Lady Sadhu in White.

Nani Ma, an English woman who has lived in India for 40+ years now, has shared the extremes of India with great strength. Her spiritual nature was such that a small ashram near Uttarkashi, grew up around her. However, 10 years ago, the entire ashram was swept away in a terrible flood. Now she has come to Rishikesh and has created an out-patients centre which organises home based palliative care for cancer patients and follow up counselling for their families. Once a month there is a clinic when a famous doctor from Delhi comes to do consultations. Today he and his assistants saw 115 patients, all for free. It was such a privilege to meet these people who give their love and energy to others less fortunate than themselves.

In the photo, Nani Ma is talking to a man whose son is going to be operated for some form of cancer tomorrow. I did not feel I could take more photos there but I wanted to share this visit with you as it touched me so deeply.

Please look at http://www.gangapremhospice.org. You can see the hospice building which is being built to take cancer patients, a place where they can die with dignity and with spiritual guidance. Today, a dying lady had been brought to the centre on a stretcher by her family. Sadly, she had to be returned home as the centre does not have hospital facilities. Once the hospice is finished this will not happen.