Odisha Doctor Immortalises Gardener By Installing Statue In The Garden He Nurtured

Bhubaneswar: A doctor is to his patients what a gardener is to his plants. And who can understand this better than a doctor! Beholden to his gardener for nourishing and nurturing his plants, Doctor Balunkeswar Sarangi who works at Gobara Community Health Centre (CHC) under Belaguntha block in Odisha’s Ganjam district, has installed a statue of Khadal Behera, the gardener, in the hospital premises. Behera had dedicated all his life to planting and nourishing medicinal plants in the garden of Gobara Community Health Centre.

Doctor Sarangi installed the statue of Khadal Behera as a mark of respect and tribute to the latter’s years of perseverance and dedication in raising the garden that gives people a “healing touch.” He believes that people will be motivated to plant similar trees in their backyards and use them to get relief from various diseases.

The garden has over one hundred varieties of plants that cater to the needs of local people. Besides, people visit the place both in the morning and evening to unwind themselves and find it a valuable resource for promoting health and well-being.

The garden at the Gobara CHC is filled with many medicinal plants like Camphor Tulsi, Sthal Padma, White lily, Brahmi and Juani.