Kiran Bedi - Childhood hero's fall from grace

That lady Kiran Bedi was a childhood hero. She was seen as the brave lady taking on the baddie's single handedly, in a very Telugu cinema style. And when she stood on the Ramlila platform waving the India flag, shouting "Inquilab Zindabad", fighting the so called corrupt system, I have to admit I had goose bumps.

She was the perfect Indian middle class super hero. An IIT alumnus. A P.hD holder. Asian tennis champion. And of course the IPS officer. A Magsaysay awardee. An United nations advisor. You name it, she had it. She had everything I asked for in a super hero, till yesterday.

And yesterday happened. It was in the anvil for some time, yet I hoped against all hope that it does n't. When she shook hands with the crime tainted BJP leader and said she is joining the party, my hero fell from grace. Her image in my mind took a beating.

No it is not wrong to enter politics. But she had shouted from roof tops against this very own party. She said, the party is corrupt. She tweeted that the then PM candidate has blood stained hands. She cried that the party stinks of corruption.

And suddenly this flip flop. Suddenly, the PM looks like a savior. Suddenly the party does not look corrupt. Suddenly everything about the party is rosy.

Why mam why? Why did you let me down? Is it the sudden liking of money and the power a chief minister's post brings? Or was I just a fool in believing you all this while?

May be I was a fool mam to have believed you all this while! But not now. Not anymore. And you can never regain the spot you had in my heart. 

Can't we have better debates Mr. Prime minister?

So what if I'm a christian? or a Hindu? or a muslim? I mean, how does my religion matter to you Mr.Prime minister?

With the latest conversion - anticonversion debate, I lost all respect for your government. Not that I had any in the first place. But whatever small hope I had on you, I lost!

Sir, there are millions of people starving; Farmers suicides continue; The educational system has hit rock bottom; The health care in this country is abysmal and you know that. And yet, there is not one debate on all these. Not one of your ministers talks about all this. Not one person talks sense for that matter.

Sir, you were all over the place talking about development. That word "development" was shouted off from roof tops. Is that all the development you were talking about? You meant the development of religious disharmony? 

What is your problem if I'm belong to some 'X' religion? Even if I'm forcibly converted for that matter? Wherever I get more money or better education or more peace I go. Do you have a problem with that sir? 

The only problem I see with forcible conversions is threatened conversions! And I sincerely think there is not much threatened conversions going around. 

Sir, you got a mandate with which you could do wonders. Don't waste them in debating useless stuff. Ask your ministers to shut up and start working. 

Debate these useless things for five more years and the people will send you back to Gujarat. 

Of oldies and their stories!

Your grandma was of such a great help to me in the medical college said that old granny! Your uncle used to be lying down here all the time said another. Story after story after story; I loved listening to them all.

Did I miss my grandparents? Very much so! It would have been great listening to the granddad whom everybody talks about everywhere, on whom a book had been written. It would have been such fun to see him tackle his wife, the fiercely independent granny, whom the town I grew up almost worshiped. Though I had the privilege of being with my mom's parents for some time, it would have been far better to listen to their stories now, when I can understand and fathom their legacy much better.

So, what do I miss? The love and the warmth that only grand parents could give. Of course yes! But more so the stories. To listen to the folklore of yesteryear; the interesting stories about the people they met, the pre independence stories of courage and valour, the stories of poverty and struggle, on horse drawn carriages and trams and the other long forgotten things. And of course on friendships and relationships.

There is some thing about those days. Something very sensuous. Very touchy. Something which can bring those happy tears and sometimes make you wish you had lived then.

May be life during those days were more romantic. Ah! How I wish my oldies are here now and tell me how romantic were they then.

Walking in to an uncertain future!

A burning pyre at the backdrop. Two pre teen children walking back. A dark sky. A bright moon. A small tear in their eyes. 

That was the picture which came to my mind when I heard their story. The mother, not a very old lady suddenly became very sick. The two young children had been by her bedside the last few months. And suddenly when she died, they were left all alone.

The two young children had had their private body parts badly damaged in their school by other children. Their mother had married twice, and was living with the third one when she contracted the disease. The villagers refused an entry to her dead body, calling her bad names. There were not many relatives who will share their burden.

All that these two young kids have seen in their young lives have been violence. The society had not been good on them. Not many have reached out to them. Their schooling had been a bad dream. The villagers have been cruel. Their future is dark. The present darker!

Now, is it fair to blame them if ten years down the line they end up doing some thing anti social? A theft? Or worse, a rape or a murder? Should not the society also take up some blame if something untoward happens?

Don't mistake me; I'm in no way defending an anti social action. Every wrong action should be accounted for. Should be punished. But the fact of the matter is, the society and that includes you and me, have not been fair on many young people over the years; and that is coming back to bite us.

May be the criminal justice system should also look at the background of the criminal as much as they see the backdrop of the crime. 

I'm just thinking out aloud!

Did I take her for granted?

Ma, where is my socks? Ma, I'm hungry! Ma, why did you not iron my shirt? Ma, why can't you make some chicken today!

My theatrics on her had no end. Yet, she was always there. Every single time. And with a smile which had no reason but love. The food was there on the table morning, afternoon and night. The clothes wherever we threw, went back to their places as if they had legs. The house looked clean. Crystal clean.

We called her every time the ball hits a patient to rescue us when we played cricket in the hospital premises. Every time I felt bored or had to make a long walk, always called her to wile away time. Every time a friend came home, there was food. And friends of mine came in plenty. And she never said no!

Whenever I came home the favorite cauliflower was made; The parottas were bought. Every time I had to wake up early morning she was always the alarm clock and she never ever refused. And every time I slept till 8 clock in the morning, she always said leave him, he is tired!

May be that is why I took her for granted. Was never thankful for what she was. Was never grateful for all that she did to me.

Now, when I have to make my own dosas, make my own shelf, and go back searching for the clothes, I realize how much I had taken her for granted.

And thankful and grateful I feel today for that precious life, which just lived for us!

What did that man do?

They were all coming back to meet their alma mater. The Christian Fellowship Hospital (CFH) Oddanchathram. Everybody had gratitude in their eyes, every single one of them. That word 'CFH' was repeated thousand times. Almost all of them felt like coming home. Many said it is their 'Mothers place'. Some said they learnt their values there. Some said that place turned their career upside down. Some said their life began there.

Through out the three days of the alumni get together, my mind repeated the same question.What did that man do?

Dr.A.K Tharien came to oddanchathiram in the early 1950's to start a small hospital. That place was then very remote and had little medical help. He wanted to serve the people there. He could have chosen to be some where else. May be the US. May be Cambridge. He did not. He chose the needy and the neglected. He chose oddanchathiram. And the rest is history. HIS story!

From a small haunted house when it was started to the sprawling huge campus, from two doctors to 150 of them now. From a single nurse to a nursing college. From few patients to thousands thronging the place every day.

Not a single paisa of bribe has been paid. Not a single patient sent away for want of money. The focus on the poor has not been deviated from. The founder himself has not taken anything from it except his salaries. The cost for the health care is still affordable to the Indian poor. And the ethics of medicine have been strictly adhered to.

You can see doctors on cycles coming to work! The old man himself drove one till his death. The nurses and the doctors together joke around. The senior most teaches cooking 'sambar' to the Juniors. The ward boy also is found giving speeches. It was one family. One huge loving family!

Again the question comes haunting by! What did he do? How did he do? And more importantly, why did he do?

The answer for the 'why' question was there on everybody's lips. 'For the love of christ!' 'For the love of christ!' Yes, they have stood for the truth and the poor. 'For the love of christ!'

And the rest of the answers, well, go and find out!

The time to be thankful!

When my cousin 'L' whatsapped me that news I was in a meeting. My hands shivered. Had goosebumps. I could hardly control my tears. Waited for the meeting to get over to immediately call her.

'R', my cousin 'L's cousin knew me for only a year. And we came to know each other in life's most difficult of circumstances. Amma was deteriorating after her diagnosis of cancer, when one fine day 'L' called me to say 'R' has been diagnozed with the same disease.I had met her only two days ago and she was hale and healthy. And suddenly this news.

I was there with her two days later in the hospital when the initial diagnostics were done. I knew it was going to be a huge battle ahead. I remember vividly hugging her and saying "We will overcome this ka"!

And overcome, she did! Magnificently. I had often met her in the ward. There was pain. Tiredness. Days when her entire future was questioned. Depression was written all over her face on many days. Yet through it all, she was confident and courageous. Never quit! Never questioned!And the family was majestic. Many times I ve been to her room just to cheer them up, only to find cheerful people already.

I had badly wanted this news. Prayed sincerely for this. And so I'm thankful for the news. Thankful for the disease which strengthened her and the family, Thankful for her strength and the courage which had encouraged me, and on top of it all thankful for the deliverance she received yesterday