02/03/2025
For 26 years, Jodhpur's Dr Nagendra Sharma has been treating epilepsy patients for free—not for fame or fortune, but to honour a promise he made to his dying mother.
Despite being a senior neurosurgeon, he has dedicated his life to ensuring that no one suffers due to poverty, superstition, or lack of awareness.
Born into extreme poverty near Ratangarh-Churu, Dr Sharma watched his mother suffer for five years from an undiagnosed illness. On her deathbed, she told him:
"Become a doctor who understands the poor and never misuses the profession for money."
But becoming a doctor wasn’t easy—his family struggled for even basic necessities. Against all odds, he earned an MCh in Neurosurgery from Seth GS Medical College, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, in 1987, later establishing Western Rajasthan’s first Neurosurgery department in 1989.
By 1999, he was horrified by how epilepsy patients were treated—forced to smell shoes, beaten with slippers, or sent to fake exorcists (Bhomps) instead of receiving proper care. High treatment costs (Rs 1,200/month) and illiteracy kept many from seeking help, leading to lifelong suffering.
Determined to change this, Dr Sharma launched free epilepsy camps on 28 February 1999, collecting medicines from pharmaceutical companies to ensure no patient missed a dose.
Today, his efforts have helped 80,000+ people recover, enabled thousands of women to safely experience motherhood, and ensured that children with epilepsy are no longer denied education.
Even after decades of service, he refuses to slow down — his free epilepsy camps continue, bringing hope to thousands with nowhere else to turn.
Let’s celebrate real heroes like him!
[Free Epilepsy Treatment, Epilepsy Awareness, Rajasthan, Neurosurgeon, Free Medical Camps, Healthcare]
