Visit to Dr. Ramana Rao’s Clinic

The Outreach with standard 12th std C section students began with a two-hour- long bus ride to Dr. Ramana Rao's clinic. Lining the stretch of the road to the clinic, we saw an unbelievably long queue of people waiting to be checked by the renowned doctor.

We started the day after blessings from the patients and a word from
Dr. Ramana Rao:

If I sit down with you one day, I can tell you many stories from what I've seen. Every patient you see or speak to today will have a story to tell. We must listen to what they say and implement that in our lives. Do well, work hard, everything is possible. “Never give up” is our basic motto.

The wisdom he has gained over the 51 years of his service shone in his speech.
Following him, our principal, Sr. Alpana, shared:

Learn from what you see. No matter what post you sit at in the future, there will always be people of this kind. That is what you must take back from this enriching experience.

We were then introduced to his son, Dr. Abhijeet Bhograj, and Mrs. Shobha, his long-time assistant, who plays a key role in the clinic’s operations. At the end of the introductory session, we volunteered to distribute basic amenities such as toothpaste, coughlets, and facewash to the patients. Then, we were guided by a worker throughout the clinic as well as its varied and captivating garden.

One of the most memorable experiences was the ride on the open back of a mini truck to the poultry farm. On the way, we saw sights we can't dream of seeing in the cities we grew up in. Palm trees, bamboo that rose beyond vision, giant succulents and other trees that would be called ‘exotic’ in Bangalore. Farm animals roamed freely on the streets. The highlight was a visit to the Nandini milk pasteurizing and dispensing center. It was a fascinating look at where our everyday milk for a morning cup of coffee comes from.

Back at the clinic, we were trained to check blood pressure, prep patients for injections, and distribute medications like vitamins, cough syrups, and painkillers. Some students raised questions about the large quantities being handed out.

The pharmacist explained that many patients travel from remote villages and cannot visit regularly. Hence, the need to equip them sufficiently. After the hustle and bustle of the afternoon, the students were seated in a pavilion for a delicious traditional lunch. There, we shared stories of what we experienced. Many of us had time to take in the scenic view while playing on the canopy, hammock, climbing trees, lying on the fresh grass and storing it all in laughter and carefully clicked photographs.

The simple acts of selflessness, quiet serenity of the clinic, and the unmissable pain of the patients opened our eyes to new facets of societal living. During the bus ride back, many of us were quiet, perhaps with remodeled young minds that were beginning to reflect on the difference we could make one day. We are grateful to Sr. Alpana and our teachers- Mrs. Raji, Mrs. Janet, and Mrs. Mani- at Sophia for preparing us for the world ahead, not just through textbooks, but through transformative experiences like these.