Inclusiv'e Voices with Abhoy Kumar Ghosh

Meet Prof. Dr. Abhoy Kumar Ghosh, a septuagenarian from Deoghar, Jharkhand, who shares his journey of aging while being a caregiver. Boasting an illustrious academic journey, he holds both a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Botany from DJ College, Munger, a PhD in the area of gene mutation from Calcutta University, and completed postdoctoral research at Cambridge University. He is also the founder of Nutan Sanjeevani Sansthan, a non-profit organization in Deoghar. The love of gardening and dedication to household chores were a few of his many interests.

Mr. Abhoy Kumar Ghosh was born on May 25, 1946, in the small village of Dumrama in Bihar. His family later moved to Nayagaon, Jamalpur, a railway staff colony, due to his father's job shift to Eastern Railways. As he grew, academic interests increased, leading him to pursue a BSc in Biology from DJ College,?

Known for his oratory skills, Mr. Ghosh became a lecturer at the age of 21. Despite initial skepticism, he earned trust and respect from students and colleagues. He pursued a Masters and a PhD in gene mutation from Calcutta University, eventually becoming a Professor. Married in 1970, he later became associated with Munger Ashram, delving into Yoga research. His interest led to postdoctoral research at Cambridge University in 1978.

Returning to India, he actively shifted the focus of the Yogic community towards a scientific approach. He also served in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from 1980-83.

Mr. Ghosh faced health challenges due to work stress, diagnosed with angina in 1975. Yoga played a pivotal role in transforming his lifestyle. A personal setback occurred when his wife passed away, prompting him to dedicate his life to Yoga. Post-retirement, he established Nutan Sanjeevani Sansthan in Deoghar, Jharkhand, named after his wife, aiming to make healthcare accessible.

Mr. Ghosh cherishes memories from both his professional and personal life. His eldest son and daughter-in-law (a Telugu) are Ayurvedic doctors, residing in Coimbatore with their two children – a daughter and a son. He recalls his occasional visits to Coimbatore to spend joyful moments with his grandchildren. The middle son, an engineer working in an aviation company, lives in Kolkata with his wife (a Bengali) and their son, who frequently visits Deoghar to meet him. He relishes his family's richness in the diversity of languages, culture, and customs, fostering values of acceptance and mutual respect.

In the last decade, his physical health deteriorated, facing complications from angina and blood pressure issues. In recent years, he has battled anxiety triggered by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a condition revealed during his confinement at home. This became more challenging after a hip fracture three years ago, limiting his mobility.

Abhoy Kumar Ghosh's Understanding of Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations:

For Mr. Ghosh, accessibility means the freedom to navigate various places with ease and convenience, and reasonable accommodations refer to the support needed to avail the provided facilities. Nowadays, his accessibility needs include a lift, accessible toilet, and ramp in the building. He explains, “My cardiovascular issues, OCD, and hip fracture and consequent surgery have limited my mobility and completely changed my experience with the outside environment. I can't walk more than a kilometer at a stretch.”

During his travels, he requires an escort for assistance, as he now fears traveling alone and needs help navigating through inaccessible spaces. Particularly, he avoids public transport such as train travel due to stairs at railway stations. He says, “I prefer traveling by car or plane that too when it is extremely necessary with an attendant, which is quite a contrast to my earlier days when I used to travel all around the world all by myself.”

While Mr. Ghosh currently doesn't use any assistive device, iron clips inserted in his hip joint during surgery occasionally make joints stiff, causing discomfort and pain. He advocates for greater accessibility in public spaces and increased empathy towards disabled and elderly individuals.

While Mr. Ghosh's personal experience of disability may be limited, his journey with his youngest son, Kumar Mahavir, has led to an embrace of disability. As a hemiplegic, Mahavir has been alongside Mr. Ghosh since his ashram days. In the absence of his mother, Mr. Ghosh assumed the roles of both mother and father for Mahavir, fulfilling his caregiving responsibilities to the fullest.

He mentions that he came to know the nuances of caregiving much later. Initially, it was all about the feeling of protection and nurturing his child at any cost. He says, “At the beginning, as a caregiver of Mahavir, I didn't have a handbook or a guide to help me navigate through an ableist society. In fact, I admit that despite my best efforts, I was not a good caregiver due to my busy schedule and lack of awareness.”

Facing societal taunts during Mahavir's youth, he shares, “When Mahavir was young, my neighbors used to taunt me that I should leave him in the orphanage. That day I made a resolve to make my son capable enough to fight for himself. I carried him on my lap while giving a lecture at the university as he could not live alone. People used to mock me for doing this, but I didn't care. Today I am proud that he is on his own, fighting for the larger cause of making this world more inclusive.” He feels it is more about intent than understanding the nitty-gritties, and he is of the opinion that in the world of professional caregivers, which is a welcome step, one should realize the purpose and determination behind caregiving.

Abhoy Kumar Ghosh's journey as a caregiver turning towards aging adds a new dimension to the discourse, spreading a message to all the caregivers to be the light in the lives of individuals with disabilities by equipping them with education and required resources in shaping them to stand not just for themselves but working for the upliftment of the broader disabled community.?

He envisions a society where the mindset of people is more accepting of vulnerability rather than a rigid hierarchical structure that discriminates against disabled and old age people. He also highlights the need for universally accessible spaces that can change the narrative in paving the path towards independence, ensuring that no one is left behind.

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