The Amazing Journey of Dr Shambhavi Sharma : One to Remember and Acknowledge

Dr Shambhavi Sharma, a cancer specialist, is a shining example of how hectic work is no excuse, while building a life for other life forms around.

When you start feeling one with nature, all its creations become a part of you. Doctor Shambhavi Sharma's life reflects the same. A radiation oncologist by profession, Dr. Sharma finds peace in being with nature- be it plants or animals.

Brought up in small cities amidst nature, Shambhavi found herself inclined towards plants and animals from the very beginning. She was greatly influenced by her father, who had a deep interest in gardening and grew local fruits and vegetables at home when they stayed in Steel City.

Shambhavi remembers how her father had a Rose garden and tried growing new plant varieties at their home, instilling a bond with nature that continues to grow every day.

"He'd often win prizes in the annual flower show. My interest peaked when my father started experimenting with his garden. He'd grown orchids on trees, managed to grow a full-fledged Orange tree, and even grew red-toned Allahabadi guavas."

Today, even after shifting to a metropolitan city, she keeps herself close to nature through her small garden- a small ecosystem with a variety of flowers, vegetables, green plants, and fruits.

"I like to grow all varieties of salad leaves- Bok Choy and Arugula leaves are my favorites. Tomatoes, spinach, and radish are regularly grown as well. In summer, I manage to grow Zinnia, peace lilies, cosmos, and sunflowers.

I try and grow some sort of pollinating flowers as well to attract bees and birds." shares Shambhavi, who skillfully manages to spare some time for her hobby amidst her busy and strenuous work schedule.

What's fascinating about Shambhavi's love for gardening is that even her hectic profession does not deter her from following her passion and learning about maintaining and building a place full of life. Her experience as a home gardener is reflected through her ways of maintaining small gardens and tips she shares with other plant lovers who face space-crisis. To maintain the overall health of her little green corner, she takes help from a maali.

As per her, "…the trick is to use every bit of the available space smartly. Use hanging planters wherever possible. These days, multi-stand pots and planters are available. They can accommodate a lot of plants in limited spaces. Flowering creepers can be grown along railings as well."

For beginners, Sharma suggests simplicity and to begin with low-maintenance plants.

"It's a good idea to keep plants indoors, especially easy-to-maintain plants like Syngonium, monstera, fiddle fig, etc. They do not require direct sunlight however they do need to be placed outside for a few days in the shade after being kept inside for a long.", advises Dr. Shambhavi, who also likes plants as home décor.

In addition, she explains how one can use the patio space to landscape a lovely green nook in the house by using the right furniture, growing a vertical garden, and adorning the space with hardy plants like turtle vines, pothos, and more. Adding to her expertise are her words of vigilance-

"Espaliering is a tough horticultural technique wherein trees and shrubs are pruned and trained or trimmed) to climb up the wall. It is ideal for larger Patios."

For such spaces, she suggests Bougainville, Morning Glory, and Madhu Malti which add up to walls and railings with their vibrant colors. To make your space more color attuned she advises using bright-colored flower pots upfront on your patio, followed by more muted tones.

Gardening Tips from Dr. Shambhavi Sharma:

a. Avoid watering your plants in excess.

b. Know your plants. Every plant has its specific need for Sun, soil, and water.

c. Use organic pesticides only since dead insects and worms can be a meal for birds and rodents. Most importantly, make your garden a haven for other animals, however small it is.

At present, the doctor is looking forward to the upcoming winter season, when a lot of plant varieties thrive and bloom in otherwise dull weather on some days. "Winters see a lot of chrysanthemums, petunias, marigolds, calendula, and daisies. Winters are a boon for growing vegetables as well."

Some exotic plants like orchids, ranunculus, Lillies, passiflora, and poinsettia also adorn her place making her home heavenly fresh, and alive.

While her interest in gardening developed over time, her love for animals came naturally to her and cannot be missed. She has actively worked with Wildlife rescue and Voice of Stray dogs, organizations that work for the welfare, rescue, rehabilitation and betterment of street animals.

Speaking on her association with animal welfare organizations, Shambhavi poured her feelings towards animals and how she finds helping the animals on the streets soothing.

"I help people fight cancer but I find peace in touching the lives of animals who can't speak any human language but go through the same pain and joys as us. Animals that are smothered by us but who can't even complain."

Shambhavi believes that just by having a heart, a lot of good can be done for the animals and birds who have lost their homes and food habitats due to urbanization. She also feels that lack of empathy is one of the major causes of the poor condition of animals.

"Little things matter, from not throwing stones at dogs to placing a bowl of water for birds, every little thing pushes us to do our bit and also to become better human beings.

Before you take any step towards them- reverse your roles and feel what would the same treatment do to you!"

To Shambhavi, having life around and building safe spaces for the survival of flora and fauna is a way of living an enlightened life. In her own words, "What are we, if it's the only US!"

Kudos to this brave cancer specialist who works for people and lives for species that make this planet a habitable haven for us.