Photo BS News Agency.
‘Ebhabeo Phire Asa Jaay’ – ‘Rongo Byango’ by Medica Superspecialty Hospital transforms cancer survivors into stars of the stage.
Sanchita Chatterjee, Kolkata: 12th July’25: As William Shakespeare famously said in his play ‘As You Like It’ - ‘All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players’, Medica Superspecialty Hospital & Medica Oncology (a unit of Manipal Hospitals Network) in association with Ashokenagar Natyaanan, a theatre group in Kolkata organized a unique drama enacted by cancer champions at Kala Mandir. The name of the drama was “Rongo Byango,” which was based on the five short plays by Rabindranath Tagore, directed by renowned thespian Chandan Sen. Tagore’s five short plays, which were adapted, namely, ‘Arja Anarja, Nutan Abatar, Antoshti Sotkar, Orosiker Swargoprapti and Swargiyo Prahasan’. Christened as ‘Ebhabeo Phire Asa Jaay’, the theme of this poignant theatre production brought together cancer survivors in a powerful performance that blended laughter and melancholy, celebrating hope and the many shades of life beyond cancer. Along with the cancer survivors, other casts of the play included renowned thespians like Phalguni Chatterjee, Shantilal Mukherjee, Masood Akhtar and Rwitobroto Mukherjee besides theatre actors from Ashokenagar Natyaanan. As an act of solidarity, senior doctors from Medica Oncology, including Prof. (Dr.) Subir Ganguly, Senior Consultant & Advisor, Radiation Oncology, and Dr. Sourav Datta, Director, Medica Oncology & Senior Consultant, Head and Neck Oncosurgery, along with other esteemed dignitaries, extended their support by being present during the inspiring event.
Cancer’s impact is deep and extensive. Yet, in the darkest times, the human spirit finds a way to lighten the path to recovery. The road to survival is all about fighting against cancer as well as overcoming emotional and psychological hurdles. According to recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),
Chandan Sen, renowned thespian and director of Rongo Byango, said, “Directing ‘Rongo Byango’ has been one of the most emotional and fulfilling journeys of my career. Out of the 66 characters in this play, 15 to 16 are currently being portrayed by brave cancer survivors, individuals who have faced life’s harshest trials and emerged stronger. My dream is to see every one of these 66 roles being performed by survivors by the end of this year. This stage is not just about performance; it is about reclaiming identity, confidence, and purpose. Beyond survival, they have embraced the stage as a canvas for their courage, transforming into artists who inspire with every act.”
Prof. (Dr.) Subir Ganguly, Senior Consultant, Advisor, Radiation Oncology, stated, “Cancer care goes far beyond physical treatment; it must also touch the mind and soul. Through ‘Rongo Byango’, our survivors did something extraordinary. They transformed their pain into power. Watching them reclaim the stage with such grace and strength was truly moving. At Medica, we believe that healing is holistic,
and initiatives like this reflect how art, empathy, and resilience can come together to inspire and uplift both patients and caregivers alike.”
Dr. Sourav Datta, Director, Medica Oncology & Senior Consultant, Head and Neck Oncosurgery, opined, “Every cancer survivor is a warrior with a powerful story. With ‘Rongo Byango’, we wanted to give them a platform to reclaim their voices and inspire others. Watching them on stage and some of whom I have treated was deeply emotional. This performance by the survivors proved that cancer cannot silence the spirit of art and creativity. This event was not only about celebrating the performance, but it was also all about the celebration of life and courage.”
Goutam Roychowdhury, Amitava Sarkar, and Mousumi Banerjee, cancer survivors, expressed, “For us, the stage became a space to transform pain into power and silence into expression. Cancer may have challenged our bodies, but it could never dim our spirit. This performance gave us a chance to tell our stories not with fear, but with pride, and to inspire others to keep fighting and believing.”
Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Hospitals, East, shared, “Human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. As the saying goes that we cannot direct the wind but can adjust the sail. At Manipal Hospitals, we believe that healing goes beyond medicine. It includes empathy, encouragement, and the courage to share one’s journey. Today, the cancer champions took centre stage, turning their battles into inspiring performances that moved every soul in the audience. We are proud to stand with them for their treatment as well as in their accomplishment.”
About Manipal Hospitals:
As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the top healthcare providers in India serving over 7 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable, high-quality healthcare framework through its multispecialty and tertiary care delivery spectrum and further extend it to out-of-hospital care. With the completion of the acquisition of Medica Synergie hospitals and AMRI Hospitals Limited (acquired in Sept 2023), the integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 37 hospitals across 19 cities with 10,500+ beds and a talented pool of 5,600+ doctors and an employee strength of over 18,600. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from around the globe. Manipal Hospitals is NABH and AAHRPP accredited, and most of the hospitals in its network are NABL, ER, and Blood Bank accredited and recognized for Nursing Excellence. Manipal Hospitals has also been recognized as the most respected and patient-recommended hospital in India through various consumer surveys.