NEW DELHI, July 19 -- The 35 year old Sadhan Mistry's life could have been saved if a doctor was then available in the village. His 23 year young widow then told everyone that she would educate one of her children to become a doctor and open a free hospital for the villagers. That happened on April 13, 1971.
To feed her four minor children, ranging from four to eight years old, the landless Subhasini took to vending vegetables in her Hanspukur village, 20 km away Kolkata in South 24 Parganas district.
While her two daughters assisted her, her eldest son went to labour in others' fields. Her youngest son Ajoy washed dishes at a local tea stall. Once when he broke a glass, the owner hit him badly and threw him out of work. His ragged cloth...