Dr Prashant Mishra, a leading cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon based in Mumbai, had one of those life-changing moments in the middle of a routine conversation. After a successful bypass surgery, he called his patient’s employer to share the good news. But the employer’s response really made his day.
The call that changed everything
For Dr Mishra, talking to the kin post-surgery was routine, but this one case changed everything for him. The patient, Mr Shukla, arrived at Thunga Hospital needing bypass surgery. He worked as a driver, and so the surgeon did what he thought was practical. The procedure at the hospital would cost around Rs 4.25 lakh, so the doctor suggested that Mr Shukla explore a government hospital where the surgery could be performed free. “Since he worked as a driver and the procedure at our hospital costs around Rs 4.25 lakh, I advised him to go to a civic (BMC) hospital where the surgery could be performed free of cost through a government scheme,” Dr Mishra said in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter).That evening, Shukla’s son called Dr Mishra back. “Doctor, we would prefer to get the surgery done here at Thunga Hospital only. Please help us reduce the cost as much as possible,” the son said. Dr Mishra assured him that he would do whatever he could to help them.
Representative image generated using AI
The next day, the surgery was performed, and it was successful. Shukla’s boss also transferred the full amount directly to the hospital via RTGS. Following the surgery, Dr Mishra called the employer to share the news. The employer’s response was immediate. “Thank you, Doctor, for taking such good care of my colleague.”That word stopped Dr Mishra mid-breath. He pressed. “Colleague? But he mentioned he works as your driver.” What came next was the kind of answer that doesn’t make headlines in boardrooms or business schools, but maybe should.“Doctor, we work together,” Shukla’s employer said. Dr Mishra asked again, “I understand, but isn’t he your driver?” This time, Shukla’s employer took a moment to gently explain. “He has been with me for 15 years, and I don’t see him as just my driver. I work, and he works. We simply hold different roles in our daily life, but we work together. His job is different from mine, but we are colleagues.”Those words left Dr Mishra speechless. It made him rethink the entire hierarchy of human work, and what workplace dignity really means.“I was completely speechless. The lesson learned: never look down on your domestic help or staff as mere ‘servants’. They are the ones who keep our lives running smoothly, and they deserve equal respect and dignity,” Dr Mishra concluded the post.
Internet reacts
Dr Mishra’s post has garnered significant attention over the past few days. It has sparked a broad conversation about workplace dignity and hierarchy. Blue-collar workers, including domestic staff, drivers, cleaners, and service staff, are often subjected to poor treatment. Some X users shared their stories of how they treat their household help. One user revealed that he started an SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) for his domestic help. “I started an SIP for my domestic help, with the hope that the SIP money will grow and, when they retire from my work after 10–12 years, I shall be in a position to offer a small lump sum amount to them. The way we salaried people get a retirement corpus—I want my domestic help to get the same.” Another pointed out that society often fails to treat people in certain jobs with the dignity they deserve. “Absolutely, Doctor! Only very few would understand this… our society is built on such a foundation that lacked dignity of labour a long time back, and even now!” a second commented.
