destined for it. It was not an easy decision to leave a secure and well-respected job in Indian Railways. But he recognised that his dream to do what he always thought of doing as a doctor could not be accomplished in government service. So, he returned to Banaras and resigned from the Railways. Amidst the dreadful first wave of Covid in 2020,
Dr Kumar started the Cancer Super Speciality Clinic at Lahartara Road, Maduadih, Banaras. Dr Kumar then studied further and obtained an MCh degree in Oncology from BHU, where he was awarded the Gold Medal by the University in the year 2022.
Family
Dr Kumar’s wife Dr Saraswati is the Director of the Hospital. She has done MBBS and MS from Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, and is a renowned Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Chunar.
“Dr Ajay Kumar’s family has neither a doctor nor a Godfather. Whatever we are today is because of dedication, hard work, and honesty,” said Dr Sarswati when asked if her husband is a Godfather to his juniors.
Achievements
In 2022, Dr Kumar was honoured with the IMA National President Special Appreciation Award by Dr Sahajanand Prasad Singh, National President of IMA. The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) honoured him the same year.
Looking at the good work done by Dr Kumar in the field of Medicine, he was awarded the “Pioneers in Healthcare” award by Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, in 2023.
Dr Kumar’s school day friend and colleague, Anubhav Pandey, says that Dr Kumar is sociable and believes in taking family and society together. “One day, when he learnt I was in trouble and struggling, he held my hand and established an unbreakable relationship. That is the best I can remember of Kumar.”
Despite studying Mathematics, Ajay Kumar remained unsatisfied during that period and decided to switch his ambition to become a doctor. So, he repeated the Intermediate with Biology, a decision that proved to be the turning point of his life. After completing his studies from 9th to 12th from PDND Inter College, Chunar, Ajay Kumar did his B.Sc. from BHU and started preparing for Medical Entrance Examination.
In 2001, he got admission in Kasturba Medical College under Manipal University; in 2006, he obtained an MBBS degree. After MBBS, Ajay decided to do an MS, and in 2008, he was admitted to the famous Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, and from here, Dr Kumar earned his Master of Surgery in 2011.
Dr Ajay Kumar, however, was not content to do a regular job, and something in him urged him to do service for the society where there is a larger impact.
