The Turning Points of My Life – Shyam S Dhaubhadel, Founder
My mother Krishna Kumari Dhaubhadel brought me into this world on 07/12/1952 as a fifth child from her womb naming me Shyam Sundar Dhaubhadel. The year 1952 was a very famous year as Tenzing Norgey Sherpa conquered Mount Everest by hoisting the flag of Nepal on top of the world. I was called Sherpa as a nickname during my childhood.
Childhood began crawling and growing day by day. Being the fifth child of my mother’s seven children, I grew slowly as my mother struggled to provide nourishment to all the children. The daily financial constraints facing my mother made it difficult for her to help us meet her expectations for us, though we were from a higher middle-class family.
I attended a public school named Shree Padma High School where education was free. At that time (1962 AD) my father passed away and we became like orphans. We have step-brothers from my father’s former wives who could help us to grow but not as my father may have hoped.
After my schooling (SLC), my family wanted me to study science to be a medical doctor in the future. I applied at Tri Chandra (TC) College in Kathmandu in the Science faculty with Biology but due to the unavailability of seats in the Biology faculty, I got admitted in Mathematics which was not of much interest to me. I studied for two years and took the examination but did not succeed. Then I took the private Intermediate of Arts (IA) exam and easily passed without attending college.
I also took the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and passed. Education is power. With this idea in mind, I thought to continue my education despite hardships. Somehow my brothers managed to get me admission at Tribhuvan University (TU) in Kirtipur to study for a Master’s in Political Science. It was a great hardship for me to continue my study by traveling everyday riding two buses and paying bus fares and my tiffin cost.
My first turning point began with me quitting university studies and getting admission at the Hotel Management and Tourism Training Center (HMTTC) run under the management of Nepal Government in collaboration with ILO and UNDP. The course of study was free in 1973. I learned basic subjects in all round hospitality management and focused on cookery which was my favorite subject of study.
After the completion of my studies, I joined a reputable hotel in Kathmandu as an Apprentice Cook, doing clerical jobs on the side. During this time I got married with Ranjana Amatya. With my hard work, the management promoted me to cook and then to the post of Executive Chef (Head Cook) within a short span of time. From then on my family’s status improved and I became the father of a baby girl we named Srijana. Fortunately, I got opportunity to run a restaurant next to my house named Cafe Nyatapola — another turning point of my life which boosted my economic status. Later, on after another I set up a handicrafts store in my family house and a foreign currency exchange counter. Nepal’s carpet Industry was booming in those days and with the help of my friend we started carpet manufacturing business. Such multi-trade made me an entrepreneur of good fame.
In between, my second daughter Srita was born.
I had an opportunity to participate in an international Trade Fair in Tokyo in 1987. Luckily business during the fair went very well, letting me earn sufficient money to build a beautiful house.
My friends and relatives were making jokes on me saying that you’re a man without a son, and who is going to lead your generation and what will you do with your property? I used to say it belongs to my children anyway. Luckily nine years later we did have a baby boy Siddhi, bringing me good fortune.
My dream was to travel around and see developed countries in Europe and North America. When I was a child, I used to be amused by the tour guides explaining to the foreigners about our places and at the same time foreigners asking about us and telling us about their beautiful countries, and was fascinated with the idea that one day I would visit those countries. Between 1987 and 1992 I travelled to countries like India; Thailand; Singapore; Japan; Germany; Austria; France; Italy; England and USA. I had some bitter experience in traveling from France to England on a large ship. As a Nepalese Citizen, I was questioned several times by the security personnel about my duration of stay; the foreign currency I had; the guarantee to return to my country etc… As I could speak English, so I was able to respond to them to their satisfaction. This was a problem I faced whenever I traveled to developed countries as a Nepalese Passport holder.
A profound turning point occurred when my son Siddhi had an accident on the road near our house while returning from his kindergarten. He was hit by a jeep and thrown few meters and yet could speak a few words to his sister – saying it is painful and please save me. As his sister Srita grabbed him her dress became red with blood and she fainted. Our boy was taken to Bir Hospital in Kathmandu where he breathed his last. The tragic demise of our son left us truly lost. We didn’t know what to do, particularly my wife who couldn’t believe that her son was dead. After some very difficult days, she began to recover. The tragic and untimely loss of our son, we both thought that we’d like to do some charity work in his memory. Many of our friends and family members suggested various ideas, but we finally thought we would go for setting up a healthcare centre. Our belief was that had there been better healthcare facilities here in Bhaktapur, our son might have been saved by avoiding a long transfer to Kathmandu.
Siddhi passed away on the 8th of October 1993 (Aswin 22, 2050) and Siddhi Memorial Health Service Center was established on 28th of October, 1993 ( Kartik 12, 2050). It was begun on the 21st day of the sad demise of Siddhi as per rituals. It was located at Barahipeeth temple premises where there was sufficient space for running the health center. We managed to run the center with two doctors ( one pediatrician and one medical officer) one nurse and a few paramedics. We gave scholarships to some girls to study to be paramedics. The service at the health center became widely known in the community and surrounding villages. From considerable distance many children and women began to be flown to get services. This center provided a tremendous number of immunizations to the women and children of Bhaktapur and at the same time many treatments at ANC (anti-natal checkup) clinic. Quickly the clinic became overcrowded and we began to think that we should build a hospital for mother and child. Fortunately, we came in contact with Dr. Hemang Dixit who was the then Pediatric Head of Department of Institute of Medicine – a public hospital.
He inspired us in setting up a hospital and for which we donated a piece of land nearly one third of a hector (7 Ropanis) to begin with. The challenges began regarding building construction requiring a huge amount of money. We are thankful to Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy and Architects Collaborates for sponsoring the building designs. It took considerable time to collect funds for the building. With little money we started to construct the first phase of the building and the fundraising didn’t finish until the building’s framework was underway. Fortunately our friend Prof. Rolf Osterhoff from Germany managed to collect funding from his friends and clients as well as from the German Embassy in Nepal, making it possible to complete the building.
Other challenges followed – how do we start the hospital? Some were whispering that it is not possible to run a hospital by individual efforts as there are difficulties in running a hospital by the government itself. I took it as a challenge and made a determination that I would do it for the welfare of our community people. My vision and thinking were that nobody should need to go outside the Bhaktapur District for the treatment of mothers and children.
The journey of health care service advanced when Dr. Dixit put up a research project named Acute Diarrheal Research Project (ADRP) at our hospital. They did research in collaboration with University of Bergen Norway and Institute of Medicine – Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. The research project made it easy to advance the journey of hospital services. Dr. Dixit himself came every day to see sick children together with his team. Dr. Ram Krishna Chandyo and Dr. Manju Ulak made substantial contributions in caring for the children visiting Siddhi Hospital since 1997. On behalf of Siddhi we manage with few administrative staff including a gynecologist.
The journey continued; from 2002 the facility continued to grow from initially 10 beds to 25 beds meeting basic hospital setup requirements. We could notice the growth of hospital services and wanted to have some more ambitious projects to undertake. In 2003 we registered ourselves as a Siddhi Memorial Foundation (SMF) merging with Siddhi Memorial Health Service Center. The aim of SMF is to provide healthcare services to women and children and to older people, as well as to support the sectors of education for youth, art and culture.
The bright future of foundation work continued in collaboration with Nepalhilfe Beilngries Germany who helped to build the Out Patients Department and a beautiful home for senior citizens. The OPD building helped us to manage more easily the overcrowded visiting patients. Similarly our aim was to provide a circle of services for children, women and elderly through the support from our friends; well-wishers and organizations. We became better able to provide services for elderly people through our senior citizens home.
To manage the partial recurrent expenditures of the hospital and to have an endowment fund established, we were very lucky to have supporters like Mrs. Arlette Guhl’s family (Association des Amis Du Siddhi Memorial Hospital) and Frères de nos Frères Geneva that have been continuously supporting the SMF from 1995 until today.
In 2010 we got the license for a 50 bed Hospital. In 2013 we delivered the first baby at our hospital through the leadership of Gynaecologist Dr. Reena Shrestha and team. Similarly, proper neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) had been set up under the leadership of Pediatrician Dr. Ganendra Bhakta Raya and Dr. Dhruba Shrestha who both were given opportunities to study as medical doctors (MBBS) and MD Pediatric through the financial support from SMF. In order to maintain the high quality care in Gynecology/Obstetrics Department and Pediatrics Department, we managed to have six Gynecologists and seven Pediatricians respectively in addition to our other required medical officers. Pediatric surgery began a couple of years back under the leadership of Pediatric surgeon Dr. Manoj Krishna Shrestha who performs pediatric laparoscopic surgery besides the general pediatric surgery. We have a Dental Department managed by a Dental surgeon with an experienced dental hygienist. Similarly rehabilitation and physio is run under the management of a well-trained Physiotherapist. We’ve started an Eye and ENT unit in collaboration with Children’s Hospital for Eye ENT and Rehabilitation Services (CHEERS).
We have a well-equipped pathology department and our own Pharmacy to meet the requirements of our services. Twenty four hour services are available for emergency of GYOBS and Pediatrics and the Ambulance vehicle.
Firstly, what made me feel good about the work of the Foundation is that I wanted to be a doctor, but in turn I became a person to start the healthcare institution, giving opportunities to many doctors and healthcare personnel of our own region. It’s a matter of pride for me. Secondly, I used to think that if my son would not have died, I may never have thought of setting up a hospital for the welfare of community people and beyond. Hence, lastly I salute my son who had changed my life by opening my eyes to the caring and serving of humanity.
In 2005 the Siddhi Shaligram Senior Citizens Home (SSSCH) was established and jointly inaugurated by the then President of Nepalhilfe Beilngries Mr. Karl Rebele and my mother Krishna Kumari Dhaubhadel. The purpose behind the establishment is to provide better care and services to those very needy elderly people. My mother stayed there for a certain period to let the people feel that care and services are well provided. Fortunately or unfortunately my mother wished to die at SSSCH and at the last moment of her serious illness she breathed her last while she was staying at SSSCH. Truly speaking to run a senior citizens home is one of the most challenging in terms of quality care; experienced staff; proper health care management; nutrition and of course the financial constraints etc…
Since decades I have quit my business professions and fully dedicated myself towards looking after the management of Siddhi Memorial Foundation serving as an honorary executive chairperson. The last turning point of my life is to see the foundation being fully sustained on its own and thereby quitting my responsibilities by handing over to a capable team of younger generation leaders, leaving the foundation as a model Institute to the nation before I depart from the soil of my motherland.
We are so very pleased that the foundation is already helping many needy people. Finally I would like to thank my family, friends, SMF staff, community people, local government, state government, well-wishers; supporters; sponsors and donors who all made it possible to have such a wonderful center for humanitarian services saving the lives of many. I expect the same in the future.
“Please help us to serve children, women and elderly in need and join us to see the difference in serving the community”
Shyam Sundar Dhaubhadel – Founder President
Siddhi Memorial Foundation
