We all get scared by the imagination of ‘Death.’ Don't we? But there was a doctor who faced his death courageously. Dr. Yepuri Harshvardhan faced death at the age of 33 and prepared himself for it.
Dr. Yepuri Harshvardhan used to live in the Khammam district of Telangana but he shifted to Australia for practice. He tied the knot in February 2020 and was diagnosed with lung cancer in October of the same year. Though he was treated successfully for the disease, it recurred again with strong force. This time the doctor told Harshvardhan that the disease was incurable and he had only a short time left.
He talked to his family and mentally prepared them for the final outcome of the disease. He also divorced his wife because he did not want her to remain a widow at a young age. He did everything to settle her life.
He had to stay and work in Australia to keep up his medical insurance for his treatment and spent his last year away from his parents. Once his health deteriorated and he had only a few days to live, he bought his own coffin and talked to airlines to transport his body to India. He got plane tickets and approval. Even he hired a lawyer to authorize his local friends to dispatch his body to India without facing any legal complications after his death.
On March 23, 2023, he paid a final visit to a nearby ashram where he had previously treated patients, bid them farewell, and informed them that he was leaving for India. On March 24, Dr. Harsh Vardhan passed away after spending time with friends over breakfast. Before that, he called his friends and told them that he could live another hour and that he needed rest.
Dr. Harshvardhan's example of courage and facing death will continue to inspire many. On April 5, at Khammam, Telangana, he was cremated. His story will continue to motivate people to handle difficulties in life with grace.
His story reminded us of Rajesh Khanna’s character in the movie ‘Anand’, in which Rajesh Khanna aka Mr. Anand Saigal, a cancer patient, faced his death calmly and courageously. Mr. Harshvardhan was indeed a real-life ‘Anand.’
We express our sincere admiration and respect for the courageous and determined attitude displayed by Dr. Yepuri Harshvardhan in the face of adversity.
(Input from various media sources)