• English Corridor

30 January, 2017

Martyrs’ Day

Thy glasses now gather dust, that once gave us clear vision,

Your woven dreams a fashion, which then adorned the nation,

Your idol, a weapon now crazy, ideals so selfishly chosen,

Morals decorate the walls, essence conveniently forgotten.

Your words, now a caged artwork, which shook confinement mighty,

Quotes stud the chattering that once roared the skies lofty,

We lost your hard-earned sovereign, in sheer ignorance and frenzy,

We made a mere brand out of you, to quench our thirst nasty.

You lived the sacrifice until death, we just chant definition,

Utterly ashamed we are, even to submit a confession,

Trapped we are in a quagmire, leeches sucking the nation,

Help us O Soul Supreme, bless us with reincarnation.

■ Death Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

*****

27 March, 2017

Assault on Medicine

     In Marathi goes a saying, ‘टाकीचे घाव सोसल्याशिवाय देवपण येत नाही’, meaning ‘Unless a rock bears an insult by chisel, it cannot become an idol of worship’. Did the judgement want to submit the same? Doctors, are you going to attain Godly status? But do you really want such a status, or are you contented with your human(e) status? Certainly, the latter is true. Doctors just wish for human treatment, faith in their actions and respect for their hard-earned knowledge. Gratitude will be treated as a bonus.

     Being a diverse setup, India has always been and will remain a challenge for those who intend to bring it to par with developed nations. The population is large, dense, scattered and not connected appropriately. Culture, literacy rate & level, social customs, and languages vary a lot. I have worked in five states since I started my career. They had diversity on many fronts. This applies to the remaining states too. Being a doctor, it was great to learn that all human bodies are anatomically and physiologically similar. Apart from similarities, we also learned about human behavioural diversity, but got practical lessons only when we stepped into the huge classroom called society. Dealing with such a diverse population was quite a task. Things that were easily understood by illiterates could not be digested by literates, and aspects that were beyond the capacity of illiterates were questioned by literates. At times, I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or shout; but I resisted both, as both would invite trouble. So I began to accept and overlook it. Friends who stayed in one place with limited resources also experienced a similar situation; although not as diverse as mine. Few friends staying in metros or metro-like places began their careers in well-equipped hospitals, but they also faced similar anger, apathy and hatred from patients and their relatives. We all accepted and adjusted to all the rage and remained mute as we always believed and still believe that medicine is a noble profession. But unable to bear the ever-increasing stress, when one of us showed resistance, we were blessed with violence. When we retaliated, we were gifted ultimatums. This started happening repeatedly. What went wrong and where?

     The doctor-population ratio has always been at a pathetic low in India. This was a great blessing to quacks and black magicians. The legislation failed to implement in numerous small pockets of India where a large population stays. Scores of alternative medicine professionals began to practice modern medicine. Pharmaceutical legislation not being very stringent, led to OTC (over-the-counter) availability of the entire drug store. Highly inappropriate, wrong & unethical medical practices along with self-medication resulted in life-threatening situations. When such patients were brought to a qualified modern medical practitioner, he/she was expected to save and treat the patient. Unhealthy relations between modern and other practitioners built a considerable rift; enough to encourage hooliganism. The facts were conveniently forgotten and the innocent doctor often (or mostly) lost in the dirty game of shifting the blame. The other side of the coin is painfully noteworthy. To compete with quacks and parallel practitioners, many modern medicine practitioners followed unethical ways, and tarnished the noble image more. Female foeticide can also be mentioned as one of many such malpractices. Cut practice (a prevalent term for exchanging favours) is also another major reason for society’s raised eyebrows. Not all doctors are indeed involved in malpractice, but the number of such doctors is disturbing. Society puts all doctors in the same black frame. The ultimate result of all these facts is a lack of faith in doctors, anger over trivial mishaps, rage over minor events and violence faced by doctors.

     The medical profession runs 24 x 7. Doctors as well as paramedics are often burdened. There are various consents that patients or relatives are made to sign. They are either exhaustive or hard to comprehend and often signed in a hurry due to emergency medical situations. Sometimes, due to inadequate staff, these consents are just signed by patients or relatives without knowing the written content in detail. From a legal perspective, these consents are very essential. Apart from getting these consents signed, doctors need to devote sufficient time to discussing with the signatories to explain the meaning of the written matter. At the end of all consents, it is mentioned that the matter was explained to them in the language they understood. The sentence would sometimes come to the rescue. In India, we often hide the ailment from the patient. Sometimes, knowingly or unknowingly, a sensitive aspect of an actual ailment may be kept hidden from relatives too. These practices often invite unpleasant situations when patients become critical or lose some part of their body or, at times, life. Patients or relatives express displeasure as this situation was never explained to them. Due to unexplained and unexpected negative outcomes, their reactions often become violent, resulting in damage to property and assault on medical professionals. As a result of excess workload, fatigue often leads to objectionable remarks by medical professionals. There should be a sufficient number of doctors and paramedics so that the work goes on uninterrupted and staff get enough time to rejuvenate. Efforts should be made to delegate a few responsibilities. But explaining consent and revealing the details of the ailment should necessarily be done by treating doctors only. This creates healthy doctor-patient bonding, grows faith in doctor and at times boosts the morale of the patient. When all the facts of the ailment are revealed, the chances of malpractice are almost nullified. The outcome of the case may be negative, but the reactions will certainly not be unpleasant.

     Recently, Maharashtra witnessed a blanket strike by the medical fraternity against the judgement in one of the cases of assault on doctors on duty. Not the judgement, but the words were surprising and shocking. No influential or highly active group/s joined or supported the medical fraternity in their fight as those groups had no vested interests. These so-called humane groups turn out only when muscle or money is the aim. The number of quacks and black magicians who are held and penalised is negligible. Not only this, but other issues also remain unsolved for want of enough evidence. As usual, an unending debate about witnesses, evidence, exhibits, duties, ethics, regulations, rules and so on continues. Finally, the black buck is killed, but the killer is not identified, giving rise to a modern-day proverb- ‘हिरन भी मरे, और बंदूक भी न मिले’. The victim keeps running from pillar to post. The placards like ‘doctors are healers’ or a poster of a cute baby in a mother’s lap are now replaced by dry notices with even more dry mention of codes, sections, para, sub-para etc. The places of healing now wear the appearance of a lawyer’s office. Doctors are now engaging themselves in knowing and implementing legal details at their workplace. With the changing pattern of society, this has become mandatory. But legal provisions should not act as a weapon, but a deterrent. Unfortunately, almost all areas face resembling if not similar situations. We have started calculating everything in terms of money, power, profit or loss. Although we expect similar things in all areas, including the medical profession, we don’t react, retaliate, shout, raise slogans, or fight in similar ways in all places. We probably wouldn't react violently at any bar or restaurant because of serving bad liquor or bad food, as we were deterred by bouncers staring. Hospitals cannot certainly have bouncers, nor do schools where certain students fail to perform even after paying sky-high fees. We don’t raise our voice against the so-called ‘online Baba’ for not getting relief from ailments even after performing a few ‘आसन/क्रिया’. We don’t even question the ugly black scars gifted by a black magician. We are deterred by the nexus of the online Baba and the black magician with some highly influential groups. Doctors never found it appropriate to have such deterrents. So we dare to pull even highly qualified humble medical professionals into the witness box for not being able to completely treat a patient whose ailment was already worsened by ‘online Baba’ and/or the ‘Black magician’. Our attitude needs a change and pharmaceutical regulations a makeover. The legislation requires a revamp. The Constitution demands a great amendment.

*****

06 May, 2017

To be hanged till Death

Let the gallows deter, make a statement clear,

May the shiver go down the spine of the future sinner,

Even to think monstrous, may the savage not dare,

May humans be humane, the world be free from fear.

Nirbhaya,

Our fight doesn’t end here.

■ Nirbhayaa case verdict

*****

01 January, 2018

Ctrl + Alt + Delete

Plenty we write bold or small, our beginnings are so undefined,

Save we many, erase we some, while a few get underlined,

We keep adding para and sub, oblivious of the destined,

Box of emotions, bordered by hope, doesn’t let us be undermined.

We search so desperately, to get the link desired,

We bear the loading so patiently, never ever feel tired,

Often, we connect, though distant, at times the link shows expired,

Refreshing site, sight we gain, ready to get again wired.

Portray relations we ample, put them in landscape view,

Some of them save the screen, while remain in background a few,

The moment we minimize our frame, we perceive the old as new,

Scroll we frantically then, to return to the full screen view.

Sometimes we download folders, beautiful & fragrant,

Upload in return we then, views & thoughts pleasant,

Often emotionally hacked, we receive updates poignant,

Our eyes reload in quiet, to unload the tears stagnant.

Highlight some, colour some, we try to bookmark the dear,

But a few files become corrupt, leaving us blank with fear,

Hidden receipts, shifting replies, create then picture clear,

Dejected lone we feel, in the world of attachments mere.

Control we accept, everyone thinks, easy to mute we are,

Alter we pick, the world believes, we can be managed by ajar,

Delete we prefer, volumes get raised, arrogant labelled we are,

A lesson learnt, we select restart, we rush back home afar.

Control we must, to reset them all, recycle those which mistreat,

Enter we should, fresh & new domain, alter our ways to treat,

Shall anything corrupt our lives, we shouldn’t hesitate to delete,

To Reboot, we first need to opt for all three, Control, Alter, Delete.

*****

14 January, 2018

Makar-Sankranti

May the harvest be enough to feed the abandoned hunger,

Sweetness will fill the heart, to eliminate and conquer anger,

The sunshine of knowledge, building our thoughts brighter,

Each life, now a colourful canvas, with bonds of humanity stronger.

Pray this spring, the breeze, carry the fragrance of kindness,

To the land of sorrow and grief, battered by violence by the ruthless,

The chirping, gentle, shall recite, a verse of fortune and fondness,

May we prosper to be humane and reach the horizons of happiness.

*****

18 October, 2018

Bless those souls, O Rama

Women crushed in wombs and in the open, humanity laid on pyre,

Mere effigies burned each year, thoughts do still respire,

Evil sucking good and pure, laughing out loud, an indecent satire,

Glorious once upon a time, the nation gasps in an endless quagmire.

Masters continue to snore, the economy stuck in a tangle,

Money continues to bully, truth lynched by muscle,

Cruel roams around fearless, continue to bleed the gentle,

But a handful of souls humane, carry on fighting the battle.

Allow them to cross ‘Maryada’, but to become ‘Purushottama’,

May each beat be gallant, valiant be their ‘Karma’,

Each act divine, defining the real essence of ‘Dharma’,

To bring back the splendour again, Bless those souls, O Rama.

Wishing all readers a very happy Vijaya-Dashmi.

(‘Vijaya-Dashmi’ is an Indian festival.)

Readers may also like: (Hindi lines) https://jsrachalwar.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-post_10.html

*****

04 November, 2018

From Darkness to Light

May the world face ‘Manthana’ again, to discover ‘Ratnas’ brilliant,

Of love, peace and wisdom, to be valourous, vigourous and valiant,

Justice be done promptly and truly, sinner can no longer be defiant,

Earth is ruled by good alone, evil no longer giant.

No one is left to be an orphan, let each one get a lap so nurturing,

Each soul may then live and inscribe a beautiful verse, caring,

Feeding each belly, a sacred ritual, the demon of hunger, an offering,

Let the world be prosperous enough, to end poverty and suffering.

The light of knowledge may now light up the path to rightness,

‘Bali’ showers blessings, farmers reap happiness,

Contented humanity yet again recites a gentle rhyme of kindness,

Each ‘Karma’ and sacrifice be supreme, dictate volumes of greatness.

Wishing all readers a very happy Deepavali & a prosperous New Year.

(‘Deepavali’ is an Indian festival.)

Readers may also like:(Hindi lines) https://jsrachalwar.blogspot.com/2016/10/blog-post_97.html  

*****

16 May, 2020

Summer Solace

The morning brightness rejuvenates, the desolate twigs lazy,

Fresh tender innocent shoots, teased by the fragrance breezy,

The rays play hide and seek, through those few leaves plucky,

Thin silver clouds console the lake and the pied cuckoo thirsty.

*****

19 May, 2020

Yellow caress

Bloom stands undaunted, defying the scorch merciless,

Dense and green rescue, breaths wandering the wilderness,

White unveils the yellow, a respite for love in distress,

Parted souls feel relieved, by the tender fragrant caress.

*****

Wise and Silly

Mind wanders every dusk, heart still soaked in memories,

The wounds bleed incessant, ceaseless seem to be agonies,

Busy world would never hear, cries of the shattered and miseries,

How could wise and prudent fathom the pain that a silly soul carries.

*****

Confess

An intense desire I had, to confess to the setting horizon,

But the lips, helpless, trembling, could not say the unspoken,

Inevitable denial so harsh, shook the skies crimson,

I wish I could at least, narrate the pain of separation.

*****

05 June, 2020

Windy affair

The soaked breeze enthralls, the shoots delicate, shy,

Jasmine gets subdued by a gust, but the tuberose dares to defy,

Whiff pouring intoxication, lilies find it hard to deny,

Winds kindle romance, as clouds flock to the sky.

*****

Anguish

The setting sky saturates the canvas, with memories in abundance,

Flock the shattered soul, the indigo clouds of reminiscence,

Mute anguish of dark suppresses the Jasmine fragrance,

Earth is drenched in nectar, yet the east loses the substance.

*****

07 June, 2020

The Wait

The plough is weary but glad to see the black fields ready,

Sun and wind so harsh and intense, souls arid and thirsty,

Earth urges the skies to thunder, to comfort the stretched agony,

Soil prays for filled clouds, to drench the parched misery.

*****

17 June, 2020

Revival

First showers revive, the earth arid and thirsty,

Fresh and green sight, consoles the gaze gloomy,

Frail finds solace, in the drenched backdrop breezy,

Soaked moments comfort the long wait and journey.

*****

14 July, 2020

Soaked

Lotus leaves merrily sing, a tune of droplets mellow,

Some twigs get thrilled by the drizzle, while some dip in shallow,

Thirsty soil is consoled by the fragrance dousing each furrow,

Surroundings drenched in delight, as the streams swell and flow.

*****

Hope

In the gentle breeze of nightfall, agony may search for respite,

Parted and lost souls may find a path in the passing twilight,

The squall will settle down soon, and so shall anguish and plight,

Dawn is certain to kindle hopes, as Venus crawls the night.

*****

30 October, 2020

The Moon

You see just half of me, the remaining one is always on an excursion,

To a world unlike yours, with similar ardour and affection,

Ecstasy of union is the same, similar is the agony of separation,

Worlds differ just materially, identical are romance and passion.

■ Sharad Poornima

(‘Sharad Poornima’ is full moon day of ‘Aashwin’ month of Hindu calendar and has a cultural significance in India.)

*****

08 December, 2020

Autumn

The rustle of the leaves narrate, a fairy tale so melancholic,

Even today fragrance of the dusk, makes the surroundings nostalgic,

Clouds restrain the moonlit blues, Jasmine no longerbfeels ecstatic,

But crimson skies get absorbed, in the poetry of memories melodic.

*****

20 March, 2021

Spring

As the peaks begin to melt, the earth finds respite,

Gentle caress of the molten, consoles the frozen white,

Quiet fall is teased by the fragrant breeze of the night,

Chirping greets the solace, cuckoo sings the delight.

*****

03 Jan, 2022

Savitribai Phule

A radiance in the backdrop, a fire within,

you pursued your studies with passion,

Devoted to the cause of women,

their rights and education,

Battled against the evil oppression,

hate and discrimination,

Even for present womanhood,

your verses sing inspiration.

■ Savitribai Phule’s Birthday

*****

The Quest

The unfulfilled desires plenty, were distressing indeed,

But inspired me to move on, to cruise and to succeed.

Pleasing gestures and smiles, made me forget the pain,

Sparked the courage within, to bear the brunt and to sustain.

Occasionally I got drenched, in the content of achieved ambitions,

Aroused my hidden vigour too, the shattered dreams and frustrations.

Sometimes I ignored a vocal truth, believed in the lies unspoken,

Oblivious to the honest promises, I relied on the assurance broken.

Every so often I failed, to fathom the deepness of relations,

Only to find my existence, scattered in the storm of emotions.

Learnings guided the thoughts, paved the way to proceed,

Wisdom kept the courage within, never let me to acceed.

Endless search for joyous, pursuit for serene is unending,

Life breaths relentlessly, to keep the quest unceasing.

*****

Daybreak

Strokes on the canvas of dawn, paint the eastern skies,

The blue horizon blushes, adorns a yellow guise,

Prayers spread the radiance, echoed with the verses of wise,

Daybreak pours in the zeal, to rejuvenate and to energize.

*****

Looking back

Merely depiction material, short lived is closeness corporeal,

Caress may be at times worldly, but the fragrance is perpetual,

Nostalgia is often enchanting, than the attachments ephemeral,

Aroma enthralls the reminiscence, to make the memories eternal.

*****

Ground and skies

The dust hinders vision of the sky, the ground never absolves,

Sky holds it from reaching, the cosmos from which it evolves,

The lofty pride steadily unstiffens, crusade of the ground dissolves,

Ego, arrogance melt in an embrace, as the humble horizon resolves.

*****

Let Go

Although it is crucial to be vocal, often we opt to stay mute,

Sometimes we have to let go, to overlook is an art astute,

To avoid is not an unwise choice, if done to safeguard the repute,

One must take a pause, in the endless journey and pursuit.

*****