From My Heart
Listen to Your Conscience
I am very much disturbed by some of the recent developments in this country of mine. First of all it’s the reservation issue on which I didn’t voice my opinion earlier because I knew it was sheer political opportunism by the UPA govt to win the OBC votes in next year’s UP state elections. Medicos are leading the anti-reservation agitation and because of this, poor patients are suffering for no fault of theirs. I completely support the anti-reservation movement but I think it is high time now Engineering, Law, MBA, etc, students and people from the private sector took the lead. I think Medicos should go back and treat the patients. The Socrates Law by which the Medical fraternity swears thus states:
I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
Written in 1964 by Louis Lasagna, Academic Dean of the School of Medicine at Tufts University, and used in many medical schools today.
Reading this it is very clear that a doctor’s first duty is to attend to the sick. The doctors should find other peaceful means of protest – like wearing black coat, black bandana, etc. At least the medicos should heed the Supreme Court's directions in this matter.
Enough is Enough
Another thing that is bothering me is the developments in Gujarat. All that Aamir Khan asked was to properly rehabilitate the people who will be displaced once the Sardar Sarovar Dam’s height is increased. For this some Gujaratis labelled him anti-Gujarat. Everyone knows the importance of the dam for the states of western India but that doesn’t mean we trample upon a section of our people to provide water to another section of our people.
The Aamir Khan Vs Gujarat spat is now reaching preposterous levels of insanity. As Gujarat cinemas fearing violence by politicians have banned “Fanaa”, some guys who obviously are big Aamir Khan fans decided to go to Mumbai to watch the movie. Now some fellow Gujaratis have labelled them ‘traitors’ and don’t want them back in Gujarat and they also want them expelled from University. The ban however doesn’t stop anyone in Gujarat watching pirated version of “Fanaa” on DVD.
The Aamir Khan Vs Gujarat spat is now reaching preposterous levels of insanity. As Gujarat cinemas fearing violence by politicians have banned “Fanaa”, some guys who obviously are big Aamir Khan fans decided to go to Mumbai to watch the movie. Now some fellow Gujaratis have labelled them ‘traitors’ and don’t want them back in Gujarat and they also want them expelled from University. The ban however doesn’t stop anyone in Gujarat watching pirated version of “Fanaa” on DVD.
Hatred and intolerance in BJP ruled Gujarat a.k.a laboratory of Hindutva is a grave matter of concern. Sonia Gandhi’s pet project NREGA, (which has been badly trashed by some economists) could become – if initial reports are to be believed – a successful project in giving employment in rural areas. If India’s rural economy can grow by1%, it will translate into a 10,000 crore market for goods and services. Just this week ‘‘Indian Express” has exposed how in Narendra Modi’s Gujarat, Hindu villagers have left Muslims out of this project in most areas. There are exceptions in Gujarat where Muslims and Hindus are together in this project.
Recently in Vadodara after a very old dargha, which was declared as an encroachment was demolished, riots broke out and as usual Hindus and Muslims killed each other. How long are the Gujaratis going to live like this? Can’t they forgive each other and live peacefully? Why bring a bad name for rest of us Indians? Why do they link everything to Gujarati “asmita”? What about India’s ‘asmita’? Are they more Indian than rest of us? Where is this madness going to stop? There was a time when Gujaratis were held in great esteem by rest of us Indians for their business acumen and hospitality. Today it is different and it is a sad development.
4 comments:
Yes it was naive on Aamir's part to come out in support of NBA without knowing much on the background but what he want is also what any right thinking citizen would want - rehabilitation of the displaced.
Those commies' agenda is no to the dam but Aamir is for the dam and this the gujjus should understand.
On the reservation issue Patkar and gang can go to hell!
In democracy it is not enough if one is a good citizen. In order for democracy to work effectively it is necessary as a Good Samaritan one ensures that others are also good citizens. If one observes bad behaviour one needs to be vocal about it and condemn it. If somebody feels that something is not right they need to make their voice heard and ensure that people hear their voice.
Being a mute spectator in democracy is not participation. One needs to get involved in everyday activities related to ones surroundings, society and country as a whole. A citizen needs to have unflinching love for his country and must get involved in betterment of the society.
Every step that he takes towards goodness hinders the evil pervading the society by another step. It is an everyday war between the good and evil. Nothing good will happen on its own cosmically. One needs to assume that there exists no cosmic force outside us and all the force that needs to bring the change in society lies inside us.
If a change or revolution needs to be brought into the society it we who need to cause it. We have to exert ourselves to action in order to ensure that there is movement of the wheel in the right direction. By inertia the society will move in the wrong direction. It is we who need to make it move in the right direction.
Why should I care? I pay my taxes, isn't that sufficient? No, If you are paying taxes more the need for you to get involved with the country. You need to find out how the government is utilizing your money. Is it using for the benefit of the society. What is the use of paying money every year to somebody if he is not giving it back to you with interest? The idea behind collecting taxes by the government is that government uses its judiciously for the collective good. You have to be concerned if the government is not using it for collective good.
What the reservation movement needs is not your money. It needs your time. You have to stand there in the roads holding the placards in the hot sun, bearing the rough weather or in the rain as the case may be. You must be undeterred and your focus should be on the vision. Every act of voluntary work done by you will help in a great way in the cause.
If you don’t act now, history will look upon you as coward, who didn’t act when he was supposed to. He didn’t do when his country called him to act. Good will slowly lose grip over society and evil will take over. Once evil takes over don’t ask God for help or don’t curse yourself for not having acted when it was time to act.
Act now for history will never forgive you.
Raj,
What you have written is absolutely true. But doctors first duty is to the patients. When we fall sick and rush to our private doc and if we dont find him/her there we rush to other docs and spend as much money needed for our treatment. But the poor people can only afford hospitals like AIIMS. Let the students continue the protests. As you have rightly said people from all walks of life should spare time without affecting thier jobs to lend support to the agitation. As most of us work for private cos, sparing time is a big if.
its nice of you to ask the questions 'as usual Hindus and Muslims killed each other. How long are the Gujaratis going to live like this? Can’t they forgive each other and live peacefully? Why bring a bad name for rest of us Indians?'. Just curious - did these questions cross your mind on July 11th after the bombs went off in Mumbai?
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