If you really #wish, you can beat #Fatal… Archana Shantanu Das doing it.

September 2014, I have found her on FB finally.  I knew her since so long when she was associated with Hedgewar Blood bank here in Nagpur. A very good singer, writer, Social worker, friendly lady and a smiling personality. We got comfortable in very first meet of ours and she became my Archu Tai. Sorry her name is Archana, Archana Shantanu Das. Honestly speaking I just knew her as Archu Tai, I never tried to know anything more about her. “Veglya Vata” an event organized by well known cultural organization of Nagpur, it was a reason of an event, and I came to know actual Archana Arun Sathe. This event of Saptak invites personalities from various fields who did path breaking work in their areas. Here I met a new Archana who is been called as Cancer Survivor. Very shockingly I wanted to react but in a very next moment I felt fantastic “What a Lady boss”. 

Everyone must be confused now. Who’s this lady to whom I am calling Archana Shantanu Das and Archana Arun Sathe.  A girl born in a typical middle class Brahmin family who lost her only earning hand, her father when she was in 12^th standard. Here started the struggle of her life where she required to take care about her mother who was always a home maker, younger brother and a sister. This young girl became a prop up to her family and started a mess where she prepared food for 25 working people daily. Later she resumed her studies and started doing pretty well.

Life was now on track and in 1990 Archana got married to an Engineer. Her happy married life encouraged her to move for the further areas of her interest related to social service and she joined Hedgewar blood Bank where she participated organizing number of Blood Donation Camps. Later she joined Saksham an NGO for blind and disable people. Here she wrote a book “Salam” and organized musical group of disabled people to perform on stage and got them in the mainstream of life. The lady who was trying to bring some light to the blinds suddenly thrown into the dark by destiny as she was diagnosed with a breast cancer in 2008. With this monster of illness she successfully came out after getting operated by Dr. Ajay Mehta. But during her treatment it was again became a victim to a black game of destiny and she lost her mother who had cancer. The fatal game of destiny did not stopped here, just after a month she lost her mother, she lost her husband too. Now Archana was totally discouraged.

Somehow, Archana stood tranquil and accepted the challenge of destiny. Somewhere she realized the message behind all this. She completed her medical transcription course and joined Central India Cancer Research Institute as a counselor. Now she started arranging workshop, seminars, Awareness Campaigns for cancer patients and early detection of Cancer. She is very inclined towards educating women regarding this monster disease.  She not only takes the camps in Nagpur but wherever she identifies, she visit and conduct the sessions. She is associated to Sadhana Charitable Trust, an NGO working for women welfare and rehabilitation of cancer patients. This trust honored her with fearless award. Archana not only helped poor people but she took oath to devote herself for such good causes. People are getting benefited from her all out efforts. She helped people to be in reach to Rajiv Gandhi Arogya Yojana and she is constantly working to motivate people to get rid from the fear of Monster Cancer.

How good it is when you realize the massage behind your life. In spite of all the problem and challenges from childhood she battled well. It is said that you are the creator of your destiny, what you sent out you get back. Archana is the live example for this. She did all good without cursing anybody for her fatal and she started receiving the good too. In the year 2012 she took a very tough decision to getting married again. Santanu Das gave her a trust to believe in it. Shantanu liked all the good in her and became companion in her mission too.  

Archana is really fearless... She has a long journey to go she says. Let us too believe that fatal is not final, show must go on…