NIlesh Ramchandra NAIk
Taking a Stand
The Turbulent Storm
Every once in a while, as we cruise along this journey called life, comes a turbulence that rattles us to our cores. 18th March 2021 was one such day. It was the day we lost a dear friend, Dr. Nilesh Ramchandra Naik.
A fairly healthy person until then, Nilesh suddenly fell sick and was admitted to a hospital in January 2021. What followed was a series of ups and downs…
Giving a Tough Fight
It started with excruciating pain in his abdomen. Further testing revealed that he had developed a rare condition in which a blood clot develops in a blood vessel that drains blood from the intestines (called portal vein thrombosis). Nilesh underwent a surgery to correct this, responded well for a while only to develop death of a portion (called gangrene) of his small intestine. Another surgery followed wherein this was removed and he continued to heal. A week later he again developed a similar condition, this time in his large intestine. A third surgery followed. Towards the end, Nilesh developed a lung infection that ultimately was followed by a rapid deterioration of his health.
Caught unawares
For two whole months, Nilesh’s stay in the hospital was marked by doctors alerting his family and friends that he may not make it through the night to him coming really close to death to unexpectedly making a quick recovery and having us all believe that the worst was over. For two whole months, Nilesh gave a tough fight, cheating death more than one can count on the fingers of one’s hand. In hind sight, we should have been prepared for that ominous day when it was declared that he was no more. But considering how he always recovered despite the doctors’ warnings and those blinders called hope, we were all caught unawares.
Making Sense
Why did Nilesh suddenly develop this rare condition? Why did he survive multiple complications during those two months, when he may not have? Why did he pass over at such a young age? Why did a person like him have to be called in so soon? We were grappling with all these unanswered questions. It was out of these questions that arose this feeling amongst us, his friends – we needed to commemorate his life in a way that would atleast make some sense.
Our friend was an extra ordinary human being. He’d touched our lives in ways unimaginable – he’d taught us to question our beliefs, introspect about our lives, dream bigger, look beyond ourselves and at the larger picture of life. He had had so many deep conversations with all of us at varying points about how he wished to make a difference in the world.
It was only natural that we honoured the spark that Nilesh had ignited in us and nurtured it into a flame that spread warmth to others’ lives, like he had to ours.
Nirnai is born
Nilesh had a pet saying – take a stand, take a decision and do something about it. This entire project is all about us friends taking a decision – a decision to keep the essence of Nilesh alive, in a way that he would have liked – through his work for others.
Nirnai is also an acrnoym for his name – NIlesh Ramchandra NAIk
With this endeavour, we hope to make some sense of his passing over, to ensure that we never forget what his short yet beautiful life taught us and to pass on a little of the essence of this beautiful soul – Nilesh Ramchandra Naik.
