4 days ago
IIM-L girl pips cancerto be back on campus
Lucknow: In 2022, she overcame all odds to take the biggest leap of her life by joining Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIML). However, she ended up finishing her first year in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with stage III leukemia (blood cancer).
Confined to hospital for 22 months, and after undergoing eight cycles of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, Patna girl Anjali Bharti, 28, is back on campus to complete her PGP in Management.
In a unique case, Anjali was re-enrolled at IIML to finish her degree. "It's new 'normal'. I value myself more now. I don't laugh like before; I get anxious easily, but my spirits are high to chase life independently, once again," she told TOI.
Anjali is the first child of a driver's family in Patna. Her admission to the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, however, ensured quality education without much financial strain.
"I also earned a coaching institute's scholarship to prepare for IITs but dropped after failing to secure a good rank in JEE Advanced," said Anjali, a physics graduate from Magadh University.
Her dream came crashing down when in 2012 she lost her breadwinner father in a road accident, "This was the biggest shock.
We then moved to live with our maternal grandparents. However, in 2021, I lost both my grandparents. We had to then shift in a rented accommodation," said Anjali who took tuitions to help her tailor mother in household management.
But her challenges didn't end. After preparing for several competitive exams, she worked for India Posts for four years before she cracked CAT and chose IIML to build her future. Within two months of her joining IIML, she started facing health issues.
"My appetite went for a toss. I had frequent stomach aches and fever. When I returned home during Chhath Puja, my mother insisted on consulting a doctor who broke this shattering news," she said.
Just to verify whether it was true, Anjali consulted doctors at a cancer hospital in Patna who confirmed it. She was admitted for a month when she missed her mid-term exams. "Even before the onset of winters, I was wearing woollen in September.
I was too feeble to even stand on my feet and had excruciating pain in my knees," said Anjali who returned to IIML in January 2023 on a wheelchair to take her missed exams.
But, she had to return to Patna soon for treatment. By that time, the cancer cells had affected her lower body until waist, and she was referred to The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), the R&D wing of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
She took a chance, fought chemo cycles. Her body and mind held her up long enough to undergo a bone marrow transplant (BMT), which involves infusing healthy stem cells into the bone marrow.
For Anjali, it was her brother Ashish Rajan who became her anchor in the darkest phase of her life. He gave up his UG seat at IITBHU just to be by Anjali's side. "I remember it was her birthday on Nov 20 when she underwent BMT. We were determined to get her cured at all costs.
Ours is just not a story of survival but love," said Anjali's brother Aashish Ranjan who was her bone marrow donor.
He added that though cancer was costly on both pocket and body but support from brother and crowdfunding my IIML friends, professors helped them financially. "I am alive today because of my brother who donned several hats – of a nurse, caretaker, therapist, hope and ultimately my saviour. He held my hand, wiped my tears and fed me for days.
Most importantly, he never gave up," she said.
Saloni, Anjali's childhood friend who stood as a pillar of support during her treatment in Mumbai, said: "That pain steeled her resolve to find a cure for her condition. Even fate had to give in to Anjali's will power and positive outlook. Anjali is a living example of hope and courage."
Post the BMT, Anjali's journey was even difficult with infections creeping in. The firm resolve paid off when in March she was allowed to go home after living in isolation for 83 days.
Without wasting any time, she called up the IIML authorities exploring the possibility of a re-enrolment. The institute responded positively.
Welcoming Anjali back on campus, PGP chairperson, IIML Prof Alok Dixit said, "The institute allows maximum two-year deferment in medical cases like these. Usually the student has to appeal to us for re- enrolment and a committee evaluates the case based on medical documents.
Her journey of battling cancer and resuming academic pursuits offers unparalleled inspiration to the entire IIML community."
Prof Suresh Jakhar, former PGP chairperson who supported Anjali, said, "Anjali's journey is one of extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination. Seeing Anjali return to campus after enduring unimaginable challenges — and doing so with such grace and strength — has been deeply moving for all of us."
