REVOLUTIONARY YOUNG MIND
A conversation with Trishna Sahoo
Prof. Gangadhar Sahoo, Dean
IMS & SUM Hospital & Pro. Vice Chancellor, SOADU,
Bhubaneswar
It was an unusual time for my NATUNI (Granddaughter) to call. I thought probably something has gone wrong. When I received the call, I couldn't hear anything except her sobbing. She was continuously sobbing, almost suffocated and not able to speak anything. I tried my best to calm down her but it took nearly five minutes to console her. In a choked voice she could tell, “Jeje! Jeje!( Grandpa) one of my two puppies was killed. It was murdered under the wheels. Yes! I know. Why Jeje? Has my puppy no rights to live? What was his fault? Now the mother is left with only one. Three had met the same fate. What will be the mental condition of the mother? Who will protect her and the only survivor? Endless questions!! “Her last question was," Is God watching it from Heaven? Will He protect the mother and her helpless kid?”
That day after she got the bad news of the mishap, she was broken down with the brutality caused to the puppy. She was not feeling much about the deceased one but for the poor mother, and her survived kid. She was feeling for the only survivor, his security and safety. She has not seen the world. For the first time she's experiencing the cruelty of the world. She can't believe herself. Her young tender mind began to revolt. She expressed her feelings through the telephone, “Jeje ! I don’t know the person. I feel he has intentionally done this. It is not at all an accident. It's a planned murder. What harm was the poor puppy doing to him? I know my father and mother will not tell a word to him. But I will not leave him. When I will meet him, I will ask him why did he do that. I will tell him that he will be punished in the court of God. I will pray for the survived puppy and his mother. Will you pray for them?" I said, "Yes! I will.”
Pray Lord Jagannath, “Let the whole world take a leaf out of the book of my NATUNI. If it so happens, the world will be a better place to live in.”
BIRTHDAY GIFT
Prof. Gangadhar Sahoo, Dean
IMS & SUM Hospital & Pro. Vice Chancellor, SOADU,
Bhubaneswar
I was born on Maha Shiba Ratri in the year of 1952 in a remote village. Because I was born on Maha Shiba Ratri my parents kept my name GANGADHAR means Lord Shiba. On that day I visit Shiba temple early in the morning to avoid rush. Then as a routine I visit at least one of my teachers, staying nearby to seek his / her blessings. It's always an unceremonial and simple celebration. Since it's a holiday very few know about my birthday. Totally celebration is confined to home only.
After I have shifted to Bhubaneswar I visit my teacher Madam Pratima Pattanaik on that auspicious day. It was in the year 2017. She was staying alone in her own home constructed by Bhubaneswar development authority. A small house, two bedded with kitchen and toilet. She likes to stay alone. Part time maid servant, cook and a full-time driver were her helping hands. But they were exploiting Madam's situation very often. The situation forced Madam to be ATMANIRVAR. Madam had a peculiar hobby. She fed street dogs in the surrounding and kept a cat and generations of kittens with her . She called everyone by name. They were not her pets but her family members. Madam did marketing for their sanitation, food and medicine . She gave ready-made food like bread, biscuits and milk to them. They took lunch and dinner together with Madam sharing the dining table .In this way Madam was passing her days enjoying every moment of happiness with these pets, caring as if they are her family members. When Madam enters into her home all of them jump onto Madam competing with each other to get a hug, a kiss or a pat. When Madam goes to bed all will be sharing her bed. Madam had never felt the curse of solitude.
Madam was reluctant to keep someone in her home because of increase in crimes particularly in senior citizens' houses . She felt that keeping someone is more a liability than comfort. Madam will be about 70 years. She is the harbor of almost all medical diseases. She is obese, hypertensive, diabetic and recently she had developed depression and abnormal uterine bleeding the latter being the cause of her depression. Paradoxically she was very much fond of taking sweets, desserts, cold drinks and more so when there was any party, social function or get-together. Her philosophy was, “ if you don't eat you will die and if you eat you will also die. Why not die contented? “
On my birthday I with my driver went to Madam 's house. It was around 11 am . When I reached there I found the gate was open . I thought that the domestic help might be there doing some house hold work . I was happy that I had reached in right time. But when I entered into her house I couldn't believe what I saw . She was sitting on a wooden chair in her drawing room completely drowsy. All other rooms were open. Nobody was there except a dozen of kittens playing there, one is
jumping one is kissing, one is sleeping on the lap and others are playing on the floor. I felt as if these kittens are actually owners and Madam is the care taker. In spite of all these action plays by the kittens Madam was undisturbed. Even my entry into her room made no difference. Then I could realize that something had gone wrong with the Madam . I called my driver for help .
Madam was deeply asleep. I called, " Madam! Madam ! " , but no response. Then a gentle shake, still no response. A violent shake and a loud call brought life. Madam responded, " Gangadhar ! You are here? Since when? What for ? Had my domestic help gone? What's the time? So many questions. I just touched Madam’s feet and told that I had come here to seek my birthday blessings from her . Then I described what I observed there." Are you Okay Madam? ", I asked. Before telling anything she asked me to open the fridge and give her a cold drink bottle and give biscuits to the kittens.
While she was enjoying the cold drink I could jolly well imagine what might have happened. With plea of visiting temple and being on fasting on Maha Shivaratri both the cook and the domestic help must have avoided and the driver must have stayed back without informing, taking full advantage of Madam 's simplicity . I was surprised to see that Madam finished the bottle and asked for a second.
Then Madam described her pitiable life , how she was still alive at the mercy of the so called three custodians. They were just exploiting Madam left and right. There is no humanity left with them . Before I asked anything Madam voluntarily told, "Now it's 11.30 . Neither my maid nor my cook had come, nor they will come also . Immediately you go and bring anything you get for my breakfast and lunch . Don't forget to bring four cups of tea . Take a tiffin carrier and a thermoflask ." I called my driver , took a tiffin carrier and themoflask and moved out . Since it was a holiday , most of the restaurants were closed. After covering around five kilometers , fortunately got a veg-restuerant open. We packed freshly made SAMOSHA , Veg-biriyani and flask full of tea . On the way back, took a pack of bread, biscuits and half a dozen of banana for emergency use .
Madam was anxiously waiting for us . As soon as we reached, Madam took away the flask and drank two cups of tea in one breath , as if she was drinking Pepsi or Fanta . Most probably she was having hypoglycemia. We waited there till Madam finished her breakfast. Now Madam was comfortable. After few minutes of chatting we wanted to bid farewell.
When I touched her feet Madam put her hand on my head and blessed me with countless blessings. She became emotional. Tears rolled down her cheeks .She hugged me and told, " Gangadhar ! You saved me today. It's not at all coincidence. To me it appears, you are the special messenger of Lord Shiba. On your birthday day on Maha Shiba Ratri you appeared as an angel and saved me . May lord Shiba bless you with good health and happiness with your family and friends. Continue your good work." The blessings I got from Madam Pattanaik was the best birthday gift I ever received in my life.
Prof Gangadhar Sahoo is a well-known Gynaecologist. He is a columnist and an astute Academician. He was the Professor and HOD of O&G Department of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE, Burla.He is at present occupying the prestigious post of DEAN, IMS & SUM HOSPITAL, BHUBANESWAR and the National Vice President of ISOPARB (INDIAN SOCIETY OF PERINATOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY). He has been awarded the BEST TEACHER AWARD of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE,BURLA in 2013. He has contributed CHAPTERS in 13 books and more than 100 Scientific Articles in State, National and International Journals of high repute. He is a National Faculty in National Level and delivered more than 200 Lectures in Scientific Conventions.He was adjudged the BEST NATIONAL SPEAKER in ISOPARB NATIONAL CONVENTION in 2016.
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