FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
AUDACITY OF HOPE ALONE CAN LEAD TO QUANTUM OF SOLACE !
Audacity of Hope coupled with Action – the ‘karma’, alone can lead to Quantum of solace. That is what was achieved thro’ IMA morcha, protesting violence against doctors.
After the successful march, an opinion was voiced about meeting ‘might with might’ ; another senior colleague thought, brain better over brawn – ‘acknowledge, accept mistake – to err is human – and approach Police & Legal system to solve the vexed issues’. I personally acknowledge both the views, combining it form a “MEDICAL LOBBY” working at peacetimes with Police, Press & Politicians & coming handy in Panic times as well. For this an organized strategy has to be in place, something very much akin to Jewish lobby in America. The Jews have managed to look after their interests inspite of being persecuted & victimized for so long ; physically surrounded as a small nation, Israel , by Muslim nations ; arch rivals & foes from historical times. We Indians have taken a cue & only recently started lobbying effectively, looking after our interests. And this networking has to be done from a position of strength – economic, intellectual, military whatever it takes. It definately cannot be done from a position of weakness, as victims which tantamount to almost begging. And this sense of collective empowerment does throw up ‘Charismatic’ leaders who can transcend petty interests to lead the whole society / nation with the audacity of hope of a Gandhi, Mandela & now an Obama. I sincerely wish Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi & Mayawati show similar “O” ‘karishma’ to not only ‘Navnirman’ a state but the whole country, transcending language, caste , creed etc. We have remained divided, in the name of “Unity amidst Diversity” for 60 plus years – let us acknowledge we are a divided house – ACCEPTANCE is the first step towards transformation.
That brings me home to our own medical fraternity. Aren’t we a divided lot, looking after our petty interests, even at times at the cost of patient’s interests – undercutting opinions, advise & price ; exaggerating colleague’s mistakes just to boost self image – Ego with that one patient / family alone ; at the cost of our own fraternity & society. All our lobbying will come to a naught if we have daggers hidden in our cloaks (or scalpels in aprons ! ) all the time – hunting as hyenas while appearing to run with hares ! I think we all have to use our individual good will with our patients - families, going beyond petty politics, for common good not only of the society but ourselves as well – they say Charity begins at home !! “Let us be the change we want to see in the world”, to quote Mahatma Gandhi.
While drawing inspiration from Jews (they have established themselves not only in business enterprises but academically also with maximum Noble Prizes to their credit), little did I know that 26 / 11 was waiting to happen…. The terrorists bullets have indeed shook the collective psyche of the nation. The need of the hour is awakening of the country, the SYSTEM before it falls into stupor once again – a 2nd freedom struggle so to speak! The first freedom fight was led by intellectuals, the lawyers, the likes of Gandhi, Nehru, Rajendra Prasad etc. Can WE, Doctors & other professionals & intellectuals rise to the occasion to lead the 2nd freedom struggle; freedom from apathy, complacency, a “chalta hai” mindset which is letting the country sink.
How to reach out to the society to help bring about a transformation ? Remember, we doctors are uniquely placed vis-a- vis other professionals & intellectuals. We by the virtue of our profession are able to interact with a cross section of the society , right from lower socioeconomic class to upper strata. Thus we are in a enviable position to ‘influence’ all sections of the society, to bring about a social change, whether that be, to vote on election day or population control. In true sense we will act as the guardians of the health of the society.
Nothing is so strong as an idea, a thought whose time has come in the human consciousness. Let us use our good will with our patients, our contacts & involve them in this awakening to create a social movement for better governance & a safe society, “where the mind is without fear & the head is held high……into that heaven of freedom, my Father let my country awake”.
Come, let us take the first step in “ MAHAN RASHTRA NAVNIRMAN”.
After the successful march, an opinion was voiced about meeting ‘might with might’ ; another senior colleague thought, brain better over brawn – ‘acknowledge, accept mistake – to err is human – and approach Police & Legal system to solve the vexed issues’. I personally acknowledge both the views, combining it form a “MEDICAL LOBBY” working at peacetimes with Police, Press & Politicians & coming handy in Panic times as well. For this an organized strategy has to be in place, something very much akin to Jewish lobby in America. The Jews have managed to look after their interests inspite of being persecuted & victimized for so long ; physically surrounded as a small nation, Israel , by Muslim nations ; arch rivals & foes from historical times. We Indians have taken a cue & only recently started lobbying effectively, looking after our interests. And this networking has to be done from a position of strength – economic, intellectual, military whatever it takes. It definately cannot be done from a position of weakness, as victims which tantamount to almost begging. And this sense of collective empowerment does throw up ‘Charismatic’ leaders who can transcend petty interests to lead the whole society / nation with the audacity of hope of a Gandhi, Mandela & now an Obama. I sincerely wish Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi & Mayawati show similar “O” ‘karishma’ to not only ‘Navnirman’ a state but the whole country, transcending language, caste , creed etc. We have remained divided, in the name of “Unity amidst Diversity” for 60 plus years – let us acknowledge we are a divided house – ACCEPTANCE is the first step towards transformation.
That brings me home to our own medical fraternity. Aren’t we a divided lot, looking after our petty interests, even at times at the cost of patient’s interests – undercutting opinions, advise & price ; exaggerating colleague’s mistakes just to boost self image – Ego with that one patient / family alone ; at the cost of our own fraternity & society. All our lobbying will come to a naught if we have daggers hidden in our cloaks (or scalpels in aprons ! ) all the time – hunting as hyenas while appearing to run with hares ! I think we all have to use our individual good will with our patients - families, going beyond petty politics, for common good not only of the society but ourselves as well – they say Charity begins at home !! “Let us be the change we want to see in the world”, to quote Mahatma Gandhi.
While drawing inspiration from Jews (they have established themselves not only in business enterprises but academically also with maximum Noble Prizes to their credit), little did I know that 26 / 11 was waiting to happen…. The terrorists bullets have indeed shook the collective psyche of the nation. The need of the hour is awakening of the country, the SYSTEM before it falls into stupor once again – a 2nd freedom struggle so to speak! The first freedom fight was led by intellectuals, the lawyers, the likes of Gandhi, Nehru, Rajendra Prasad etc. Can WE, Doctors & other professionals & intellectuals rise to the occasion to lead the 2nd freedom struggle; freedom from apathy, complacency, a “chalta hai” mindset which is letting the country sink.
How to reach out to the society to help bring about a transformation ? Remember, we doctors are uniquely placed vis-a- vis other professionals & intellectuals. We by the virtue of our profession are able to interact with a cross section of the society , right from lower socioeconomic class to upper strata. Thus we are in a enviable position to ‘influence’ all sections of the society, to bring about a social change, whether that be, to vote on election day or population control. In true sense we will act as the guardians of the health of the society.
Nothing is so strong as an idea, a thought whose time has come in the human consciousness. Let us use our good will with our patients, our contacts & involve them in this awakening to create a social movement for better governance & a safe society, “where the mind is without fear & the head is held high……into that heaven of freedom, my Father let my country awake”.
Come, let us take the first step in “ MAHAN RASHTRA NAVNIRMAN”.
JAI HIND.
Dr. Hemant Agrawal
Dr. Hemant Agrawal
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