Santhosh's ramblings

I had some hands on classes yesterday. Classes on “Anarchy”, “Survival of the fittest”, “Comradeship and Community”, and “Living in the present”. All these over a period of 3 hours during a shopping trip to Raxaul market, the first one in 4 months. Anarchy was evident all around. The rickshaw trip to the market and back, was one of negotiating space between cycles, potholes, puddles, Tongas (Horse driven carriages) trucks, bikes, people, cows and many other moving things. Everything was everywhere and every one was moving into wherever there was space. On return, the railway crossing was closed and both sides of the road was blocked off. The moment the gates opened, two full roads (the incoming and outgoing) has to create space to accommodate movement, which is four times more than what the road was expected to have – and it all was managed with ease. Who said Anarchy was difficult! Even in the shop, (the local mall {small m} we go to) the queue for check out, was broken umpteen ti...

A culture change is quite evident these days, if you are following the print media and the tele media discussions. There is a culture of reactively responding with abusive voices and violence at will, if any one acts or against a promoted ideology or a perceived human idol even! Many of these ideologies and idols created out a certain perception, relevant not to the larger community, but to a section. There is a culture of promoting and positioning oneself as the best and the answer to all ills and problems, - whether it is Nation, religion, language, organization, or individual. There is a culture of intentionally polarizing and dividing, even to extend of hate campaigns if there is no alignment to the agenda of the so called promoted ideology or answers which are being promoted. There is a culture which encourages sacrificing of others for the sake of the greater ideology, culture or nation itself. And there is a culture of silently closing eyes, ears and mouth (like the three mon...

Two days back a Medical student from Pokra came visiting. We asked him how are things at his college. He said, the hospital 750 bedded is almost empty. Most of the hotels and other establishments are closed. There is no food available. The cost of transport to the hospital from nearby town which was 300/- now costs 2000/-. People cannot afford the same and so they do not come. Another patient who came shared, LPG is going at 2000/-, if at all in black available. Patients who come to us, cross the porous borders at their own risk, come in bikes, tongas etc. after spending quite bit of time and resources. We living at the border on the “Big Bro” side, has been observing this deteriorating situation for last one month. Whatever the “Big bro” and “Small bro” country leaders may say or may not say, or the Media decide to ignore in the midst of more colourful stories of Mukherjee’s etc, the fact is that a Nation is struggling. Rather common people of the country is suffering. For the Big...

Israel under Joshua’s leadership had just crossed over Jordan. God had done a great miracle by dividing Jordan River and allowing them to cross the river. The next hurdle was Jericho. God has gone ahead and worked out a great victory, with them not shooting even one arrow. But God had given them detailed instructions how to go about each step. Joshua who was used to sitting in the tabernacle and listening to God, along with Moses, had done pretty well, and the fame of Joshua as a leader had spread all around. He was slowly fitting into the shoes of the great leader who had led them for 40 years – Moses. And they were just starting into the new phase of their journey to Promised Land. A series of wars had to be fought and kingdoms had to be conquered and Jericho was the first. But God also had given clear instructions for their behaviour, how they should deal with the things they would come across as they conquer nations. There was a character expected from them. Things seemed to be go...

We live and work in the midst of a very “low trust society”. The dominant culture of lack of trust is bound to influence all of us some time or other, if we are not careful. As I observe, I see signs of this low trust both among the community who access our caring systems and those of us who are part of the caring community. There is the issue of trust in the health care professional. People come to us with various Medical complaints, and we can identify these people with low trust easily. They would come in asking for particular doctor or person. They will have a file full of previous treatments done. They will keep talking about this doctor or that doctor. They will say, we heard your name and we came with great faith, but the fact is, there is not much faith, this is only yet another stop in their nonstop health care shopping. Many a times, the patient is not included in the decision. It is the “Neta” of the home who is the controller of these shopping’s, and one if carefully obse...

Have a dream and nurture that dream - though no one may understand your dreams Never forget your roots Try on your own to change the world, and if you fail run away, but be available when the bush fires up! Stay near a bush always Take a break in the desert, once in a while! Desert breaks are preparation for future desert journeys, you may not know it now. You are ready when you are least ready You are prepared to lead when you are at your lowest ebb Hold on to your dreams till it is rekindled by a greater power than you! It might take 40 years to be rekindled! Give excuses, and try giving up, but not too often; He will not give up on you! If you think you cannot do it alone, tell Him, he has support ready If you think you do not how to speak, do not worry, He has prepared people who can speak, in your team Your ability is not what is required, but your availability Do not make it difficult for God too, listen when he speaks When He sends you, it is because He has see...

I have been on the road traveling a bit, and been observing people living and running their day today lives in the context of a developed world, a change from the rural location where I live. I met a very senior person during this journey. Well, senior at my age means above 70! This person has lived and spent all his life bringing up his family, children and giving them the best options for life and even now is available to some of them, as they go through challenges in their mid-life, with advice and money and presence. In my conversations he told me – tell your children to be practical about life! He was an accomplished professional who made plans for his family, resources, and brought up his children well and planned their lives and supported them. Practical in every way. What is practical? What I observed and gathered from the many lives I saw - Think using the faculties you have. The faculties of reason and logic. Look at the context around you, think and plan and align your ...