From cancer to seva

Many of us give up when when faced with a challenge. Some like Chandrima Govil from Delhi not just overcome their challenge but make it it a transformative journey, 

Chandrima’s journey after overcoming cancer has been transformative, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. The challenges she faced taught her invaluable lessons about resilience, gratitude, and the importance of making every moment count. It gave her a new perspective on life—one that is focused on nurturing growth, embracing change, and supporting others in their own journeys. 

Since recovering, she has channeled this newfound strength and understanding into her work with young children at an NGO NBS Bal Vikas Vidyalaya. She has come to realize that early childhood education is not just about teaching academic skills—it’s about fostering emotional intelligence, building confidence, and empowering children to overcome challenges in their own lives. She believes that her personal experience gives her a deeper understanding of the importance of creating a compassionate, supportive environment for children, where they can feel safe, loved, and encouraged to explore their potential. 

She states" my Inspiration is my grandfather Late Sri S. P. Govil, he was a freedom fighter and a visionary  who devoted his life for the upliftment of the children & women of the weaker sections of the society and was the founder of Nehru Bal Samiti. He had  the fighting spirit and always said do not be scared and just keep on moving forward. My grandmother late Smt Kamla Govil was also the principal of a MCD school in New Delhi. 

Another person whom I really inspired her recently is Ms. Sonya Philip(M.Ed.), who is the Founder & CEO of Learning Matters, India. She is a child advocate at heart and  is passionate about harnessing the power of play to build a child-centric world and working for the Rights of the Children. She is the one who actually showed me a path and how important the early years are for an individual as 90% of the brain is developed by the age of 5. It actually gave me a totally new direction in life from Logistics to Education and I want to work for the children.

God has been very kind and I am very blessed that I had the support of my dear family, my beloved friends and especially my team of doctors who really supported me throughout my treatment. The support system offers a sense of belonging and reassurance that we’re never truly alone.   

Cancer brings a lot of physical , mental and emotional challenges. Its feels like everything has fallen on you and why did it have to be you.There were moments of feeling helpless, facing the unknown, or dealing with physical pain and fatigue. But you have to face it either with a smile or tears. So I just got through it quickly.There were so many things I learnt on the way and I have become stronger and I feel God made me go through that journey for me to reach here today where I am. I understand now that God has a bigger plan for us and we just need to keep faith and keep going with the flow.

Every step of the treatment felt like a finish line which you had to reach but it was taking a bit longer. Finishing the chemotherapy was the biggest and coming back form the hospital post my surgery seemed so unreal and when I came and met the children that was  the most special as I think they are the ones who gave me the strength and love to be back soon.

Her vision is to create a nurturing, dynamic, and inclusive environment where young children can explore, learn, and grow, preparing them to become compassionate, critical thinkers who contribute positively to society.

She aspires to build NBS Bal Vikas Vidyalaya into a leading institution in early childhood education, focused on holistic development, innovation, and community collaboration, ensuring every child’s potential is fully realized in their early years and states,"everything in life is temporary and this too shall pass. We should just be positive,happy and kind. I am deeply grateful and excited to have chosen this path, working with early years education and contributing to the growth of NBS Bal Vikas Vidyalaya. I believe in the power of early childhood development, and I am committed to creating a nurturing and supportive environment where children can thrive, explore, and reach their full potential. This journey is both meaningful and rewarding, and I am dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of the children and the community and following in the footsteps of Grandfather.

In many ways, her experience with cancer has made her  even more determined to make a positive impact in the lives of the children she works with. She wants to inspire them to believe in themselves, to face difficulties with courage, and to always keep growing, no matter what obstacles they may encounter. Her journey after cancer has reinforced her commitment to being a guide, a mentor, and a positive influence for the next generation. 

We all can certainly learn a lot of lessons of life from her to become better people,whether we face a challenge or not. 

By Jamuna Rangachari