A colonel (retired) Dr. Rajendra Singh, a psychiatrist by profession and a veteran of the Indian Army has been fighting to stop drug addiction in youngsters for over 50 years. In a recent interview, he said, "I feel very disturbed when I see patients being discriminated by the society or family. Society needs to understand that addiction is an illness too. The society should show empathy towards the patients and understand that recovering from addiction is a taxing process."
After completing his MBBS, Dr. Singh's passion for mental health led him to pursue a specialization in psychiatry, despite the absence of an MD at that time. Consequently, he joined the Dr. Vidya Sagar Institute of Mental Illness in Amritsar to pursue psychiatry. Then after serving 6 years of service in the institute, he decided to join the Indian Army.
Dr. Singh served 30 years in the Indian Army, after his retirement in 1991 his wife encouraged him to start a new initiative to support drug addicts. His attention was diverted to drug addiction in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh including the states which bordered them. Dr. Singh, and his wife, opened a Bhai Kanhaiya Charitable Dispensary in Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Gurudwara, Sector 34, Chandigarh, for patients who cannot afford such medical facilities.
Dr. Singh has treated thousands of patients till now, the deaddiction centers offer the best medical treatment, and spiritual counseling, along with yoga, sports, and counseling, and the success rate of treatment is around 60-70%.
"There is a separate psychiatry and deaddiction unit for women, for we work for women empowerment. The positive change we have seen is that women are coming forward to address their issues of addiction, be it alcohol or multi-drug use. The biggest hurdle is that addiction is highly stigmatized, especially when it comes to women. Yet, they have started coming to us, they take the long route and go back, but they are trying to break away. I am a feminist, so I want to reach out to women and help," Dr. Singh said.
On April 23, 2024, Dr. Rajinder Singh, launched a book titled "Gem of Wisdom' on World Book Day. He explained the purpose of launching this book and said, "Wisdom, like happiness, grows when it is shared. My life's adventures and the countless books I've read have taught me invaluable lessons, prompting me to compile this book. As Rene Descartes put it, reading good books is akin to engaging in conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. This book aims to provide just that conversation with the world's wisdom at your fingertips."
He mentioned the main reason of drug addiction in Punjabis narcotic terrorism is the complex nexus of drug business in the state. Dr. Rajinder Singh said, "Inculcating moral values by touching the hearts of people is a sure-fire way to eliminate drug addiction."
He further mentioned youngsters and said, "They are confused and have no direction. The age of patients is getting younger, with the highest number being in the age group of 17 to 35, and this is the age when they must build themselves, their families, and the nation. We cannot let our generations become slaves to drugs, and my mission is to keep working and help them to create a new life. Prevention is the key here, and channeling their energies is paramount."
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Tabsum Amjad Baig/MSM)
