Nagpur: 87-yr-old ‘Dr’ visiting patients on bicycle for last 60 years

NAGPUR: While majority of people struggle with old age-related problems, this 87-year-old man visits villages on bicycle to provide door-to-door medical treatment to poor villagers in and around Mul town of Chandrapur district.
It has been an uninterrupted routine for Ramchandra Dandekar since last 60 years after completing his diploma from Nagpur College of Homeopathy in 1957-58.Fondly referred to as a ‘doctor’ by his patients, the octogenarian doesn’t carry any cell phone, neither wears any footwear nor glasses. He sets off early at 6.30am on his bicycle carrying two bags containing his testing kits, medicines and other materials.
Due to regular cycling that has kept him physically fit, he’s untouched by diseases like diabetes and blood pressure. According to villagers, till date Dandekar has treated thousands of poor patients and saved lives of hundreds of them.
“I move around 8-10 kilometres in villages nearby and sit at a public place where villagers approach me to report their ailments. Sometimes, I stay at the village head’s home where they approach me. I never ask for fees but if they offer it, I accept it,” says Dandekar.
Born at Paonar in Wardha district, famous for Vinoba Bhave’s Ashram, Dandekar finished his schooling from Swawalambi School in Nagpur. After completing diploma in homeopathy, he took training under Dr Sacchidanand Mungantiwar and Dr Andankar in Chandrapur.
That time, one Dr Babte who was a leading doctor in Chandrapur helped him join the mainstream practice under him.
In 1959, when some villages in the area were destroyed by floods, Dandekar offered his treatment to many distressed villagers by moving to their homes on bicycle.
“Earlier, I used to go to far off villages on bicycle and return the next day. But now due to old age, I don’t stay put anywhere and return home before evening,” he says.
He uses his vast experience and takes help of all three therapies — homeopathy, ayurved and allopathy — to treat his patients.
Dandekar’s elder son Jayant says he has been witnessing his father’s routine since childhood. “It never changed, irrespective of weather. He used to move in remote villages where there were no roads and even performed deliveries of women at these places where it’s rare to find doctors,” he says.
Dandekar’s routine didn’t change even during Covid-19 pandemic. “He treated patients without any fear. He advised many patients to immediately get admitted in nearby hospitals if they are suffering from fever or symptoms of the deadly disease,” says Jayant.
With old age, Dandekar isn’t able to hear properly. “In evening he offers services at the dispensary of my younger brother’s wife. We have never seen him sitting idle all these years,” says Jayant.