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Society vs Hospital: Dr. Ritesh is gone; what’s the future of Cachar Cancer Hospital?

Dr. Ritesh Tapkire, Deputy Director of Cachar Cancer Hospital, has moved on from his position. “I am going on a sabbatical” is what he told people around him. But it’s not that simple. Cachar Cancer Hospital is going through a tough time as its administrators are in splits. While Dr. Ritesh has cited a sabbatical as the reason for his resignation, sources close to the development have revealed that it was due to “misbehavior” from senior position-holders in the governing body. One source even went as far as to call him a “liar.” A source shared, “Just because we pay him, it doesn’t mean we own him. While we might think we are paying him a lot, the truth is he can make a lot more money elsewhere.”

Dr. Ritesh Tapkire left at the beginning of this month. He is an oncologist par excellence and is often credited as the potential successor to the Director of Cachar Cancer Hospital, Dr. Ravi Kannan. Dr. Kannan is not just the director of this hospital but also a Padma Shri awardee, a winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and a recipient of many other accolades of national and international repute.

So, what’s the tiff all about? The hospital association, or in other words, Team Dr. Ravi Kannan, is in favor of setting up a centre of Cachar Cancer Hospital in Dharmanagar. The Chief Minister of Tripura, Dr. Manik Saha, approached Dr. Ravi Kannan and offered a plot of land to open a center in Dharmanagar to provide treatment to cancer patients there.

Dr. Kannan obliged and presented the proposal to the Governing Body. However, the body’s leadership opposed the idea, citing the resources required to run a new center. Dr. Kannan assured them that this expansion wouldn’t impact the services rendered in Silchar; instead, it would take cancer treatment closer to people in that region. The leadership of the Society found this insistence “arrogant.” One of the members present said that a founder of a social organisation, who is also a member of the Governing Body, remarked, “Hey Eta Keur Kotha Shune Na,” which translates to, “This man does not listen to anyone.”

Dr. Kannan’s ability to understand Sylheti or Bengali might be limited, but he is smart enough to recognize a gesture of insult. “The calm and composed South Indian gentleman just took it in his stride.”

Retired Principal of TT College, Professor Dilip Dey – a member of the Governing Body that is Chaired by Dr. SK Nandi Purkayastha and renowned industrialist and BJP politician Mridul Mazumdar as the Secretary. Sources revealed that Mazumdar is in favor of setting up the Dharmanagar center; however, Professor Dey has raised concerns about human resource management and the potential impact on Silchar patients. This meeting in November left the board divided, with Team Kannan and Team Dey at loggerheads.

If sources are to be believed, an internal poll was conducted to settle the dispute. Team Kannan won, signifying the body is in favour of establishing a centre in Dharmanagar, but the opponents demanded a repoll, citing the absence of many members. A special general meeting has been called for on January 19, Sunday, where the issue is expected to be resolved once and for all.

Dr. Ritesh Tapkire (From the archives)

The key stakeholder in this debate is Mridul Mazumdar. He might just have the final say. Some might raise concerns about a potential conflict of interest regarding Mazumdar’s appointment as the Secretary of the Governing Body of the society-led Cachar Cancer Hospital since he also owns a private hospital. “One can ask this question, but it would be unfair to put that narrative ahead. His name was proposed, and he was not even keen to accept the nomination. However, he was constitutionally nominated and selected for the honorary secretary position. In fact, both Kannan and Dr. Ritesh praised Mazumdar’s efforts time and again. He plays a pivotal role in the hospital, and you need people with acumen and experience in running hospitals in such a position,” shared a former member of the board.

Professor Dilip Dey is also a man of significant repute. He was jailed for participating in the 1972 Language Movement, has been a revolutionary throughout his life, an academician, and the former Principal of Teachers Training College.

Why is such a man against setting up hospitals? “Ego,” says a source within the hospital. “He has written a book about the struggle to set up the Cachar Cancer Hospital. In that book, he mentions, Central Road Er Ek Hath Kata Oushod Bebshahi Amader Donation Deye Ni. If someone can make a mockery of another man losing a hand, you can understand how his verbal duels can head to the abyss very easily,” the source added.

Founding members like Sadhan Purkayastha, Dr. Subrata Paul, and Biman Bihari Deb among many others have been sidelined over time. “Grateful for your prolonged service, but not required anymore,” stated the farewell notes handed to a few l.

Priorities have also shifted. “Dr. Kannan got Rs 41 lakh as prize money from his Ramon Magsaysay Award. He donated the Rs 10 lakh he got from the Mahavir Foundation. Out of the Rs 41 lakh, Rs 10 lakh is being utilized to build the Society or office-bearers’ office. And the same office bearers, who are building the office using his money, are saying or supporting the ones saying, Hey Eta Keur Kotha Shune Na,” shared another former member of the board on condition of anonymity.

On one side, you have Dr. Ravi Kannan’s undisputed commitment to service. His motto: take the treatment closer to the patients instead of asking the patients to travel to the hospital. This philosophy prompted him to leave his prestigious post in Chennai and move to Silchar, creating history. On the other hand, you have Professor Dilip Dey—a stalwart in many ways—and his team, all highly valued in Barak Valley. If they function together, they can accomplish wonders like curing or controlling cancer and delaying death. And if they are at loggerheads, doctors like Dr. Ritesh resign, leaving huge gaps to fill. At the end of the day, no matter how strong his vocabulary is or how brilliant a calligrapher they are, Professor Dey and his fellow board members cannot write a prescription. What happens in the special meeting tomorrow remains to be seen.

Story By: Anirban. For feedback write to barakbulletin@gmail.com

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