Without being judgmental, Dr. Banerjee feels that doctors in the city are most likely to be following their profession rather than serving. He is clear that this is his personal opinion but one that has egged him on to form Kolkata Serving the God Foundation. 

 

The mission and the sole purpose of it was “to serve selflessly without any expectation of return” is how he describes it.

It started incredibly modestly. In February 2016, the Society was founded with two gentlemen who thought similarly – Sayantan and Debashis. 

 

It helped that one of them had a vehicle and was an enthusiastic driver, so that took care of the humungous task of reaching Purulia (situated at nearly 300 kms from Kolkata, it takes an average of 7 hours one way to reach Purulia) with all the medicine supplies the team could gather. 

 

On the first Sunday of each month, they started sharp at the crack of dawn to be

able to maximize the time to attend to patients after reaching.

 

The village authorities generously granted space in the Gram Panchayat premises where a homoepathy doctor was also practicing.

 

A few months down, Sri Subhas Banerjee, Dr. Banerjee’s father, foresaw that space would soon be a constraint going by the increasing number of patients. He advised Dr. Banerjee to invest in a larger structure where he could see all patients. 

 

Accordingly, an appropriate piece of land was located, and construction begun on the building. Sri Subhas Banerjee, an involved member of Kolkata Serving the God Foundation, chose to stay back for nearly a quarter year in Manihara, Purulia, where the healthcare

facility was being constructed. 

 

Though a senior citizen himself, he happily engaged in the smallest of construction jobs to see the building taking shape, brushing aside every discomfort and disadvantage of life in rural Bengal.

 

Finally, in September 2016, the building was ready for occupation. Dr. Santanu Banerjee and his team were ready to operate from a larger space that could accommodate an increased number of patients.

 

Initially, the Kolkata Serving the God Foundation team carried physician’s samples that Dr. Santanu Banerjee received as part of his role in the city and kept aside. Soon, they proved to be inadequate for the patients.

 

The increased quantity had to be bought in the city and transported to Purulia on each trip. Debashis and Dr. Banerjee teamed up and went around physically buying generic medicines (as they are priced slightly lesser) as per requirement. 

 

When there is a will, there is a way, as the old saying goes.