It was the year 2002…
Hari Om Agarwal, a businessman from Udhampur and a government supplier of cattle and poultry feed, was leading a happy life balanced between work and family. During the summer holidays, he visited his maternal uncle’s house. Hari Om recalls, “Everything in life was beautiful. Waking up early, having breakfast with family, being engrossed in work all day, and ending the evening with laughter and fun with friends. Back then, there were no bad habits or major stress. But something happened during that vacation that changed my entire life.”
One day, after spending some time in the summer heat, Hari Om suddenly experienced a stabbing pain in his stomach, as if someone had pierced him with a knife. He recalls, “The pain was so intense that I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. I had never felt so helpless before.” A local doctor was consulted. Tests were conducted, and it was found that his stomach was inflamed. He was immediately admitted to the hospital.
“Lying on the hospital bed, I kept wondering why this was happening to me. That was when I realized that when the body weakens, the mind also starts to give up.” Hari Om was sent home with a fifteen-day course of medicines. Initially, it seemed that everything had returned to normal. But perhaps, it was only the calm before the storm.
The first storm, but not the last…
In 2006-07, Hari Om had returned to his routine. He was busy with his business and happy with his family. But then, one day, the same pain returned. This time, it was even more intense. He says, “The pain was so severe that I couldn’t stand or sit. I felt like it might be my last day.”
He was admitted to Amrit Hospital. The doctors said that his gallbladder needed to be removed. The operation was performed, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But after some time, the pain kept returning. In Hari Om’s words, “The pain was not just tearing through my body but also my confidence and courage. Every time the pain struck, it felt like I was losing something. My family, who always gave me strength, was distressed seeing my condition.”
A wrong report, broken trust
When Hari Om experienced the pain again, he was taken to Gangaram Hospital in Delhi. He recalls, “The doctors at Amrit Hospital had said that my condition was very serious. But after tests in Delhi, it was revealed that everything was normal. At that moment, I felt as if someone had played a cruel joke on me.”
Discharged, Hari Om returned home. On the way, he ate food at a roadside dhaba. The next morning, the pain became so unbearable that even painkillers stopped working. Doctors then informed him that tandoori roti is like poison for patients with pancreatitis. Hari Om says, “Hearing this was a shock. Why hadn’t this been told to me earlier? At that moment, I felt like I was wandering in a dark tunnel with no way out.”
A journey from despair to hope
Hari Om’s condition worsened day by day. He shares, “Every one-and-a-half to two hours, I needed painkillers. My condition was such that I couldn’t sit or work. Every doctor gave up. When doctors said that treatment was not possible, a bit more of my spirit would break.”
During this time, Dr. Sushil Tandon recommended Ayurvedic treatment. He suggested the name of Vaidya Dr. Valendu Prakash in Dehradun. Hari Om says, “I thought, if there’s no solution in allopathy, why not try Ayurveda? I contacted Vaidya ji. He gave me a strict routine of diet and medicines. I followed it with complete seriousness. For the first time, I felt that I could come out of the darkness. Gradually, my condition began to improve.”
The greatest lesson of life
Today, Hari Om is completely healthy. He says, “This illness taught me the value of life. I realized that the love of family and friends gives you the strength to endure any pain. And most importantly— with proper guidance and discipline, you can overcome any difficulty.”
Hari Om’s story is not just about fighting a disease but about human grit and courage. He says, “If you’re going through a tough time, don’t give up. Listen to your body and mind, stay away from bad habits, and keep striving for the right treatment. Learn to live every moment of life fully.”
Hari Om’s story teaches us that when a person has determination and the right direction, they will find a path of light even in the darkest of times.
