Dr Tulsi Dash

Varanasi, India --- The ancient and sacred city of Varanasi, venerated by all India's great religions, rests on the west bank of the Ganges River in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. Mark Twain wrote: "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

Twain added, "India has two million gods, and worships them all. In religion all other countries are paupers; India is the only millionaire." On any given day, one mere mortal, an Indian psychotherapist, Dr Tulsi, a man who dances with people affected by leprosy may walk with any of the two million god on occasion.

The writer's first encounter with Dr Tulsi Dash took place in the courtyard of the Navjeevan Leprosy Treatment Center of Sankat Mochan Kushth Ashram close to the Sankat Mochan Lanka temple, Varanasi. Dr Tulsi had arranged for the center's musicians and traditional dancers, all people affected by leprosy, to give a welcome concert of Indian music to a team of visitors from W.H.O., led by the Nippon Foundation's WHO goodwill ambassador and chairman, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, who travels the world suporting the recovery of Leprosy victims.

In September, the team of 11 Japanese social workers, doctors and other participants from Japan, came and observed the center's work. The team observed medical treatments of center residents, everyday activities, and the Navjeevan "orchestra's" concert, performed mainly by men whose fingers had been wasted away by leprosy -- given that drawback the level of quality of the Indian orchestral group was equal to any professionals witnessed by this writer.

Navjeevan in Hindi means "giving a new life." This program not only aims at responding to various kinds of needs of those affected by leprosy, their children and their families, but also aims to give them a sense of dignity and to reintegrate them socially. It is the contribution of Dr Tulsi and his organization toward changing the mentalities of the majority of Indians vis-a-vis people affected by leprosy to make them better accepted.

Local Residents

Dr Tulsi is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. In 1991, he was the first one in Uttar Pradesh to open a center for the rehabilitation of mentally handicapped children, which is his specialty. But, he was also requested to take charge of two leprosy treatment communities: 1) Sankat Mochan Kushth Ashram close to the Sankat Mochan Lanka temple, Varanasi, and 2) Ashapur Kushth Ashram Ashapur, Sarnath (the site where the Buddha first preached the Four Noble Truths), 30 km from Varanasi.

He explains his objective is to eradicate leprosy in these populations and to give them hope for a new life. He constantly provides two daily staff persons to work directly at each project site, and a medical visit is provided twice a week at the two centers organized for those affected by leprosy in Varanasi (Sankat Mochan) and in Sarnath (Ashapur).

The medical staff listen to patient needs: physical, social and psychological, as well as to those of their families. Those affaected by leprosy are taught to take care of their own bandages and daily care, and they are supplied with the medicines that they need. Also, everyone who needs to be is hospitalized, operations are performed, and necessary medical tests are provided. If necessary, Dr Tulsi provides pyschotherapy -- a luxury for leprosy centers.

A prevention policy is part of Dr Tulsi's strategy of vigilance by carrying out regular tests that enable his centers to follow up on the progress of the leprosy symptoms. There are also information campaigns for prevention of the disease, and a social policy to take care of the education of their children.

At the end of the Varanasi visit, this writer noticed he hadn't met any of the two million gods or goddesses, but never mind, there were many saints to go around instead.