Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (A great magician and still greater human being) that was published in Newsband

A great magician and still greater human being

Cancer is the worst ailment that man has ever faced. The poor man is the worst sufferer when he is struck by this worst ailment. You require a lot of money to treat an ailment like cancer and a poor man is just not in a position to shell out such a huge sum. He has to admit himself in some government hospital where the chances of getting cured is very low or nil.

In 1992, some members of the New Bombay Bengali Association (NBBA) witnessed the horrific sight of terminally-ill cancer patients undergoing treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel sleeping on pavements. Moved at their plight, the association set up a home for cancer patients, who have to stay for several weeks in the city along with their relatives for treatment.

The Cancer Home in Vashi was started with barely two rooms. Located in Sector 7 in Vashi, the Cancer Home has metamorphosed to a centre with eight rooms that provides not just subsidized lodging and food but also ambulances, in-house doctors, counsellors, etc.

The NBBA has won over many patrons with their charitable work, foremost being noted magician P C Sorcar Jr. Just recently NBBA invited the legend to perform in Chembur and Vashi for the second time after a gap of 12 years to help raise funds for the Cancer Home's expansion. The kind-hearted magician obliged. P C Sorcar Jr needs to be lauded for this noble gesture on his part.

NBBA members focus on patients from the lower income group. The association plans to utilize funds generated by the PC Sorcar show to build more rooms for patients, start their own ambulance service, transfusion facility, doctor's clinic, recreation facility and offer better facilities at the centre.

Assam Bhawan at Vashi also has similar facilities for Cancer patients. The organizations, which show concern for cancer patients, deserve to be felicitated in a big way. The people of such organizations undoubtedly have their hearts at the right places. It’s really touching to see as to how much they care for those unfortunate ones who are struck by the lethal ailment.

Magician Sorcar has rightly said that nature is the biggest creator and cure. There have been cases where medicines did not work but nature happened to come to the rescue of cancer patients. Hence a cancer patient and the doctors treating such patients should not lose hope till the end. As Sorcar rightly said, "Real magic is when I see a sparkle of hope in the eyes of those who have smelt death. Overcoming fear is the biggest magical trick," Sorcar has also rightly urged people to give up tobacco addiction, which is a prime cause of Cancer. It is great to see a great magician like Sorcar showing so much concern for cancer patients.

Sorcar has proved that he is not only a great magician but also a still greater human being. If many more celebrities choose to follow in the footsteps of Sorcar, then lives for many cancer patients who exist in India will become extremely pleasant.