The Sanjeevani story.

Cancer is more than a medical condition—it is a life-altering crisis that impacts every dimension of a person’s existence. From the moment of diagnosis to the end of treatment, and often long after.

The journey is fraught with emotional, psychological, financial, and physical challenges. 

In #Bharat, with its enormous population and overburdened healthcare system, these challenges get amplified. 

Against this backdrop, Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer has emerged as a transformative force in the landscape of cancer care. Established in 2012 with a vision to provide holistic, integrative, and compassionate support to cancer patients and their families, Sanjeevani addresses the gaps that lie beyond hospital corridors.

This is the story of Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer—its inception, the vision of its founders, its diverse programs, collaborations, and the widespread impact it has created in Bharat. 

With a unique approach that blends empathy with empowerment, Sanjeevani is not just an organization; it is a movement that stands by every cancer warrior, helping them rediscover life beyond cancer.

Bharat records over 14 lakh new cancer cases every year. While significant attention is paid to the diagnosis and treatment phase, the psychosocial, emotional, and rehabilitative needs of cancer patients are grossly overlooked. 

Key gaps include:

- Lack of psycho-social support: Patients face fear, depression, anxiety, and isolation.

- Inadequate caregiver training: Families are ill-prepared to care for patients at home.

- Limited awareness about nutrition and post-treatment care

- Stigma surrounding cancer in society

- Lack of vocational rehabilitation post-recovery

Sanjeevani was conceived to address these urgent needs holistically. 

Recognizing that healing involves mind, body, and soul, the organization has developed models of care that are community-centric, integrative, and sustainable.

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer was founded by Ruby Ahluwalia, a bureaucrat and cancer survivor, who personally experienced the emotional void in India’s cancer care ecosystem. 

The organization was formally registered as a non-profit trust, in 2012 and started its journey from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai—one of India's premier cancer treatment facilities.

The vision was clear - To make holistic cancer care accessible to all, especially thel underserved and under-informed.

 

Sanjeevani’s founding philosophy is built on these tenets:

- Compassionate Care

- Holistic Healing

- Patient Empowerment

- Community Engagement

- Sustainability of Recovery

Ruby Ahluwalia – The Catalyst

Ruby, a senior IRAS officer, battled cancer in 2009. Her personal ordeal led her to introspect deeply about the gaps in care beyond clinical treatment. She transformed her pain into purpose by creating a safe haven for other cancer patients.

Her memoirs “Fragrance of a Wild Soul” (english) and "Mann Bawara" (Hindi) narrate her healing journey and the genesis of Sanjeevani.

Both books are available on Amazon. 

Sanjeevani’s team includes survivors, oncologists, social workers, and volunteers, all united by a common cause. 

Trustees, Mentors and collaborators from across medical, wellness, and administrative fields have contributed to its rapid growth.

Flagship Programs

a. Integrative Cancer Care Centers

 

Located within hospitals, these centers manned by trained caregivers offer complete patient assistance encompassing their emotional, financial, holistic healing and logistic needs. 

Sanjeevani has set up ICCCs in 31 hospitals across India which help patients 

b. Satori & Srjan

Satori and Srjan are Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer’s transformative Holistic healing programs addressing both mind and body and help cancer patients navigate fear, anxiety, and trauma through tools like nutritional guidance, yog, psychotherapy sessions, mindfulness, expressive arts, inner child healing and NLP. These programs aim to foster acceptance, inner strengt and emotional resilience during and post the cancer journey.

To register for Srjan - here is a quick link.

c. Can saarthi – Certificate in Oncological Caregiving

This 6-month program trains Survivors and caregivers to become certified cancer care professionals.

A skill Development and employability program focuses on survivors who lost jobs or financial stability and their care givers. The programs aims at empowering survivors to becpome gainfully employed and live a life full of dignity, independence, and purpose.

The certification empowers the graduates to serve other patients at hospitals, NGOs, and communities.

d. Aham Sanjeevani - Community Cancer Leaders (CCL) Program

A grassroots empowerment model that  empowers survivors, their family member, caregivers and those who wish to make a difference to become trained health educators and help providers. 

CCL conduct door-to-door awareness and provide support interventions.

This program enhances the reach and creates a ripple effect in villages and urban clusters. 

e. CanAhaar – Nutritional Support

To provide free, tailored nutritional kits to poor malnourished patients and educate them on the need of proper nutrition - what, when and how. 

f. Support groups - Counselling and Emotional Support

One-on-one and group therapy sessions that 

focus on reducing depression, fear, Medical concerns and anxiety. These sessions enable shared learning. 

g. CanChetna  - Awareness Campaigns

Community camps on 'Adoption of healthy lifestyle for Cancer free life' in colleges, corporates, RWAs and any other community set up, ocused on early detection, myths-busting, screening camps.

h. National Conference on Integrative Cancer Care and Associated Workshops

The National Conference on Integrated Cancer Care (NCICC), organized by Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer, is a pioneering event that brings together experts from various disciplines—oncology, surgery, nutrition, yoga, psychotherapy, homeopathy, an integrative approaches to cancer care.  

The inaugural conference was held on April 18, 2024, marking a significant step towards integrating diverse healing modalities into mainstream cancer treatment in India.  

The 2nd Edition held at Goa from 2nd to 5th Apr 25 was Attended by over 300+ participantsl. 

By fostering collaboration among medical professionals, caregivers, and survivors, NCICC aims to create a new narrative in healthcare that emphasizes comprehensive, patient-centered care.  

Collaborations

Policy Makers - NITI Aayog, Central and Sate Health Departments. 

Hospital partners - 31 hospitals including Tata Memorial Hospital, AIIMS, State RCCs and Trust run Cancer Hospitals across Bharat

CSR Partners - Major supporters include RITES, MDL, RailTel, RVNL, IRFC, LIC, ONGC, IndianOil, BPCL, HPCL, GAIL, HAL, PFC, NTPC, KVIC, Jewelex Foundation, PC Shah Foundation, Nischal Israni Foundation, Blue Cross Laboratories, Jodhpur Association, Ashwini Charitable Trust, Lakhi Trust, Zemosa Technologies, Godavari Ispat and Power, Geno Foundation, Dempo Foundation, Ashray Developers, Goa Cancer Society, Rotary Club, Inner Wheel Club.

Academic Partners - Tata Memorial Centre, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work and over 40 of top social work institutions across Bharat. 

Global Allies -  International wellness organizations and cancer networks for Integrative Cancer Care

These partnerships have enabled funding, scaling, training, and research collaborations that benefit thousands of beneficiaries. 

As of 2025, Sanjeevani has:

- Presence in 20+ cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Nagpur, Pune, Guwahati, Goa, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Ahmedabad and many more. 

- Set up 31Integrative Care Centers.

- Trained over 200 CanSaarthis.

- Benefitted over 13.5 million+ patients and caregivers.

- Conducted over 5000+ holistic healing-building sessions under Satori and Srjan.

- Reached 1.2 million+ people through awareness campaigns.

Impact

The organization’s impact spans four levels:

a. Individual

- Enhanced emotional and mental well-being of patients

- Survivors trained as caregivers now earn livelihoods and counsel others.

- Improved survival quality due to better lifestyle adherence.

b. Family

- Empowered family caregivers with skills and confidence.

- Reduced medical fatigue and burnout.

c. Institutional

- Hospitals now provide integrative care modules with Sanjeevani’s support.

- Improved patient compliance, satisfaction, and recovery indicators and

- Reduced patient drop outs

d. Community

- Early detection through awareness has increased.

- Stigma is reducing as survivors emerge as educators and leaders.

- Rural outreach has improved health-seeking behavior.

Testimonials, case studies, and third-party assessments affirm the success of Sanjeevani’s model. These can be accessed on www.sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com

Challenges and Way Ahead

Despite its achievements, Sanjeevani faces several challenges:

- Scaling sustainably while maintaining quality.

- Securing consistent funding for grassroots work.

- Integrating with government policy frameworks more deeply.

- Adoption of integrative care by hospitals on a large scale. 

The road ahead includes:

- Expanding to all Indian states by 2030.

- Setting up the Skill Development Institute for Cancer Caregivers at Goa. 

- Leveraging technology for e-learning and virtual counselling.

-Deepening research in integrative oncology with academic bodies.

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer is not just a non-profit; it is a movement that places humanity, healing, and hope at the center of cancer care. 

From supporting the underserved to redefining survivorship with purpose and dignity, its journey is both inspiring and transformative. By continuing to build collaborations, empower individuals, and advocate holistic care, Sanjeevani stands as a model for how civil society can powerfully complement medical systems in India's fight against cancer.

To know more visit

www.sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com

Sanjeevani can be contacted on

Email : info@sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com

Whats app : +91 8691000800 / +918691000801

Ruby can be contacted on

ruby@sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.in

#cancer #bharat #goa #cancerawareness #cancertreatment #cancerresearch #cancersurvivor #cancerwarrior #chemotherapy #radiotherapy #surgery #ayurveda #yogapractice #nutritionmatters #SoundHealing #arttherapy #dancetherapy #acupressure #mindfulness #healthyliving #SanjeevaniLifeBeyondCancer #RubyAhluwalia #CanSahyogi #satori #Srijan #CanSaarthi #canahaar #anilahluwalia #ruby #anil

Bharat's Silent Revolutionary - A Warrior, Visionary and Changemaker.

Today, on International Cancer Survivors Day, we at Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer are proud to share this story.

The story of A Warrior, A Visionary and a Changemaker.

This is the story of Ruby Ahluwalia, a cancer victor herself.

In Ruby Ahluwalia, we see the story of Bharat’s silent revolutionaries — people who may not seek the spotlight, but whose light touches thousands everyday.

Ruby Ahluwalia is not just a name, she is a symbol of strength, perseverance and compassion.

A distinguished #bureaucrat, a #cancer #warrior, and the #founder of the NGO Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer, Ruby's life story is an inspiring narrative of personal triumph and public service. Her journey from the corridors of power in the Indian bureaucracy to the emotionally charged world of cancer survivorship and patient support defines the very essence of resilience and purpose.  

At the core of Ruby Ahluwalia’s many accomplishments lies an individual deeply committed to values of compassion, excellence, and service. Born and raised in a traditional Indian household, Ruby demonstrated an early penchant for discipline, ambition, and learning. Her upbringing instilled in her the importance of hard work, empathy, and perseverance — qualities that would later shape her personal and professional journey.

While much of the public's knowledge about Ruby centre’s around her professional milestones and her fight against cancer, those who know her closely describe her as an introspective and grounded individual. Ruby possesses an innate ability to listen, reflect, and understand — qualities that make her a natural leader and a compassionate mentor.

Her early life was marked by academic brilliance and an unwavering desire to contribute meaningfully to society. She was drawn to the civil services, not for the prestige it offered, but for the platform it provided to make a difference. Her decision to join the Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) was a step that aligned with her goal of driving systemic improvements from within the government machinery.

Ruby’s personal life has also been shaped by her roles as a daughter, a mother, a wife, and a friend. These relationships grounded her and provided the emotional anchor she needed, especially during her most challenging times. Despite the immense pressures of her career, Ruby managed to strike a fine balance between personal commitments and professional obligations — a testament to her organizational skills and her empathetic worldview.

In her professional capacity, Ruby Ahluwalia is nothing short of a super achiever. As a senior officer in the Indian Railway Accounts Service, she has held multiple leadership positions across various regions and verticals. Her career trajectory reflects not just a deep commitment to public service but also an exceptional ability to navigate the complexities of India’s bureaucratic and infrastructural ecosystem.

Over the years, Ruby has worked on several high-impact projects in the Indian Railways, which is the world's fourth-largest railway network. She contributed significantly to areas such as financial management, infrastructure development, procurement systems, and auditing frameworks. Her meticulous approach to governance and her forward-thinking mindset earned her accolades from colleagues and superiors alike.

But what truly sets Ruby apart is not just her command over technical and administrative matters, but her visionary leadership. She always believed that public service must transcend files and policies — it should touch lives. This belief later became the cornerstone of her second, more transformative career in the realm of cancer care.

Even before her diagnosis, Ruby's leadership style was inclusive, consultative, and purpose-driven. She inspired teams, mentored young officers, and introduced innovative processes that improved transparency and efficiency. Her contributions to the Indian Railways are well documented and continue to serve as benchmarks for ethical and effective governance.

In 2009, Ruby’s life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with Grade III breast cancer. What began as a routine check-up turned into a life-altering revelation. The diagnosis came as a shock, but instead of succumbing to despair, Ruby chose to fight — not just for her survival, but also to find deeper meaning in the adversity that had befallen her.

The months that followed were gruelling. Ruby underwent intensive treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. The physical pain was immense, but perhaps even more daunting was the emotional and psychological toll. As someone used to being in control, the unpredictability of cancer tested her in unimaginable ways. Yet, in those darkest hours, Ruby discovered her inner strength.

Her battle with cancer was not fought in isolation. She was supported by her family, friends, and well-wishers, but it was her own resolve that became her strongest ally.

During treatment, Ruby began to realize the deep gaps in India's cancer care system — especially in the areas of emotional support, nutritional guidance, and psychological counselling. She noticed how many patients, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, were left to navigate the frightening world of cancer on their own.

This realisation sowed the seeds of a new mission in her life. She began documenting her experiences, talking to other patients, and studying holistic healing systems. Her personal battle was transforming into a cause — a cause that would soon change the lives of thousands.

In 2012, Ruby Ahluwalia founded Sanjeevani - Life Beyond Cancer, a not-for-profit organization committed to providing holistic support to cancer patients across India. 

The goal was simple yet profound — to ensure that no cancer patient feels alone in their journey.

Under Ruby’s leadership, Sanjeevani has evolved into one of India's leading organizations in Integrative Cancer Care. 

It offers services such as counselling, nutritional advice, yoga therapy, wellness sessions, patient navigation, and vocational training. 

What makes Sanjeevani unique is its patient-centric approach, which treats the individual and not just the disease.

Ruby’s belief in holistic healing — integrating medical treatment with mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness — formed the backbone of Sanjeevani's programs. The organization has established hospital-based support programs in partnership with leading cancer hospitals like Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), AIIMS (Delhi), and RCCs among others.

Sanjeevani’s initiatives like "CanSahyogi" — a structured program that trains cancer survivors and caregivers to become patient support providers — are pathbreaking in their scope and impact. The program has created a community of support warriors who walk with patients during their most vulnerable moments.

Another important initiative, “CanChetna,” is a cancer awareness and prevention program that reaches out to underserved communities, promoting early detection and de-stigmatizing cancer. Sanjeevani has also worked closely with policymakers to integrate patient support mechanisms into mainstream healthcare delivery.

Ruby Ahluwalia’s legacy is a living, breathing reality. Her work has impacted more than 12,50,000 lives directly and many more indirectly. 

But perhaps her most powerful legacy lies in the stories of hope and courage that Sanjeevani continues to nurture every day. For every patient who found a friend in a Sanjeevani volunteer, for every family that discovered strength through support groups, and for every survivor who turned into a CanSahyogi, Ruby's vision lives on.

In addition to her on-ground work, Ruby authored the book Fragrance of a Wild Soul, which chronicles her personal journey with cancer and healing. The book is not just a memoir but a spiritual guide that encourages readers to explore their own paths of inner transformation. It has been widely appreciated for its honesty, sensitivity, and depth.

Ruby has also emerged as a thought leader in the field of integrative oncology. She is frequently invited to speak at global conferences, medical institutions, and wellness summits. Her voice is shaping how societies view illness, recovery, and healthcare.

Her recent involvement with events like NCICC (National Conference for Integrative Cancer Care) illustrates her commitment to knowledge-sharing and systemic change. Through her advocacy and collaborations, Ruby is helping to reshape cancer care in India into a more humane, inclusive, and empowering experience.

Ruby Ahluwalia’s life is a testament to the power of purpose. 

She turned a personal health crisis into a national movement. She translated her bureaucratic acumen into social impact. She transformed her pain into empathy and her recovery into service. Through Sanjeevani and beyond, she continues to illuminate the path for countless others.

In a world that often celebrates loud success, Ruby's quiet strength and transformative compassion stand out. She is not just a survivor — she is a warrior, a mentor, a visionary.

Her story reminds us that true greatness lies not in avoiding adversity but in embracing it with courage and using it to uplift others.

In Ruby Ahluwalia, we see the story of Bharat’s silent revolutionaries — people who may not seek the spotlight, but whose light touches thousands everyday. Her journey is far from over, but her legacy is already etched in the hearts of those she has touched. 

#cancer #bharat #goa #cancerawareness #cancertreatment #cancerresearch #cancersurvivor #cancerwarrior #chemotherapy #radiotherapy #surgery #ayurveda #yogapractice #nutritionmatters #SoundHealing #arttherapy #dancetherapy #acupressure #mindfulness #healthyliving #SanjeevaniLifeBeyondCancer #RubyAhluwalia #CanSahyogi #satori #Srijan #CanSaarthi #canahaar #anilahluwalia #ruby #anil

Straight from the heart

Straight from the #heart.

I write this post as #Caregiver to a #cancer #victor - my wife - Ruby Ahluwalia  and the #challenges we faced during her long drawn treatment and recovery thereafter.

Thru this post, firstly, I wish to congratulate UICC - Union for International Cancer Control  World Health Organization (WHO) United Nations  for choosing this years theme as CLOSE THE CARE GAP, thus bringing this element out in the open.

#CloseTheCareGap .

Fight against cancer is not just #chemotheraphy #radiothetaphy and #surgery. 

Of course #medical #treatment is #crucial but so is addressing all fronts that cancer opens up for patients and their families. 

They need a lot of help to cope up with #emotional, #financial, #physical stresses, #lack of #rehabilitation avenues besides #social #ostracism based on myths. 

Post treatment, they can't be left as #outcasts and non-productive #liabilities . 

It is our #collective #responsibility to provide proper #psychosocial #support and #rehabilitation to them so that they can live a productive life thereby contributing to the national #GDP.

As a caregiver, whilst I was grateful to experience excellent medical support, much was lacking on all other fronts. 

I am grateful to the Government of India for charting a roadmap to make medical treatment more inclusive by opening more super speciality cancer hospitals. Thank you PM Narendra Modi ji for his vision.

However, there is very little focus on augmenting awareness, preventive, psychosocial support and rehabilitation initiatives for this huge population facing cancer / after effects of cancer.

Our personal struggles and learnings led to formation of non-profit Sanjeevani-Life Beyond Cancer in 2012. 

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer has been relentlessly pursuing the dream to fill the gaps thru its various programs. Over 350000 lives have already been enriched during this journey 10 years ..more needs to be done.

Today the entire team at #SanjeevaniLifeBeyondCancer has pledged to redouble our efforts on being there for cancer patients and close as many gaps for them, as possible.

#WorldCancerDay is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness on cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. 

World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (#UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008. 

Cancer is a huge challenge and needs #collective action on part of all of us. 

Urge all to act. Firstly look at our & our loved ones #lifestyles - so that we dont fall prey to cancer. That itself will stem the tide. Thank you.

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer, is there to assist, thru various handholding, awareness, prevention and holistic healing programs as in the short video

Sanjeevani Programs and Impact

To know more you are welcome to visit our website www.sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com or call our Helplines - 8691000800 / 8691000801.

Wishing all my friends the best of life and everything.

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer bags the BEST NGO 2021 Award at PRCI Global Conclave

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer bags the BEST NGO 2021 Award at PRCI Global Conclave

 

Non-profit organization, Sanjeevani - Life Beyond Cancer, devoted to enriching the lives of cancer patients and raising the bar of cancer care in India has been doing stellar work pan India in the fields of emotional and financial rehabilitation of patients as well as creating awareness on healthy lifestyle, prevention and early detection of cancer. 

Recognizing the tremendous impact created by their work during 2020-21, Sanjeevani was conferred the BEST NGO 2021 AWARD at the PRCI Global Conclave at #GOA. 

The award was conferred by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod P Sawant and was received by Ms Ruby Ahluwalia (Founder, Sanjeevani-Life Beyond Cancer) and Ms Anushka Estibeiro (Sr PE, Goa, Sanjeevani). 

 

As Ruby says, “We navigate patients for the full spectrum from despair to rehabilitation and thus I think of Sanjeevani as a nation builder and not just an NGO.” 

Sanjeevani currently operates in 12 Indian states (17 Super specialty hospitals) and has enriched lives of over 3,00,000 patients since eight years of inception (of which over 75000 in 2020-21 alone) and works predominantly with underprivileged cancer patients and the programs offered by them are free of cost to patients. 

To know more they can be reached out through either their 

help line numbers 8691000800 & 8691000801 

or through their website www.sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com

#cancer #bharat #goa #cancerawareness #cancertreatment #cancerresearch #cancersurvivor #cancerwarrior #chemotherapy #radiotherapy #surgery #ayurveda #yogapractice #nutritionmatters #SoundHealing #arttherapy #dancetherapy #acupressure #mindfulness #healthyliving #SanjeevaniLifeBeyondCancer #RubyAhluwalia #CanSahyogi #satori #Srijan #CanSaarthi #canahaar #anilahluwalia #ruby #anil

Ruby Ahluwalia bags the 'Communicator of the year 2021 - Health Communication' at PRCI Global Conclave

Ruby Ahluwalia bags the 'Communicator of the year 2021 - Health Communication' at PRCI Global Conclave 

Smt. Ruby Ahluwalia was conferred the COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR 2021 - HEALTH COMMUNICATION AWARD by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod P Sawant at the PRCI Global Conclave held recently at Goa.

 

Ruby Ahluwalia IRAS (1987 batch) has varied interests and achievements and is currently posted in Mumbai as Principal Financial Advisor to Central Railways. 

 

She is dedicated to bring about social change for the betterment of the society.  She is the Founder and the force behind ‘Sanjeevani … Life Beyond Cancer’ – a not for profit organization which works towards holistic cure and rehabilitation of underprivileged cancer patients, through innovative long term solutions. Sanjeevani, today, runs free centers in 17 cities, across 12 states and has impacted more than 3 lakh patients since its inception.

Fragrance Of A Wild Soul

Fragrance of A Wild Soul

BG Conversation, one of the great initiatives by the Bombay Gymkhana Literary Committee, hosted by the club on 6^th February 2020 was a houseful event.

The conversation that evening, between author Ruby Ahluwalia, IRAS, a member of the club and Bombay Gymkhana's Literary Secretary Reena Agarwal was around the book ‘Fragrance Of A Wild Soul’.

Ruby Ahluwalia, a bureaucrat with a wandering, adventurous spirit, had it all — a successful career, a happy, supportive family and a creative and analytical mind. A pro-multitasker, she was juggling her time and energies to be a super professional, a super mom, a super wife and a super daughter. Little did she realize that in this process, she was becoming a ‘below average her’.

Ruby is a Life Coach and a prolific speaker on Holistic healing. She is the Founder of Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer and has worked with more than 2 lakh patients across India through the narrative of Integrated Cancer care.

Fragrance of A Wild Soul is her personal journey — a story of self-exploration — which led her to answers that lay in the patterns of human behaviour. The book captures the author’s spiritual quest, introspection and reflection. It explores the causes for upheavals in our lives and turning our catastrophic experiences into opportunities and living life to the fullest.

Reena started the conversation by sharing “I knew nothing about the book and hence was skeptical about having this conversation. I started the book on my way to Goa and got so engrossed that I finished the book in flat 4 hours.”

This sentiment has been echoed by many readers. In fact a couple say that the story as narrated in the book “is un-pu-downable”

Responding to Reena on how Ruby felt on learning that she had with cancer, Ruby quipped “I was very annoyed. Most people when diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer become sad, fearful and depressed. But I, with the diagnosis, was angry. I was annoyed at myself that such a huge tumor was forming inside my body and I did not even get to know. My whole being had cheated on me, conspired against me, I felt.”

As the conversations grew if became evident that the book is not about only about Ruby’s journey with cancer. It is about her journey in life from a six year old to now. A racy narrative that keeps the reader engaged.

The importance of a positive mindset during treatment was discussed and responding to a members query, Dr Rustom Mody chipped it to explain the nocebo affect “A nocebo effect is said to occur when negative expectations of the patient regarding a treatment cause the treatment to have a more negative effect than it otherwise would have.” 

Here is what some of the readers have to say:

“The book ‘Fragrance Of A Wild Soul’ is truly unputdownable. I read it in a single sitting…. There is not one of us who has not experienced cancer directly or indirectly. Her book is truly inspirational. You have to read the book to fully understand when she writes “All we need to do to heal a wound, to close an open chapter in life, to end misery, to get over a bad experience – is a silent but active listening and a little bit of empathy in the end.’” says Dolly Thakore, Veteran Theatre actress and casting director, who attended the conversation.

“Read the book in one go! You have penned your experiences and feelings so simply, yet is sounds so profound. Coming straight from your heart to the reader’s! Connecting the soul, heart and body and explaining bonding of the three. … Your book will definitely encourage many to shed the weight of their own unnecessary baggage and live a more fulfilled and complete life.” says Pinky Thakker, Trustee of Adore Charities.

“I lost my mother to cancer 20 years ago. I stayed away from any conversation or even any article on cancer as it troubled me bringing back some painful memories. … Last night after dinner, I don’t know why, I picked up the book and started reading this 180 pager till the end in one go. … What an outstanding story! A perfect mix of all emotions – humour, empathy, anger, love and much more. For me, Ruby’s story is inspirational not because she survived a life threatening disease but because I could connect her story to so many Rubys I know. … Her story is our story on so many counts.” says Mitu Samar Jha, Reputation Management specialist and Founder of Eminence Consulting.

“Ruby … read the book. You are awesome and adorable. … This book will be one of the most precious books in my collection. Request every one to read this book. Many congratulations and God bless you.” says Dr Santanu Chaudhari, eminent Oncologist and Chairman, Centre of Excellence for Oncology (Cancer), Nayati Healthcare.

“Liberation does not come easy. Just finished reading the book. It is a beautiful collage of emotions and experiences of the author. Very poignant at places and racy and thrilling…. I fully endorse the new narrative of life and a message of self liberation that she advocates and wish all my close friends to reach that stage of liberation. For that to happen, the book becomes a must read.” says Ranjanesh Sahay, IRAS

Ruby has pledged part of the royalties from the book for her charity and urged all members to enjoy the book and if they like it buy and gift to their friends and contacts.

Each copy sold adds to Sanjeevani's corpus. 

The book can be ordered from Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press.

The author Ruby Ahluwalia is a senior bureaucrat presently posted in Mumbai, where she lives with her husband, son and daughter.

She can be contacted on wildsoul@sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com

We need to talk.

We need to talk.

One Sunday afternoon in June 2009,while having lunch, my better half, Ruby Ahluwalia made a small remark "we need to talk, there is something I have to share".

We had our lunch and true to her sunday afternoon ritual, she went for her afternoon beauty sleep. 

I picked up an old book and settled down. 

'We need to talk' was forgotten.

Post dinner, during our customary walk, she again said 'we need to talk'.

Now that sounded ominous. 

Fearing that I had screwed up again, I do this quite frequently and with reliable periodicity, I braced myself for another round of solid emotional downsizing.

'Looks like I have a lump in my left breast' she said and left it at that.

Thank God. Was that all. 

I was quite relieved.

Time past by. Monsoon was at its peak. Monsoon brings out the best in Mumbai. All washed up. I love mumbaiya monsoon and for me that is the best time of the year.

That also is the time of year when one moves jobs. I had been chosen to lead my organizations flagship loyalty program for entire the Western India. I was quite ecstatic. The role was just what I loved doing and got totally immersed in my responsibilities.

‘We need to talk’ was forgotten.

A fortnight later Ruby mentioned in the passing that she had discussed the lump with our family doctor and that the doctor recommended we go in for a mammogram, ASAP.

Mammogram, what the hell????
We went for it and the rest is history.

3 years later, Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer was born.