MUMBAI
Dr Ramakanta Panda, who recently operated on the prime minister’s heart, talks about his pillar of strength, his wife Sanghamitra.
It is early morning and the first rays of the sun bounce off the leafy tendrils that dot the screen doors in the living room.
On first sight it would seem like an ordinary couple tending to their favourite plants in the cosy confines of their house. But soon you realise this couple is anything but ordinary.
Having had a personal meeting with the prime minister of India just the day before this interview, Dr Ramakanta Panda is definitely one of the most talked about men in the country right now.
Living up to the adage, ‘behind every successful man is a woman’, wife Sanghamitra has been a pillar of support for the 54-year-old heart surgeon through the early years of his career and then through the two years when he spent every waking moment hunched over work at office, laying the foundation of what he calls his pet project, the Asian Heart Institute.
Ask Dr Panda what he loves best about his wife, and you see the shy couple exchange furtive glances. He explains, "I have watched my wife single-handedly bring up our two kids. She loves to be independent, even making breakfast and packing lunch for our daughter who lives with us."
Says Sanghamitra, "In the first few years of marriage, when I joined him in the US where he was working, I learnt to do my own laundry cleaning and shopping for my own fruits and the vegetables."
Sanghamitra, who has been content to be a homemaker since marrying Panda, laughs out aloud when she recounts their wedding 21 years ago. "He had come to India with two days to look for a bride. My picture was one of the countless profiles his family had gathered. I was lucky enough to be chosen!"
Given his busy schedule at the hospital, Panda admits he pines to spend some quality time at home. Sanghamitra surprises us by saying, "If he could, he would watch only Tom and Jerry on the cartoon channels. I have given up on him."
Not fazed at all, Panda says, "You may say ours has been a typical Indian marriage. Due to my work schedule, I am always late to meet friends and family and hardly take any vacations. It is my wife who has shaped our family and what we are today."
Another masterstroke by Mukesh Ambani, set to challenge Haldiram, Britannia
IND vs SA, 1st T20I: Sanju Samson creates history in Durban, becomes first Indian player to....
Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli make heads turn in Mumbai, watch
J-K: Police recover bodies of two village defence guards killed in Kishtwar terror attack
Bengaluru-Chennai expressway to slash travel time to 3 hours: 71-km stretch to open on...
Amid Champions Trophy row, India to face arch-rivals Pakistan on THIS date
BIG move by Gautam Adani, as Adani Power cuts Bangladesh supply by over 60% due to...
PM Modi attacks Congress in Nashik rally, says party wants to create rift among OBCs
Health Insurance Claim Process: A Step-by-Step guide
Ali Haider emerges as a young, driven digital disruptor with ConnectPR
ACIBADEM LabMed Laboratories ensures high standards in medical testing
THIS is world's highest-valued currency, not dollar, pound, euro
'Forgive me if...’: Justice DY Chandrachud's final message as Chief Justice of India
Watch: KL Rahul's brain fade leads to bizarre dismissal in India A vs Australia A match
Meme fest erupts after Biden delivers speech with smiling face, netizens say, 'He voted for Trump'
Viral video: Netizens react in shock as woman washes hair with toxic foam from Yamuna river, watch
How Trump’s ‘America First’ policy opens doors for India’s regional power
42-year-old retired player breaks silence on registering for IPL, says, 'I have never...'
'Main pairon mein gir gaya': Virat Kohli recalls memorable encounter with Sachin Tendulkar - Watch
Is kala namak really a detox? Shalini Passi swears by this simple health hack
BIG blow to Mukesh Ambani, as Reliance Industries loses over Rs 4 lakh crore in...
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph suspended for two ODIs; here's why
Himachal CM Sukhu's samosas, cakes served to security staff; CID probe on
'Conspiracy against Kashmir': PM Modi slams NC-Cong's Article 370 resolution
Meet Tamanna Bharat, who is all set to represent India at Miss Asia Global 2024 in Kerala
Bengaluru coconut vendor's viral ad challenges Zepto, Blinkit prices, netizen says 'let him cook'
Vvan: Sidharth Malhotra drops motion poster of folk mythological thriller, Kiara Advani reacts
Virat Kohli gets embarrassed as crowd sings 'Happy Birthday to you' in live event, WATCH viral video
Gym and fitness is all about overall health, not just good looks: BigMuscles Nutrition’s Suhel Vats
Station master's phone call with ex-wife led to Rs 3 crore loss to railways, know how
Uproar in J-K Assembly as BJP members protest over special status resolution
Aligarh Muslim University entitled to minority status under Article 30: SC
Collaborative global response a must to combat climate change effectively: Dr Sanju Purohit
Viral: Man rants about his GenZ colleague's leave to heal from breakup, gets trolled
Splitsvilla, Crime Petrol-fame actor Nitin Chauhaan passes away at 35 allegedly by suicide
Worrying signs for Mukesh Ambani's Rs 840960 crore company? Elon Musk will push Donald Trump to...
Have Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma moved back to Mumbai? Here's what we know
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani are fond of these five dishes which cost Rs...
Meet Indian-origin Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, who could be Donald Trump's likely pick for CIA Chief
Donald Trump's second term worries Elon Musk's transgender daughter, says....
Meet IAS officer, who was a disabled bangle seller, cracked UPSC exam, is now serving in...
Meet IAS officer, who is nemesis of criminals, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 36, she is...
SC to pronounce verdict on Aligarh Muslim University's minority status today
Happy Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones
Viral video: Woman's sensual dance to 'namak' sets internet on fire, watch
SA vs IND, 1st T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report
SA vs IND, 1st T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for South Africa vs India match
Meet man who is set to lead Truecaller, not from IIT, IIM, earlier served Vice President of...
DNA TV Show: Why Pakistan worried about a Donald Trump presidency
Pakistan bow down as THIS country set to host India’s Champions Trophy 2025 matches
Amid heavy pollution in Delhi, these 12 Indian cities enjoy fresh, clean air
Bigg Boss 18: Vivian Dsena confides in Kashish Kapoor about his stepdaughters, talks about his...
After S Jaishankar's conference, India slams Canada for action against Australian news channel
Sidhu Moosewala's parents share NEW pic of his baby brother, netizens say 'so cute'
‘It definitely does a lot of good to my ego’: Aishwarya Rai gets candid in film promotion interview
Ignored for Australia Tests, India star slams sensational Ranji Trophy double ton