Author: Maria Dalal

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Humans of Somaiya

Kanvi Bhavsar- “Dil pe patthar rakh ke, maine break up kar liya”

I recently got out of an extremely toxic and obsessive relationship. Call it a bad break up if you might. About 160 days ago, I broke up with my phone. That’s right, I spent the last 5 months without a phone in my hand all the time.  It was tough in the beginning but eventually, I moved on.
I’ve always been deeply attached to my smartphone and with this deep attachment comes a constant need to keep it charged at full battery life around the clock. And just like that, 5 months ago, I overcharged my phone and blew up the core circuit of its motherboard. On any normal day, I would have had multiple mini panic attacks but for a change, I was surprisingly calm.  I guess deep down I’ve always known that I was grossly addicted to my phone and a drastic change was my only option. It was then when I decided to take up a ‘210 days no phone challenge’. why 210 you ask? Because 21 days wouldn’t have cleansed my addiction permanently. Now those of you who automatically reach for their phones first thing in the morning, please pay careful attention, because my dear friend, YOU ARE A PHONE ADDICT. In millennial words, you have  ‘NOMOPHOBIA’- a person who has a fear of being without a mobile phone. Now don’t blame your phone. Blame yourself. You allow a materialistic object made of simple plastic and metal to hold power over you. You store your entire life in a microchip instead of living in the present and cherishing the moment. And the worst, you depend on an app to do everything instead of your highly competent mind. I speak so negatively because not only did I lose my phone but also my Somaiya wifi and Netflix account passwords that I thought were safely stored on my phone. You lost the day you gave your phone the power to take over your life.
Let me show you what a day without a phone looks like.  I wake up around 7 in the morning thanks to my original alarm clock, my mother and somehow reach college before 9:10 am. I go about my day in college as usual and come back home in time to hit the gym. Post dinner, I read a book and fall asleep early. Sounds pretty normal right? The only difference is I’m saving up on 3-4 hours daily and judiciously utilizing it to catch up on my life and sleep. Instead of wasting an entire day reading/waiting for WhatsApp notifications, I read up about current affairs. Instead of scrolling through 2/10 memes on Facebook, I talk to a friend. Instead of aimlessly stalking famous Instagram accounts, I work towards a productive future. I’m much more mindful now considering this one time, I forgot to get off at my train station because I was too engrossed in watching a video about Ranbir Kapoor and all the relationships he’s been in. To be honest, the only thing I miss about having a phone is the easily access to a calculator because let’s face it, it’s too late to improve my math.  
Having said all this, It’s time to break up! I’m not going to tell you how to get over your addiction because I’m certain you already know how to. Simply do a little self analysis. If you are an addict, then kiss your phone goodbye. I’m not asking you to completely give it up but start avoiding it when possible. As a little take away from this article, go check your daily average time on the Instagram app. If its anything more than 45 minutes, then you know what to do!

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Humans of Somaiya

Dhvani Desai: ”Every time you choreograph a Dance piece, you evolve.”

I started dancing in kindergarten- my mom enrolled me in my first dance academy in first grade. I’ve done numerous stage shows- Bollywood, hip-hop, contemporary. I was tiny! Even auditioned for Ganesh Acharya’s music video, I think I was the youngest dancer there. I did not get selected, but it was a different world that I saw. In ninth grade I learnt salsa and contemporary dance, but could not give them much time. But whenever I saw a new dance style or the latest hook step, I would sneak into my room; switch on the music and practice. When I was introduced to Korean pop music, I found their songs and choreography breath-taking. It inspires your passion, no matter what it is. I have friends who started writing and sketching!

I started a Dance account on Instagram last July and post covers. When I get comments and feedback- it makes me so happy! And when somebody tells me they really want to see me dance on a specific choreography- ah!

When I dance- I don’t know- but my face starts glowing. I can’t help smiling- it makes me giddy to imagine that an audience finds as much happiness in seeing me dance as me! Dancing stimulates my happy hormones! When I see complex pieces of music with equally intricate choreography- it floors me. I just want to recreate the awe I feel when I experience this beautiful art form.

I really look forward to being recognised by people I look up to- apart from a future with a professional commitments, it is my dream to join a crew that dances for the love of dance.  I think that every time you choreograph a piece, you evolve. All of the input from various dance styles and artists that you can get inspired from, when mixed up to produce something that perfectly fits the music- something that you can see once and go- Wow! This is God’s work!  When you can look back at your work and you are sincerely happy with what you see, with what you’ve done, I think that is what success means to me. Recognition is important, but is also everywhere. But for me, if you can see it once and go- Wow! I have done this! It inspires you so much- let’s do this all over again!

Before I posted my first cover, I thought it wouldn’t last 2 months. But the influx of affection on my dance and expressions- some people asked if I could teach them- a girl messaged to say she was learning from this video- I can’t stop now! Apart from making me happy, it’s making others too!

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Humans of Somaiya

Veneta Kumar: ”I may look like I’m listening to you but in my head I’m playing drums!”

“What do I do of this then?” My Goan grandmother asked, wrinkling her nose while looking at the rusty remnants of a snare drum. I looked at it, wondering about how many weddings, birthday parties, gatherings, band rehearsals had this piece of beauty seen in its glory days? It had a tiny engraving on the side that read Raymond, the lead drummer’s name; my grandfather.


 It had been 10 years since he passed away, but I remember the stories he’d told me crystal clear. Stories about an Elvis-esque styled drummer with a tatted right arm (yep I’ll admit, my grandfather was pretty cool) bringing the rock and roll to the party with his band. “I’ll play it” I said in a split second. Eyebrows raised, “You? Why would a girl play an instrument like that?” my mother retorted. A little over a month, she was forwarding videos of my first song played on the drums to her friends on Whatsapp. Back in Mumbai, since I couldn’t get the whole set here I decided to enroll for classes. I was a little skeptical at first. “Is this actually a good idea?” “What if I don’t enjoy it?” I kept thinking on my way to getting myself enrolled all alone (Thanks mom!) But the instant I heard the sound of this beautiful instrument played live, I knew there was no turning back. “How hard can it be? It’s just banging around with a pair of sticks!” Oh boy, was I wrong. There’s a correct length at which you grip the stick (Did I mention different grips too?), sticks’ had different girths: 5B, 7A that procured different sounds. Pedals? Right foot on the bass drum, left foot on the hi hat cymbal. Wait what? Each limb has to play a different beat independent of the other? I wasn’t even sure the human body was capable of that kind of coordination. Rhythms, beats, fills, syncopation, keeping time, phew; drumming is so much more technical than one perceives it to be. All of my doubts washed away the day I mastered my first beat, then another, a song, songs of different genres, Wow. The more I fell in love with drumming, the more I fell in love with music. I looked forward to saturdays after college, to venting it all out on the weekends, to the patient practice sessions that required me to clear my head and focus only on what each of my limbs were doing to play complicated beats and then mastering it as I picked up the tempo. It was absolutely priceless, the satisfaction of once thinking it was impossible to gain that kind of accuracy and coordination, to playing to songs that went up to 140 bpm. From Hoobstank’s The Reason to Green Day’s American Idiot, I learnt it isn’t that difficult to master anything you thought you couldn’t do, with consistent practice and patience. As for my grandmother, who had been ecstatic from the start about me playing the drums, you can already guess who has her own shiny new acoustic drum kit in a particular house in Goa right now, Me! Ba dum Tssss

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Humans of Somaiya

Keval Bhatt- ”Don’t overestimate your problems and underestimate yourself!”

I am a final year Engineering Student in Somaiya. Last year, over a few days, I lost the power in my fingers of my right hand, progressing to my left, and eventually, my legs lost their strength. I showed no improvement with the treatment given to me by a doctor in my locality, which made my father realise that this could lead to grave consequences and admitted me to the hospital. I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

I woke up to the pungent smell of hospital disinfectant. The room was silent but for my heavy breathing and the beeping sound associated with hospitals and indicates you’re alive. Coming around, I took in the deserted, blue and white colour schemed ICCU hospital bedroom and wondered how long I had been there. 

I had never felt this level of helplessness in 21 years of my life. But the smile on the nurse’s and doctor’s faces, trying to convey I’d get past through this was somewhat soothing. As my condition improved, they shifted me to the general ward, during which my family came to visit me. For the 5 nights, I realised the true meaning of family and how fortunate I am to have one. They were the only thing that held me. A million apprehensive thoughts would just vanish on seeing their tired, but composed faces. In this difficult time, my family and the hospital staff were of great help. I don’t think I can thank them enough.

Soon, the hospital days were over, but the battle wasn’t completely conquered as I had to continue with physiotherapy to fully recover. I started physiotherapy here, at Somaiya under the guidance of Dr Priti and her students.

I remember when I first came in here, mom used to bring me in a wheelchair, and I required at least 4 therapists to transfer me to the plinth. I couldn’t even perform a bedroll! But ma’am and her therapists assigned for me, their pertinacity helped me gain what I am today. We started with simple PNF patterns to activate my muscles. I used to question them a lot, “How much more time will it take? Will I recover completely? Will I gain my original strength?”. They answered all those questions patiently. After a week, we started training with a walker, and the struggle was real, as my knees used to buckle while I tried to bear weight on them, and so a therapist had to hold them while I walked! They kept thinking of various ways to make me more and more independent, day by day. Their goal was very clear – to restore what I originally had. I wonder if that’s what kept them going with their diligence undeterred, not only for me but all other patients- some non-cooperative, some frustrated. My condition was improving drastically, from the wheelchair to walker and driving my way for these sessions. However there was a plateau phase that took a toll on my persistence, but it passed too – thanks to the team here. I resumed college, thinking it would take my mind off, but then again, people noticed that I was walking weird, some kept from saying but their head nod said it all. But I realized soon enough, I’ve come this far, and this was all part of the process.

After numerous protocol changes, posting alterations, breathing exercises, examinations with the masters and therapists, here or there, all those PNFs, stand to sit, backward walking, weight shifts, pelvic tilts, etc, here I am a writing this rather not so short article, improving day by day, to get back. Without the team here, I don’t think I stood a chance, to do what I could do easily, to become normal, no, not without them, not without their hard work, assistance, and pursuance. I deeply appreciate what they’ve done for me and I can’t be grateful enough!

The size of your problems is nothing compared with your ability to solve them. Don’t overestimate your problems and underestimate yourself. Cheers!

To give someone “hope” and help them get back on their feet is marvellous. For a person who couldn’t move her/his finger, and help them stand on their feet, give them their lost confidence – must have a different level of contentment. Hats off!

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Humans of Somaiya

Divya Sharma: ”Help is always available to those who ask for it- reach out your hand”

As a budding physiotherapist, I am proud of how our profession places emphasis on overall well being of a person, viewing him/her as an ‘individual’ with human needs, values and expectations, and not merely as a by-product of a disease process. I am constantly inspired and motivated by my fellow colleagues and professors to do my best to my abilities. Being a part of a larger medical team, we always speak of health being a “complete balance of physical, mental, emotional and social” components of an individual. However, in this process of ensuring optimum patient care, we often neglect our own physical and mental health. We ignore and offset things that bother us, only to have them trouble us later in the subconscious. Lack of adequate exercise and consuming a balanced diet are one part of the spectrum. The other end of the spectrum lies in our much neglected mental health. 

         We suppress our own feelings, our own emotions, because circumstances may demand so. We suppress them to the extent that, one fine day, at the drop of a hat, all hell breaks loose. All of us, deep down, are scared of that one thing that fundamentally makes us human- VULNERABILITY. And why shouldn’t we be? Vulnerability comes with a price. Being emotional, being sensitive, and empathic are no longer viewed as strengths, but are considered as weaknesses. And who would want to be considered as a weakling? This fear of vulnerability, I believe, is the root cause of our issues. 

 When I look back on my old self, my old habits regarding my mental state, I think of how my biggest mistake was never confiding in anyone. I think of how I dealt with it all alone. While it was, and is brave of someone to overcome their problems independently, it never hurts to seek help when things become difficult and challenging. I reached out to a psychiatrist for help, and things have been improving since.

            To my future self, and to all those who suffer due to the things they do not speak about, to the ones who silently wage battles inside their head every single day, to all those who seek light at the end of a dark tunnel, never give up on yourself. Bad times never last forever, the good times always will follow. All that it takes is a little courage, a little faith, and trust in the process. And it helps to remember that no matter how dark it may seem, you are never alone. You are so much more than the demons that attempt to pull you down. And lastly, help is always available to those who ask for it. Confide in someone you trust. Be it family or friends. And lastly, never be afraid to reach out to specialists in moments of need. Your life will turn around for the better. 

Yours, 

A friend in a moment of need

Divya Sharma

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Humans of Somaiya

Riddhi Mehta: ”I have learnt how mental health plays a crucial role in physical healing”

Your body can withstand anything. It is your mind that you have to convince.

I decided to join a contemporary dancing class, which was something I’d always wanted to do. I was a little nervous at first, since this dance form requires a lot of technique and great balance, which could lead to injury, but I went for it anyway. One day, while dancing, I felt a twinge in my right knee. I should have stopped and taken rest, but I kept going, because I thought that this was bound to happen. I saw the doctor, and underwent an MRI, which showed that I had a few sprained ligaments, especially the ACL. The doctor advised me to rest for two weeks, but I started feeling better after a week, and I resumed my classes.The only thing that makes me more anxious than attending medicine lectures is missing them! It didn’t seem like much of a problem, but eventually I realised it wasn’t feasible to travel from Thane by car everyday. Traveling by bus was probably the most challenging thing for me; I even fell off its high steps one day. It was difficult for me to accept the severity of my injury. The pain kept getting worse, and I was reluctant to use a walking aid. The reality of the need of using a walker slowly hit me. Taking just four steps had become my biggest mission. My mind ran rampant, and my mind was beating itself up for not being able to carry out my daily routine, because of the unbearable pain that came with walking. I found myself crying more often than ever, and felt completely helpless at times. I finally took help from my teachers, Dr Anjali, Dr Tanvi, and Dr Mugdha. They helped me cope with my pain, and trained me to walk, convinced me that I really needed to use a walker and taped my knee, after which surgery was not necessary anymore. My friends were extremely supportive and never let me lose hope; but my teachers always gave me a positive outlook and told me there was nothing to worry about.

What I learned from this experience is that your mental health plays a crucial role in physical healing. My mindset delayed the healing by a whole month. It has given me a better insight into the psyche of the patients I treat.

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Humans of Somaiya

Sharayu Tambe – ‘Dance helped me fulfill my bucket list!’

It all started when I was two and a half years old, with my school teacher convincing my mother to let me participate in an inter-school dance competition, and I was very happy when we won the competition!

My mom enrolled me for Bharatnatyam classes in primary school. We would miss school periods (with our teacher’s permission!) to practice for the dance competitions our school group used to take part in, and we won almost every time! My parents were always very encouraging, and I made sure I did not let this affect my studies. My teachers would always tell them that I was a very shy child in class, but when it came to dancing, I was comfortable with expressing myself.

My Guruji gave me an opportunity to work in a commercial Marathi play.
The shows of this drama were limited to summer and Diwali vacations only and they used to pay us. I was only four years old at that time, and this experience made me feel special. My parents’ proud faces were my inspiration to continue dancing. 

I have done theatre for more than 10 years now, including 3 Marathi dance dramas. Working with renowned artists of the Marathi film industry and being featured in the newspapers at the age of seven really makes me feel proud of myself.


Today, I’m a Bharatnatyam vishard, a graduate in this dance form, and have done my arangetram. I’ve also started making dance covers on Bollywood songs with my friends from my Bharatnatyam class for Instagram.

Having traveled to many places to perform, and accomplished so much at a young age, I hope to complete the rest of my bucket list with my new career, and work as a physiotherapist to work for the betterment of my fellow dancers.

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Food and Lifestyle Travel diaries

Tadoba- Our Tiger Sightings

by Dr. Prajakta Tilaye (PT), Assistant Professor

“Beautiful things don’t ask for attention”

James Thurber ( The Secret life of Walter Mitty)

And it happened!! After so many safaris and visiting different national parks over the years to see this beauty, we got the opportunity to witness this graceful majestic most beautiful animal of the jungle!! TIGER!!

We decided to visit Tadoba on a short notice, in peak summer season which landed us in not getting core zone booking and decided to go ahead with a buffer zone safari. We did a total of three safaris and sighted four tigers, mother Junabai tigress and her two cubs at different locations.

Junabai: our driver came across fresh pug marks and decided to chase after them on a narrow path when all the other vehicles were heading in a different direction, and there she was- gracefully walking the road, marking her territory. She glanced at us when our Jeep approached near, stared for a few seconds and walked away gracefully to the deeper parts of the jungle. A short meet indeed!!

Female cub: we had been waiting since 2:30 in the afternoon for tiger sightings in the open Jeep under the scorching heat at the peak of Nagpur summers. They usually come near the water bodies in the afternoons to cool down. After searching through all the water bodies in the zone for more than 3 hours, we decided to go back and told our driver the same. Our driver said that we could have a sighting even in the last 5 mins before gates closed. And at that very moment the most beautiful tigress cub came out walking to the water body with the elegance of a dancer. We followed her quietly till she came out and walked to her lair.

Male cub: as we finished following the female cub, another Jeep driver told us about a male cub resting near another water body on the far end of the zone. And that’s when the insane chase began. We had the last sighting for the day waltzing around the water body with the big red sun setting in the background! The cherry on top was when he came out to cross the road just in front of our Jeep, that’s when this photo was clicked. Unfortunately our only photo as Tadoba doesn’t allow phone use for photo purpose.


Last tiger: this was our last safari the next morning and we were already content with our previous day’s sightings. But Tadoba had decided to fulfill our quench of tiger sightings of all these years. So here we were, waiting near one narrow trail with two more jeeps in front and behind us listening quietly to some callings from the jungle. And we heard the roar of a tiger from the dense bushes nearby, behind which a narrow stream of water flowed. After a long wait, that’s when he came out to cross our trail and pass on to the denser jungle beyond us. Little did we know that we were right in his path of crossing and that seemed to make this wild cat upset. He walked up to our open Jeep and gave one big roar. Time was frozen with pin drop silence fell. He stared at us for a few seconds, which felt like an eternity and walked away to another jeep in front of us and roared again. If someone would have taken our ECG at that time, it might have shown a totally bizarre reading of arrhythmia, even a momentary flatline!

 I have always heard people talking about how tigers are the most beautiful animals and how people spend days and weeks in the wait to capture the perfect moment, but witnessing it was another level of amazement!!

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Food and Lifestyle Travel diaries

‘There ain’t no competition between men; like a competition between a man and a mountain’- Kedarkantha trek

by Dhvani Nirmal, 3rd BPTh

Captured on the way to Juda Ka Talav Camp i.e. second camp of Kedarkantha Trek (Uttarakhand)

There is something about the mighty Himalayas that drives me there almost every year. Unlike the Alps where there are trains to take you everywhere, one has to climb for at least  3 days (depending on the trek) and sleep in negative temperatures to reach a height of 12500 ft, and that says it all about the terrain and grandeur of the Himalayan Range.

Luhasu-Kedarkantha Base (10500 ft)

From here starts the final ascend to the Summit which varies from 50-80 degrees of inclination. The toughest patch of the trail included both the ascent as well as the descent. The group has to walk in a straight line because the trail is so narrow that it does not accommodate more than one person standing at a particular place and because of that one has to walk continuously without stopping.

Sunrise from Kedarkantha peak (12500 ft) after a 4 hour ascend. One of the rare peaks in India from where one can see sunrise from below the level of horizon.

It’s not very common that trekkers get to stay on the top for more than 15 minutes because of the windy weather. There ain’t no competition between men; like a competition between a man and a mountain, where the final word is always the mountain’s. 

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Food and Lifestyle Travel diaries

”Overwhelmingly beautiful!”- Tarsar Marsar Lakes, Kashmir

by Maria Dalal, 4th BPTh

To try and describe the beauty of the Kashmir valley is difficult- great writers have written odes to fill books but have felt they couldn’t do it justice. How does one surmise the overwhelming abundance? Mammoth mountains framed by lush rolling valleys, forests sprawling from edges of orchards, fields of saffron, the tinkling of streams and gush of rivers, the perfumed gardens, the lakes that reflect the endless skies- it is an assault on all senses. 

My parents and I planned a week of tourism by road followed by a 6 day trek to the Tarsar Marsar lakes from a small village (that looked straight out of a movie) called Aru near  Pahalgam (Bajrangi bhaijaan posters on every tea and bhajiya shack!). 

The first day of the trek was a gift in itself- traversing a pine forest that immediately cleared to the beautiful meadows of Lidderwat, trailing the river Lidder by our side. I will let the pictures do the talking.


A group of 20 strangers- from different cities, age groups and professions, quickly became friends to the common goal of ‘appreciation’. Of the gift that were these few days in the lap of nature, the gift of bright mornings, tiring trekking, the comfort of hot food, windy evenings that forced us into tents with card games, and naps under the open sky.


The trek put a lot of things into perspective. It let us acknowledge the magnanimous while appreciating the small things. And that steep climb in front of you- always, always makes you scared. Once you start, your breath catches and your palms sweat- was this a good idea? Am I sure? But a good guide and smiling company- becomes a pattern of one foot in front of the other, eyes wide open to the ever changing view.


In the month of January- a few weeks back, we received a phone call from the receptionist at one of the hotels we stayed at. He had a strange request, something we couldn’t understand over the phone’s rumbling. His son’s 10th standard board result was out and he wanted us to check it online of the official J&K Board of Secondary Education Portal. The internet connection services were still disrupted and everyone in the house was very anxious- mathematics had been a tad difficult. Aatif and his father trailed back to the hotel reception contacts ledger, saw our names and remembered we came from Mumbai- a conversation we had over an early breakfast. 

We checked the results on the website – and good news! Aatif had an above average CGPA and math was cleared by a safe margin. The only thing that came to my mind was how similar Aatif’s father sounded to my mother when we were waiting at our computer screen for my board result. The same nervous tone, the inescapable sighs and the yelling of my name at regular intervals.

It is always easy to highlight differences to establish one’s identity as separate from others. Many people, for their own means, will continue to reinforce the differences, will keep convincing us there is an ‘us’, and there is a them. But moments like these remind you just how much is common among every man, woman and child on this planet. 

We’re so human. 

We’re just human. 

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