Dr Mitra reflects on the profound Ghana-Madhya Pradesh bond through Choithram Hospital’s legacy and Pan-Africanism’s enduring influence, exclusively for Different Truths.

I write with a heart stirred by the deep ties binding Madhya Pradesh to Ghana, a connection embodied by the Choithram Hospital on Manik Bagh Road in Indore. Founded in 1979 by Shri Choithram Pagarani, a Sindhi luminary born on June 4, 1914, this institution reflects a legacy of compassion that spans continents. Hailing from Sindh and later settling in Ghana, Choithram’s vision was to create a sanctuary of healing, particularly for the Sindhi community, ensuring free treatment, medication, and tertiary care for all Sindhis, regardless of means.

My visit to the hospital in 1983 remains vividly etched in my memory. The CEO, a retired Sindhi gentleman from the Indian Navy, welcomed me warmly, his eyes alight with pride as he shared the hospital’s story. He spoke of Choithram’s enduring legacy, carried forward by his four sons—two from his Indian wife and two from his Ghanaian wife—who, as trustees, visit annually. Their commitment is palpable, overseeing expansions of super-speciality wings, ensuring the hospital remains a beacon of hope. The CEO’s voice softened as he described how Choithram’s spirit, though departed, lives on in the institution’s mission to serve. 

This bond between Madhya Pradesh and Ghana resonates deeply as our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, arrived in Accra, honoured with Ghana’s highest civilian award.

The gesture evokes pride in us, for Ghana is not distant but cherished in our collective memory. In Indore, Choithram Hospital stands as a testament to this connection, while in Delhi, Kwame Nkrumah Road honours Ghana’s visionary leader. Nkrumah, the architect of Pan-Africanism, inspired a philosophy of unity and self-determination that reverberated across Africa and beyond. His ideals found a powerful echo in South Africa, where the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), led by the indomitable Professor Dr Robert Sobukwe, drew from Nkrumah’s vision in their fight against Apartheid’s oppression.

The threads of history weave further, linking Indore, Accra, and Delhi to the anti-Apartheid struggle. During those dark years, the PAC sought to establish a representative office in New Delhi, approaching our late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. The request was gently declined to avoid duplicating efforts within the anti-Apartheid movement. The African National Congress (ANC) already had a presence at Bhagat Singh Marg, led by Comrade Moosa ‘Mosie’ Moolla, a steadfast voice in the fight for justice. His office symbolised the solidarity between India and South Africa, a bridge forged in shared resistance.

This tapestry of connections—Choithram’s legacy, Nkrumah’s vision, and the anti-Apartheid struggle—speaks to a profound truth: humanity’s aspirations for dignity and compassion transcend borders. In Madhya Pradesh, we honour Ghana through the hospital’s enduring service and the ideals it upholds. Sobukwe’s words, inspired by Nkrumah, echo still, dreaming of a world where all stand free.

As I reflect, I see Choithram Hospital not just as a place of healing but as a monument to unity, a reminder that our shared humanity binds us across continents, cultures, and histories, forever intertwined in the pursuit of justice and hope.

Visuals by the author

Dr Amitabh Mitra

Amitabh Mitra is a poet, artist, and medical doctor based in East London, South Africa. He is the Head of the Trauma and Emergency Medicine Department of a tertiary hospital complex in the black township of Mdantsane. It is the second-biggest Black township after Soweto. Recently, the Department of Arts and Culture, in association with Oxfam, honoured him for his contribution and long-standing devotion to the people of Mdantsane.