This past December, Dr. Boro Dropulić had the privilege of visiting Muni Seva Ashram and the Kailash Cancer Hospital on a truly historic day: the inauguration of their state-of-the-art GMP CAR-T cell manufacturing facility.
Together with Dr. Indraneel Gosh, representing Caring Cross and Vector BioMed in India, Dr. Dropulic joined Dr. Vikram Patel and his remarkable team to officially open the facility, celebrating this significant step forward in delivering advanced therapies to those in need.
During the event, Dr. Dropulić delivered a heartfelt reflection on how the challenges posed by serious diseases connect us, fostering compassion, collaboration, and resilience. Read his inspiring talk below.
The team also paid tribute to Anuben Thakkar, the visionary founder of The Ashram, whose enduring legacy continues to guide this incredible institution.
Discover more about the transformative work being done at Muni Seva Ashram: www.greenashram.org.
Short talk made by Dr Dropulić at the Inauguration of the CAR-T cell GMP facility at Muni Seva Ashram on December 18th, 2024.
“In the past, I wondered why does God allow serious diseases to exist? There are several reasons, but at that time I wondered what the world would be like today if there was no disease. Wouldn’t such a world lack something essential? Wouldn’t we, untouched by adversity and suffering, fail to appreciate life’s fragility, it’s brevity, and it’s preciousness? Wouldn’t we, shielded from hardship and pain, lose some of our capacity for empathy, for connection with others?
Serious diseases, despite their tragedies, have a way of shaking us awake. They remind us that our lives are fragile, that our time here on Earth is finite, and that each day is a gift. They demonstrate that the biology that keeps us alive and healthy is very complex and intricately balanced. They refocus our attention back to what is real and important.
Facing serious disease compels us to connect, to collaborate, to seek meaning and support when confronted with adversity. In ancient times, this collaboration was limited to comfort and solace, as reliable treatments and cures were rare. But with the progress of medical science, the number of reliable treatments have increased, and we are now on the verge of developing cures for many diseases.
The collaborative journey of facing serious disease is one shared by patients and their entire circle of healers – doctors, nurses, scientists, family, and friends and it profoundly enriches our world. Those cured often emerge with a renewed appreciation for life, dedicating themselves to serving others. Even when a cure proves elusive, families and loved ones become beacons of hope, supporting others facing similar challenges. The profound experience of a loved one’s illness often motivates individuals to become healers, driven by a deep sense of empathy and a desire to help others. This shared journey, this intricate web of support, bravery and compassion, creates a powerful positive ripple effect throughout society. An effect where everyone involved recognizes their interconnectedness and shared vulnerability. For disease does not discriminate; it can touch any one of us.
And it is within this shared journey, within this tapestry of compassion, tragedy and resilience, that we discover the true depths of our humanity. There we find genuine freedom, profound satisfaction, and a deep understanding of what it means to be truly human.
Let us all choose to embrace this journey, supporting those in need, and honor the bravery of those who face illness with courage and grace.”
