Santhosh's ramblings

Before I get new spectacles, I thought I might go through my collection of what I already have. I have one of “ Rational and Logical thinking ”. This is what I use on a regular basis. Like Pilate, who had to use his trained mind to decide whether to let Jesus go free or arrest him, based on what His logic told him, I need this spectacles on a regular basis. Though some times like Pilate’s wife, my wife and others might ask me to take away this spectacles, I often do not, because this is the one I am comfortable with most. … This also has an additional glasses I can put on and take out. The add-ons of “ Governance, management and policies” – the things which I am expected to be custodian of. What I am paid for….Pilate also had the same issue – he had to be the protector of the Empire’s interests…I have my own empires to protect…. Then there is one which I seldom use (Or I think I seldom use) – spectacles of preserving my position, power and roles , which I think is God giv...

Politics (from Greek : politikos , meaning "of, for, or relating to citizens") is the practice and theory of influencing other people on a civic or individual level. More narrowly, it refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance — organized control over a human community, particularly a state . Today the word “ Politics ” has lost the original meaning  and has a challenged connotation most of the times. Similarly Justice and Injustice also are losing their meaning. We perceive what is “Just” or “Unjust” based on our perceptions and then play politics for supposedly a greater cause – but many times – the greater cause itself is a perceived greater cause than truly a greater cause! We see this played out in Political circles, movements, organizations, communities and wherever people come together. Any such situation has multiple players – the “ Perpetuators ” – who from their own perceptions fight for what is “Just” or “Unjust”. They also perpetuate the ...

Doctors don’t realize what they are missing by not experiencing the challenge of rural Family practice! I was on rounds along with a young FM resident at Prem Jyoti yesterday. She was enthusiastic energetic and compassionate.   2 months into this rural hospital she was having a time which I am sure would be transformational for her. One day rounds – Patients with - Obstructed labour with LSCS done, Pelvic Peritonitis – on conservative management, 8 year old kid with PSGN (Post streptococcal Glomerulo Nephritis) in severe failure and fluid over load, 50 year old alcoholic with Hepatic failure and ascites, 30 year old lady with severe dimorphic anaemia, amenorrhoea and failure, couple of neonates with sepsis, couple of other obstructed labours – forceps, vacuum, LSCS, Cerebral contusion and L1 compression fracture on conservative management, couple of patients with cerebral Malaria and a kala azar….where else but in a rural place like this one would get opportunity to care for such...

I am traveling  from a 2800 bedded tertiary institution to a thirty bedded primary care centre and then to a 130 bedded secondary care over this week. Spending time preparing, listening to leaders, one common thread emerged. People - people are the issue! The politics of managing people is draining leaders. Dealing with varied perceptions and holding them together is yet another constant challenge. The need for more people is a constant cry, though we are unable to manage those we have! Someone said - if there were no people, leading would have been so easy.... I was reading today morning. Jesus as he looked at the crowd, His heart was moved with compassion. He saw them as haggard, helpless sheep without Shepard. And His response was, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into His vineyard.  And then He send out disciples into the villages around with no resources or support system. Teaching them to be dependant on God and interdependent on each other. Seeing...

About 40 of our leaders came together to reflect on some of the challenges we face in our interaction with the legal systems of the country, the government offices and officers and the media. We had senior Government secretaries, lawyers and Media people listening in and giving us perspectives which health care professionals normally do not get. And there was a theologian who gave us biblical frame work to look at state and how to interact with state. As I listened in to all the sessions and interaction going on, I learnt a few things about our fraternity…. or  at least about myself…. One – Health care professionals are illiterate! Though literate in our own field, we tend not to enhance our literacy in the other fields which we necessarily need to, if we have to survive in the world of health care. Two – There are other professionals who are like us, who confuse the lay with their jargon! Like what we do with the Medical jargon! Lawyers are not too far behind. Governm...

After the last post on vulnerability which was written from a train journey to UP, I got out of the train and immediately faced a test of vulnerability. A personal test from which I am still recovering! I lost my purse with – all the ID cards, Debit and Credit Cards, License to Drive and a couple of frequent traveller cards. In one sense – Plastic cards which gives you Identity, Security, Mobility and Status. The immediate reaction was acute sense of vulnerability. I need to travel soon – I do not have a ID proof; I am not “old fashioned” to keep too much cash with me – and I need money (my wife’s card also is blocked for some reason); weekend approaching, I need to drive; and of course  some of the other plastics which I can afford to lose. Status can always come later…! If I has put my emotions on a graph it would have looked like this. (Fig 1) Soon, in about 24 hours the same changed! There did not seem to be much relationship between what I possessed and what I fel...

I had the opportunity to go back to one of the institutions I worked after ten years. Walking around, I observed lots of things which have changed and are still changing. New construction all around. Old buildings looking totally different. New faces all around. Few families who have stood through various Ups and downs but still persevering for years together. A sun dial which has stood as witness for 120 odd years. The junk yards which seems as if nothing has changed. Trees which have been silent witness to the changes happening around. The migratory birds which come and go every year. Like many staff who have come in and gone out. But like the green lawns and gardens which have continued to enrich the people who come in and go out, there is some thing else I experienced. The unchanging presence of God in the midst of all the changes. Assuring me again that He is the owner and the sustainer.