“My life is my message.” Mahatma Gandhi Imagine 35,000 to 40,000 patients and 4000 deliveries per day. Picture towels and scrub suits washed and drying on the roof in the sun and then see the latest monitoring equipment in the ICU, although the gurneys most likely date to the 1950s. Yet the nurses, nurse leaders, and physicians are devoted to the best care they can give at this huge public hospital in Jaipur, India, supported by government funds. They face an amazing challenge in this country of 1.3 billion. AONE's People to People Citizens Ambassador program took a delegation to India, led by CEO Pamela Thompson and 2010 President Pam Rudisill. They, along with 11 delegates and 5 guests, observed and participated in learning and sharing with healthcare officials, nurses, physicians, and nurse executives in both the public and private sectors. The government in India recognizes that it cannot meet the needs of the population and has fostered the growth of public/private partnerships to address this. This seems to be a true partnership as private hospital systems must treat a percentage of people at or below the poverty level for free. We can learn from this! I recall that I approached some private hospitals in Nashville, TN, to help support our public hospital, which was beneficial to them as it allowed them to see paying patients and not take up beds with the uninsured. I was not successful. Meanwhile, in India the government is addressing public health issues at the grassroots level. Because 70% of India's population is rural, the decentralized approach involves 22,000 health centers throughout the country with a goal of 24-hour accessibility. The major illnesses are malaria, tuberculosis, polio, and leprosy. We were impressed by the public health system, where trained healthcare workers see patients in their own community. The secondary level includes 30-bed hospitals as part of the rural health centers. These are primarily devoted to thew prevention of infant and maternal mortality, which is at momentously high levels. District hospitals provide the third level of care and are part of the same rural system, thereby facilitating continuity. We found it exciting that Ayusha physicians practice at the grassroots level, hand in hand with the healthcare worker. Ayusha practitioners are trained in ancient Eastern medicine, such as Ayurveda and homeopathy. More education and intervention that can be applied through combined Eastern and Western medicine is an approach that the government is examining to meet the healthcare needs of this very large population. What really struck us was the attitude of the people, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The Hindu philosophy stresses that possessions are far less important than character. At the same time acceptance of status level may be a result of a belief in karma and reincarnation. This attitude is so obvious in the smiles and friendliness of the people, regardless of their station in life. After all, if they are good in character and lead a moral life, they will return in a better position. Our visit to both public and private healthcare systems was truly a positive eye-opener about India's commitment to improve healthcare. The beauty of the country and its rich history cannot be overstated. We learned so much; part of that learning included the tacit messages by the caregivers in the public hospital. The nurses live their message of humility, giving, charity, and love. Our contingent will never forget the benevolence and commitment of these nurses and their leaders, regardless of the hardships, trials, and tribulations brought on by nursing shortages, lack of supplies and equipment, and an enormous population needing care and compassion. The nurses exemplify their message through their actions of humility, charity, patience, and love. They are certainly the disciples of the great Mahatma Gandhi.