World AIDS Day- Meet Ramesh Mumukshu, an unsung hero who broke myths around AIDS

On the occasion of World AIDS Day today, it is important to celebrate heroes such as Ramesh Mumukshu, 60, who were among a few early individuals who dared to break the myths and stigmas surrounding AIDS.

Ramesh Mumukshu, a resident of Janta Flats, Dwarka, who hails originally from Uttarakhand, narrates his experience while dealing with the stigma of AIDS in our society.

“In April 2000, I got to know about an HIV/AIDS patient named Govind Singh Koranga of Chucher, Tehsil Kapkot, Bageshwar district in UP (Now Uttrakhand). I was informed that the villagers kept Govind in a Gote (the local name for a cattle shed) and that they wanted to kill him. In the early nineties, I recall that doctors and nurses at AIIMS Delhi were hesitant to attend any HIV/AIDS patients. However, after the intervention of some social activists, things got a bit better and patients began to be treated with more sensitivity and humaneness. When such discrimination was prevalent in a city like Delhi, one can imagine the situation in a remote village like Chucher in Uttrakhand. So I decided to go to Chucher to find out the truth myself. There I met Govind at the place where he was locked by his family. His body was emaciated and full of dirt and was soiled and foul-smelling. The whole village recoiled at the sight of him. I was surprised to see the faces of the people and it appeared as if they were viewing some grotesque creature. Even Govind’s wife nearly ran away. It was very clear that the villagers had several misconceptions regarding the spread of HIV/AIDS. I washed him and cut his hair."

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On the occasion of AIDS day today, it is important to celebrate heroes such as Ramesh Mumukshu (60) who were among a few early individuals who dared to break the myths and stigmas surrounding AIDS.

Narrating about his Bageshwar episode, Mumukshu says that it was tough, physically and mentally, as he had to walk 18 km negotiating mountains and forests, to break the preconceived notions of the people around AIDS. “It was a difficult task for me but I did it. This created a wave in the area which spread to the rest of the country.” Following this episode, his story was featured as a cover story by India Today.

After meeting Koranga, Ramesh made several efforts to bring the subject of AIDS to public notice and talked about Koranga's case to break the myths in society. The process included meeting DM, and representatives, writing to the ministry and UN and so on. “I can say that after that incident, government and administration became more concerned and on my regular follow-ups, I could manage some basic facilities exclusively for AIDS patients in Uttarakhand,” says Mumukshu.

Then he talks about his other AIDS-related experiences. On the AIDS patients Mumukshu worked with and where they are now, he says, "After the death of Govind and his wife, their two children were left behind. I took them for HIV test and they tested negative. The boy is living with his uncle but what hurts me is that the girl was not accepted by the village and I managed to get her admitted to SOS Faridabad where she is continuing her studies.” Later on, he rescued two more AIDS patients, Renu Dayali and Kamala Dayali from Jauna, Uttarakhand. One of them is at her village under treatment and the other is working at the Naaz Foundation in Delhi.”

A few years back, I went to Naaz foundation with Ramesh Mumukshu, where, Renu, one of the persons rescued by Mumukshu, made tea for us. Initially, I was hesitant to take that tea because of the conditioning we have around AIDS patients. However, Mumukshu made me comfortable and we both enjoyed the tea while conversing with Renu.

Mumukshu is still working around issues related to AIDS and is continuing his efforts to break the stereotypes in urban societies as well. “We are in the 21st century and with such advance medical science and technology, yet the society discriminates against those people who are HIV+. Still. Even today the identity of any such patient is kept hidden. Such things need to be removed and we need to treat them as normal people. I am working on it and one day, this would be possible,” he says.

Ramesh shared with CitySpidey that his efforts were well appreciated by the administration, Government, and United Nations as well. Always keeping a low profile, Mumukshu has dedicated his entire life to this work. Recently, CitySpidey honoured him for his contribution to society in an event 'Power of Community.