Aruna Shanbaug, a former nurse who was living in a vegetative state for 42 years, died on May 19, at KEM hospital. She was assaulted on November 27, 1973, by ward boy Sohanlal Bhartha Walmiki. He had strangled her with a chain and the asphyxiation cut off oxygen supply to her brain.
Nursing staff of King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital at Parel remembered Aruna Shanbaug on her 68th birth anniversary, which fell on June 1. While talking about the former nurse's life, a Shiv Sena MLC declared Rs5 lakh for setting up a library in her memory, which was christened 'Aruna Shanbaug's Women's Library,' on the hospital premises.
Aruna Shanbaug, a former nurse who was living in a vegetative state for 42 years, died on May 19, at KEM hospital. She was assaulted on November 27, 1973, by ward boy Sohanlal Bhartha Walmiki. He had strangled her with a chain and the asphyxiation cut off oxygen supply to her brain.
Every year on June 1, while Aruna was admitted in the hospital, her colleagues celebrated her birthday by cutting cake. On Monday, the nursing welfare committee at KEM hospital organised a condolence meeting-cum-birthday celebration on campus.
Along with hospital doctors, all her colleagues and ex-matron gathered at the hospital, and spoke about the Aruna's life.
While addressing the gathering, Dr Neelam Gorhe, MLC, Shiv Sena said: "All the credit goes to the nurses who took care of her round the clock all these years. In her memory, I would like to give Rs5 lakh from the MLC fund for constructing a library for the hospital's nursing staff."
The MLC added: "When we came to know that Sohanlal Walmiki is alive, we decided that he should be given maximum punishment. For this, we will personally talk to the chief minister."
Arundhati Vellal, matron, KEM hospital, echoed Dr Gorhe's views: "The government and police should look into this matter and give him maximum punishment."
Speaking to dna, Dr Avinash Supe, dean, KEM hospital, said: "We will set up the library in Aruna's name, and our nursing staff will decide what other facilities should be added. Apart from that, we have decided to rename room no. 4 after Aruna."
Mumbai-based journalist Neha Purav penned a Marathi biography on Aruna, 'Vyatha Arunachi' (Aruna's Agony), which was released on Monday at Mumbai Press Club.
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