INDIA

        While  travelling in a train somewhere along central India I was having a chat with a Bengali co passenger. The talk covered several areas like movies, cricket, politics, academics etc just then a passenger travelling in the upper berth started muttering something in his native tongue (Tamil) while talking over phone.This attracted severe criticism from the co passenger with whom I was chatting and she said “Yeh south Indians kitne khadoos hote hai” and I nodded in agreement (earlier I had introduced myself as Maharashtrian J).This incidence reflects how many of us Indians have developed a mindset about persons belonging different parts of the country. Even in our daily conservation we often seem to classify people such as  “North Indians ko attitude hota hai, south Indians are narrow minded ,Bengalis are short tempered,  and Maharashtrians don’t socialize much”. 

         Such opinions have developed over a period of time .However nowadays with inter state migrations (people leaving their native place and searching jobs in other states, cities etc) majority of metropolitan and tier 1 cities having lost their original characteristics and have developed a pan Indian culture. In spite of these differences there is an amazing sense of unity that binds Indians together this term is popularly called as “Unity in diversity”.

Busy in cricket

       Our countries biggest strength is its unity in the form of our nation’s political system, national culture and festivals, common geographical boundaries and the pilgrimage centers and national monuments which are part of one common nation INDIA. This unity has been tested from time to time but each time the nation has reunited and come up triumph under adverse circumstances.

       But since Independence Communalism and Regionalism are two of major challenges threatening the integration of our country. India is a secular nation which means that as per our constitution we do not endorse any particular religion. On the contrary we respect all religions and leave it upon the individual to practice the religion of his/her choice. It is seen that people belonging to same religion develop a sense of oneness. Common festivals, religious practices etc bind them together as common identities. But trouble starts when such common identities are manipulated for the purpose of gaining power at local as well as national levels. The communal riots which happened in Muzzafarnagar district of UP is an example in the above context.

demand for statehood

          Talking about regionalism it is a part of human tendency to get attached to the place of his birth.That is why you find people demanding seperate states in Bodoland in North-east,Vidharbha in Maharashtra,Telangana in Andhra Pradesh etc.Regionalism is also of two kinds good and bad.By demanding special concessions and priveleges for one's state does not make a person anti national.Even Gandhi ji has once said unless i become a loyal Gujarati how can i call myself an Indian.The Kaveri water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh or the Munnaperiyar Dam issue on the raising of Height of the Dam between Tamil Nadu and Kerala which are being solved by judicial means (special tribunals)  are perfect examples of how things should work in a federal country like India. But sometimes this feeling of regionalism takes violent forms such as the events such as the khalistan movements which occured in western punjab and the still ongoing conflict in Kashmir which has begun 3 decades back.Such movements have threatened the unity of the country.

         Today the social and political problems have become more and more complex than those faced by our leaders   immediately after independence and secondly lack of such  leaders with high integrity such as Vallabh bhai patel or Jawahar lal Nehru who could take bold decisions and had a very different approach based on national interests.The present era of coalition politics have made matter more complex as  every regional party tries to flame the sentiments of the people for its own interests.With rise in literacy rates people have become more informed and are not that easily influenced on communal and regional lines us but still poverty and unemployment make lower sections of the society vulnerable to such exploitation by political parties looking for gains.

      

On Indian Healthcare and US shutdown

       

Dhoom...3

        It was Oct 2 national holiday yet i had to wake  up early morning at 7 a.m to drop a friend at railway station who was going to Howrah.On the  way despite of my repeated warnings my friend disregarded not so good condition of our pulsar 150 and he raised the speed to over 90 km/hr as if performing the stunts in Dhoom 3 just like the lady in the pic.Eventually a strange noise came for a few seconds and bike chain gave away.We were stranded midway to the railway station The  nearest garage was  to open at 7:30 a.m.My friend said "jaane de yaar din hi kharaab hai aaj... Nahi jata hun Kolkata".Just then a phone call came to me informing  that one of our office colleague has fallen sick and was being taken to the nearest doctor at the earliest.We got our bike repaired and left for the clinic straight away.

       The scene at the clinic gave us an idea of the real situation as our colleague was screaming in pain as he was experiencing acute stomach pain.The doctor reached in around half an hour by that time we did whatever we could to calm him down.He was pleading  us to take him to city hospital in bhubhaneshwar which would have taken a minimum 2 hours.It was necessary to bring his pain under control as anything could have happened on the way to city if we directly took him to the city without visiting local doctor in town.In the absence of his parents or relatives it was our responsibility to take decisions.The doctor came and on the first look diagnosed it to be a case of jaundice and told us to conduct an ultrasound test to clear any doubts.

scene of an OPD at Goverment Medical college

         Since it is a small town there is no major hospital where all the facilities could be available under one roof.So if the Doctor's clinic was at X place,the ultrasound center was 5 kms away and in such a serious case the patient had to be taken in an ambulance from one place to another. In the meantime his family members were informed and they were told to reach at the earliest.

      At around 10:30 a.m the ultrasound test got over along with urine and blood test.We immediately made arrangements for him to be taken to city and got him admitted to Appollo (a private hospital) in bhubhaneshwar. As i did not accompany him to the city was informed in the evening that doctors  have admitted him into the ICU and that his lever was damaged.This news was shocking for everyone.

      This is the case which happened in a town but the condition in cities is no different especially for the poorer sections of society who cannot shell out 500 rs for a one time visit to a private hospital.So the only option with them is to visit the Goverment hospital situated in all major cities where minimal fee is charged.The most crowded  area in a Goverment hospital happens to be the OPD (out patient department) where one has to first collect a token based on which the patient is called.This may take anytime between 20 minutes to even 2 hours depending upon the number of patients and the medical staff available.

US under shutdown

       Miles away in AMRIKA an ambitious health policy called "Obamacare" which makes health insurance cheaper and affordable to the US citizens has brought the Goverment in shutdown.It all began when a spending bill was introduced in US parliament and the Ruling Democrats led by Barack Obama and Republicans in opposition disagreed over provisions in a bill with the opposition claiming that bill had anti obamacare amendments.As a result of this deadlock Federal employees who are considered essential will continue working. But employees deemed non-essential -- close to 800,000 -- will be furloughed.This also implies that  famous tourist places,National parks,museums etc would remain closed for 5 days.

             In a developing country like  India health insurance is at a very nascent stage with 2-3 private companies offering such services.Health is often disregarded in india with home made remedies given precedence over visit to a hospital.Owing to superstition and illiteracy  especially in rural areas.many Sadhus, Babas,maulvis alike have exploited this situation and played with the health of local people.Unless and until the Goverment regards Health on par with Defence,Agriculture and Infrastructural spending the Healthcare in India  will remain out of reach of the common man.