As a part of their commitment to provide free medical service to the poor and the needy, the Shri Onkar Singh Memorial Trust (SOSMT) organized their seventeenth free surgical cum medical camp in the hilly town of REASI, some seventy kilometers from Jammu, and thirty kilometers further from the holy town of Katra. The venue was decided after discussion with the Director Health Services, Jammu.

It was on the suggestion of Dr. Jasbir Singh, the Director Health Services (DHS), Jammu that
the Shri Onkar Singh Memorial Trust (SOSMT) organized their fifteenth free surgical cum
medical camp in the remote town of Bhaderwah in Doda district of the Jammu province of
J & K State. Bhaderwah is approximately 230 kilometers to the northeast of the city of Jammu
and some 830 kilometers from Delhi.

The Background
Bhaderwah was a new venue for us. A couple of years ago, this venue was suggested to us
by Dr. I A Shapoo, presently the CMO at Doda, who hails from this area. Later, Dr. Jasbir
Singh too made the same suggestion, emphasizing the need to provide high quality medical
facilities to the residents of this remote area.

The Spadework
The Sub-District Hospital at Bhaderwah was chosen as the venue for the camp. Dr K S Charak
visited the Bhaderwah hospital along with Dr B D Sharma, Dy-Director Health Services (Retd.),
Jammu, in December, 2006 to make an on-the-spot assessment of the likely camp site.
Dr Shapoo was there to ensure all help for the future camp. Later, during the actual camp
days, he was there with us all along and ensured smooth functioning of the camp. Since this
was a functioning hospital, we had the facility of an operation theatre with an appropriate
O.T. light and operation table. Ultrasound machine was transported to Bhaderwah from
Jammu. It was also decided to do some laparoscopic surgery here. Transporting the
laparoscopic equipment from Delhi had been a constant problem with us earlier. Now, with
the Rotary Club of Saratoga, California, having donated to us an ambulance, this problem was
no more there.

In early 2005, Devaraha Hans Baba graciously offered our team of surgeons and volunteers the opportunity to conduct our March 2005 medical camp at his sacred ashram in Bhagdevar village, Vindhyachai, District Mizapur (UP). We returned in the fall of 2006 to host a second medical camp at his ashram. The poor population of this region, widespread medical problems, lack of adequate medical facilities and the limitless affection and benevolence of Hans Baba are amongst the special attractions for hosting our camps in this village.

In honor and deep gratitude for Devaraha Hans Baba’s generosity and  support, I would like to say a few words about who Devaraha Hans Baba is and share a couple of my personal experiences. Most of the following is an excerpt from a submission I made to Mr. K.N. Rao for his book Divine Love and Miracles of Yogi Hans Baba – A Living Legend published 1994.

Devaraha Hans Baba is the highly exalted disciple of the late Devaraha Baba. The story goes that the famed late Devaraha Baba had said during his lifetime, which some people consider could have been well over a few hundred years, that he would come back to fulfill his mission. He had also said that he would not be back through the womb of a mother. Yogis of India can easily transmigrate from one body into another or from one form into another. To fulfill their mission they need the help of an appropriate medium. The Devaraha Baba is said to have cultivated Hans Baba for this specific purpose. After leaving his physical body, he is said to have migrated into the body of Hans Baba who has now assumed the name of Devaraha Hans Baba, incorporating in his own name the sacred name of his master.

It was in February-March 2005 that Dr. K S Charak and the Shri Onkar Singh Memorial Trust (SOSMT) conducted its tenth surgical cum medical camp in the sacred ashram of Devaraha Hans Baba in Bhagdevar village, Vindhyachal, District  Mirzapur (UP). Two regular surgical cum medical camps and one ‘mini-medical camp’ later, the SOSMT again decided to hold its fourteenth camp (thirteenth regular surgical cum medical camp) at the same venue. The poor population of this area, widespread medical problems and the limitless affection and benevolence of Hans Baba are amongst the special attractions for the SOSMT to offer its services here.

The Background
Our earlier camp in February-March 2005 here had made us alive to the rampant poverty and lack of adequate medical facilities in this part of the country. We had decided then and there to provide our free services to these people in future too. It was also the desire of the Baba that we should continue to serve these needy people at regular intervals. The dates for this camp were chosen for post-Diwali (which fell on October 21, 2006) so as to have a pleasant weather during the camp.