62. The goodwill I had earned had borne fruit

Thousand Full Moon: Dr. Vasudev Laxman Vaidya is 86 years old.

Contributed By: Dr. Raghunath Boradkar 

Dr. Vasudev Laxman Vaidya is 86 years old. He lives in Pune with  his eldest son. He leads a happy life with his Son, Daughter in law and  his grand children.His second son who is a doctor, lives in Gantham UK. His Daughter lives in Mumbai.

Here is his life story in his own words.

I became a full fledged Ayurvedic Doctor in 1947. That was when I got my D.A.S.F. degree. As was customary then I started looking for a job and finally got it in 1952.I was appointed as S.M.P. in Daspati Area District Ratnagiri Tahsil Chiplun.The region was totally unknown to me. I started on 17^th June  to join and take charge of the post. Monsoon had already set in and it was raining heavily. By mistake I got down at Pimpli Khurd rather than at Pimpli Budruk. I lost my way. I had to cross a river to reach a village Pedambe. By Gods grace I met one Babaji Shinde Pedambkar  He helped me in crossing the Barbahi pass and saw to it that I reach Kalkavane. The village belonged to Shindes, Kadams and Palandes.  Every house in the village had a member of the family in Army. They were all agriculturists. This experience was quite thrilling.

Daspati had a temple for the  local Deity  called Ram var dayini on the banks of the river Vashishthi.  Kalkavane had a government dispensary

  There were five villages under me and I had to visit them.I was allowed private practice. The region was hilly and I had to walk at least ten to twelve miles every day.If any one came to call I had to go. It was like being on emergency service for twenty four hours. There was a Bamboo Bridge on the river[ Sakav]. In Monsoon the river used to be in spate and crossing it became an ordeal. I was in a way cut off from the world. I used to  get the newspaper Kesari twice in a week. That was my only contact with the rest of the world. I did not earn much but got a lot of love and good wishes from the local people. To me it was a very satisfying experience..

I got married on 17^th June 1953. We had our first child in 1955.  It was a baby Boy.When he was four and a half months old he fell from the second floor of the house but was un harmed by Gods grace.

In 1962 we were in Pune and witnessed The Panshet floods and the fury and destruction it leashed on Pune. After that In 1963 I started my Dispensary in Parvati Gav. Mine was the first dispensary in that area. My wife Mrs. Sumati looked for  after the house and children so I could devote all my time for the dispensary and people. I did very well in practice and feel that the good will I had earned had borne fruit.

 In 1977 I built my own House Siddharaj and shifted there.On 7^th March 1977 the Vastushant ceremony was performed. All was well bit on 9thmarch there was a theft in the house. Luckily whatever was lost was recovered.

I had a happy life but the finest moment in my life came after my retirement. Some friends of A very well known Ayurvedic Doctor Suhas Parchure , decided to celebrate and felicitate him on his completing 61 years of life by organizing an’ Eksashti ‘[ ceremony. Three Ayurvedic doctors were to be felicitated in that ceremony. I being the oldest practitioner was the first to be honored. The ceremony was precided over by Shri

Patangrao Kadam M.L.A.  I was presented with a Shawl A Puneri Pagdi and a Ganpati Idol. I had experienced  the best moment and the highest satisfaction and Joy in my life.

I still treat the patients who come home and derive great pleasure in helping them.

DR V.L.Vaidya