THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
On Monday, 8 June 2026, I visited Mr. Santoshita Chakam and his wife at Apollo Hospital along with Bhikkhu Sumedha, Bhikkhu Soratha, and Bhikkhu Kanchi Bodhidhamma. We were also joined by lawyer-activists Adv. Manjunath, Adv. Gowtham Ganesh, and Adv. Sakthipavalavel. The venerable monks offered blessings and words of Dhamma, while the advocates conveyed their solidarity and support. The visit brought Mr. Santoshita great joy and encouragement. He was deeply moved by the kindness shown to him and felt spiritually strengthened during his recovery.
Mr. Santoshita Chakma, Founder of the Jumma Refugee Welfare Association, and also Executive Committee member has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights and welfare of the Jumma people. The Jumma refugees are an indigenous ethnic and religious minority from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh. For decades, they have faced violent persecution, land dispossession, human rights violations, and forced displacement resulting from militarization and settlement policies in their ancestral homeland. Through his work, Mr. Santoshita has been a committed voice for the protection, dignity, and welfare of Jumma refugees and indigenous communities.
Recently, Mr. Santoshita underwent a successful surgery for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) at Apollo Hospital, Chennai. DVT is a serious condition caused by the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, often in the legs. In his case, the clot was large and extensive, and was likely associated with compression caused by a tumor. Before arriving in Chennai, he experienced severe swelling and intense pain in his leg while in Bangladesh, causing significant discomfort and restricting his mobility.
The surgery was successfully performed, and Mr. Santoshita is now recovering steadily. I met the doctors attending to him, and they expressed confidence in his progress and expected a speedy recovery.
We are delighted by his successful surgery and positive recovery and wish him continued healing, strength, and good health in the days ahead as he continues his valuable service to the Jumma people.
With lots of metta!
