Building a dream together
Entrepreneurial couple from Pune, Dr. Swetha Karlapudi and Naveen Singh Bondili are a doctor and engineer respectively. Together, they have a beautiful partnership: running a mother and child hospital "Sanjeevani", whilst bringing up their own bundles of joy, 10-year-old Aadya and one-year-old Ahaan. While Swetha, an obstetrician and gynaecologist looks after the patients, Naveen, who has an MBA in hospital management, tends to the overall hospital. This is their story, and this is how they tell it
It’s been four years since this couple took over the running of the hospital where Swetha used to work. The owner wished to retire and hoped to hand over the running of the hospital to another doctor. That’s how he asked Dr. Swetha Karlapudi, the bright young medico who had just joined his team.
“It was a pretty big chance to take, a leap of faith, but we decided it was now or never,” she says. Husband Naveen had her back— as he usually did, and he was with her on this. An electronics engineer by training, he nevertheless, decided to follow up with an MBA in hospital management from IIM to ensure Sanjeevani was run as it should be. The journey has been fraught with challenges, but the duo avers it has been worth it. Given that they both are academic achievers, isn’t it tough letting go of the surety of high paying jobs for the rough and tumble of entrepreneurship? “Yes, but the mindset should always be on the big picture. Sometimes, one has to take those chances. Our focus is on providing high quality and affordable service to patients,” says Naveen.
To that end, Sanjeevani has gone from strength to strength. “From three or four deliveries a month to 35-40. And, the overall cases we deal with are over a hundred,” says Swetha with quiet pride. “Soon, we hope to move from this rental space to our own property.” All this while handling two children: daughter Aadya and son Ahaan.
How do they manage the tightrope walk? “It’s simple. Clear division of labour and fixed hours—unless there is an emergency,” grins Swetha. “I look after the patients while he ensures the overall smooth running, including handling the kids.
Back to the beginning
This love story was scripted in the course of a train ride from Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) to Bengaluru, a 26-hour journey. “The year was 2000. I was with my brother. While Naveen was with friends,” reminisces Swetha. Young as they were, they hit it off from the get-go. “We stayed up on our berths, chatting all night and exchanged numbers. It sounds so filmy, but that’s just how it was.”
They kept in touch and over the years, the families became friends. Both completed their education from Vijaywada. While Swetha pursued her MBBS, Naveen studied electronics engineering and started his own firm that dealt with embedded systems in electronics.
Nevertheless, when it came to marriage, there were raised eyebrows and parental concerns. “For one, I had qualified as a doctor, and secondly, we are Andhra brahmins. Mom and dad wanted me to marry a doctor from our caste. Naveen is a Rajput, and the inter-cultural differences worried them,” says Swetha.
This continued for some time, but finally the duo were given their blessing and got married, a traditional Andhra-style wedding. After the wedding, Swetha moved to Pune to pursue her DNB in obstetrics and gynaecology; Naveen followed soon after and took up a job in the city too.
In Covid times, the owner of the hospital asked Swetha if she would like to take over the hospital she was working in and she said yes with Naveen’s support. “But wanting to do things the right way, he took up the MBA in hospital management,” she says.
The building blocks of a marriage
Both Naveen and Swetha are eloquent when it comes to listing the other’s qualities. “She’s a very smart, very talented lady and so beautiful too,” says Naveen. While Swetha adores his caring ways, his hands-on approach towards their children and his dexterity around the kitchen. “He’s the wind beneath my wings,” she says. “Be it hot coffee, or kind words of support, he’s always there for me.”
"Love—the feeling that you can’t do without your spouse, the fact that you wish to share everything with them, and of course, trust— are the pillars of a relationship"
- Dr. Swetha Karlapudi
Given that they have been married for 13 years and have known each other for 25 years, what as per them, are the pillars of a relationship? “Love,” says Swetha firmly. “The feeling that you can’t do without your spouse, the fact that you wish to share everything with them, and of course, trust.”
“You know we have been together for two decades,” says Naveen. “I guess that says it all.” And how do they resolve fights? “Well, we are both calm and composed given the nature of work. However, I am the vocal, expressive one while he goes quiet when he gets angry. And, this continues for some time, until finally, he comes up with a coffee. It’s then that I know that we are past the tough moment,” smiles Swetha.
So, how do they manage the all-important work-life balance? “I have fixed hours in the OPD, and he takes care of the kids while I am away. We always make sure one of us is with the kids,” says Swetha.
Quality time consists of fun weekend activities and short trips with the kids. “That really helps us relax and get back to work with renewed vigour,” says Naveen.
Swetha is quite an active, multi-faceted lady and recently won the Mrs. Maharashtra 2024 title. Considering she comes from the world of medicine, far-removed from the arc lights of glamour, what made her pursue the path of pageantry? “I have always been fashion conscious since childhood. The latest clothes and hair styles have always attracted me,” says the medico who is also an MBBS gold medallist! “I don’t see the contradiction in being seriously focused on one’s work, and at the same time, taking care of one’s appearance.”
Nevertheless, it was quite a struggle to lose her post pregnancy weight after the birth of her second child, but Swetha focused on the pageant, and she did it.
Among other things, pageantry teaches participants how to dress as per their body type, not to forget the nitty gritties of makeup and speech. “All of this affects the way the world perceives you,” she says. “When you are well-dressed and well-spoken, people receive you differently.”
Bringing up babies
How would Naveen and Swetha describe themselves as parents? “We are easy-going and relaxed,” says Naveen. “At the same time, we are particular about some things. Discipline, nutrition, respect for elders are non-negotiable.”
That said, neither parent believes in pushing their children for marks. “The concept is important, not the marks,” says Swetha. “I want them to approach exams like they would any other day at school and not get stressed.”
Still, she concedes, she would be happy if her kids chose medicine. “Our son is only one as yet, but we make it a point to take Aadya to hospital, so she can see for herself the dedication the work demands, and the difference quality health care can make to a patient’s life,” she rounds off.
MANTRAS OF A MARRIAGE
- Shared dreams and goals
- Mutual appreciation
- Love and trust