On the inauguration of the Somaiya Ayurvihar - Asian Institute of Oncology

न त्वहम् कामये राज्यं न स्वर्गं ना पुनर्भवम् 

कामये दुखतप्तानाम् प्राणिनामार्तिनाशनम् ।

This was the thought that Shri K. J. Somaiya, our founder, my grandfather, had when he founded Somaiya Ayurvihar.  The shloka says that he longed not for kingdom, and not for heaven.  Instead, what he desired was to keep being reborn, to alleviate the sufferings of all living beings.

And it was on this basis, that the K. J. Somaiya Medical College, the K. J. Somaiya Hospital, the K. J. Somaiya Nursing College, K. J. Somaiya College of Physiotherapy were started.  The aim and dream, was to create an institution of service, of research, and of medical and health education.

Cancer is a disease that is affecting many among us.  Many of us know of cancer having affected someone in our friends and family.  The causes of cancer, the treatments, are being studied and addressed globally.  My father, Dr. S. K. Somaiya, dreamt of creating a health city, an Ayurvihar as my grandfather had termed it, here in Mumbai.  

The Somaiya Ayurvihar - Asian Institute of Oncology was formally inaugurated yesterday by Hon. Home Minister of India, Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde.  He spoke of our long association with, his earlier visit to the campus, his journey as a cancer patient, his subsequent and complete cure, and his life spent in service.  He gave a very moving and personal inaugural address.  

This Centre is an important step and collaboration, in the fulfilment of my father's dream.  The doctors of The Asian Institute of Oncology are acknowledged to be among the best Doctors in their field.  They are also known to be wonderful human beings.  A wonderful combination of commitment and competence.  Our collaboration helps further create a new synergy, through which Mumbai will get a brand new new cancer hospital.

This centre aims to be a world class centre for the treatment of cancer in Mumbai, and also In India.  In the future, we will create an independent building, solely devoted to the treatment of cancer.  We will aim to create a center that sets a new standard to service and care.  Through this collaboration, our students will get an exposure to the best interventions in cancer care.  We also hope, that many patients, who do not get appropriate care, for lack of access to services or lack of resources, get the care as dreamt of by our founder.