Memoirs of a Travel Fellow Chapter 1: The local train

“Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing but medicine at a larger scale” – Rudolf Virchow

I still remember the night I decided to apply for the Travel Fellowship Program. I had gone up to the terrace of our house surgeon’s quarters, took a deep breath, and in that breath, I exhaled the weight I had been carrying—political stagnation I felt during my internship, the growing ideological dilemmas between me and SFI, the harsh realities faced by working-class patients in medical colleges, and the mental and physical exploitation of medical professionals by the state.

And then, I inhaled hope. A fragile, tear-shaped hope—but hope nonetheless.

The Travel Fellowship is a one-year program for medical graduates that allows us to explore healthcare realities in rural and marginalized parts of India. It is an initiative by the Tribal Health Initiative (THI), based in Sittilingi, Tamil Nadu.

My relationship with THI began unexpectedly. At the time, my 14 friends and I were boycotting our final year university exams. While others sat inside writing their papers, we sat outside—hopelessly or maybe freely. One day, out of the blue, a senior sent me a Google Doc link and told me to apply for something called the Rural Sensitisation Program (RSP), to be held in Sittilingi. I didn’t even bother to check what RSP was. I casually filled out the form without any sincerity—but surprisingly, I got selected.

That three-day workshop turned out to be eye-opening. It introduced me to a community-driven health model and gave me a sense of direction. Though I drifted away from that experience during my internship, life had its own plans. Eventually, I returned—this time as a Travel Fellow.

(Government medical College Calicut, college garden)

After the selection process, five of us were chosen for Batch 4. We were completely different in personality, background, and perspective, yet we connected almost instantly. Each of us selected different host centers from the 20 options available and spent 2–3 months in each, immersing ourselves in activities of our choice. The program offered mentorship, an initial orientation, a mid-term meet, and a final gathering—spaces where we could share stories, dilemmas, and reflections. Its flexibility was perhaps the most beautiful feature.

I was the last among my batch to start the fellowship. My journey began at Shaheed Hospital in Dalli Rajhara, Chhattisgarh. From there, I traveled to Swasthya Swaraj in Odisha, JCMB in Jharkhand, Sappho for Equality in Kolkata, and finally to the Barefoot Academy of Governance in Chennai.

( Travel fellowship Batch 5)

For almost 1.5 years, I traveled alone.

Looking back now, what I gained is something far more valuable than any degree or certificate—I found home. A home in every place. People who cared for me, who listened, who spent time with me. I carry a collection of stories—each one shaped by different emotions and lived experiences. And perhaps, most importantly, this journey has begun to shape my political consciousness. Or at least, it’s leading me somewhere.

(Sittilingi valley)

(To be continued….)