Monday, April 14, 2008

Random musings

Here's wishing all of you a happy Ram Navami, Poila Baishak, Tamil,Punjabi New year and wonderful days ahead for every good reason one can think of. The last two months haven't been good with my sister in law falling sick and my colleague and friend's husband being victim of rash driving and finally succumbing to his head injury despite the best efforts of his treating doctors.

Jamshedpur being a small town it was wonderful to see so many joining the family in their moment of grief with each one treating his death as a personal loss. It is quite another thing that Dr. N....., fondly referred to as 'doctor sahib' has been good to everyone around him and if the family knew 25% of his good deeds the remaining 75% was revealed when he was in a coma in CCU. Strangers walked up to his wife and recounted the manner in which they were helped by him. Among them were rickshaw pullers, washermen, teastall owners and so many others from the lower rungs of society for whom he had a kind word and pleasant smile. He never charged them for treatment and they considered him an incarnation of God.A power cut in their neighborhood? Water scarcity in the medical college hostel? Mess food not being relished by the students? Our doctor sahib was there to tackle the problem.The list is endless.My faith in the prevalence and dominance of good over evil is reinforced and death being the only certainity in the world each one of us should try to rise above trivial matters since we cannot take with us anything more valuable than the good will of people nor can we leave behind anything worthier than pleasant memories of kindness and compassion shown during our lifetime.

While I feel lousy about doctor sahib's death and how upsetting it is going to be for his wife and family to cope with the loss I am equally annoyed with the manner in which our youngsters drive - particularly those who drive high speed motorcycles.

Young man in a hurry, did you for a moment realize what you have done due to your reckless driving? The doctor was returning from his morning walk happily chatting with his friends. It was a routine that he followed religiously and encouraged in his patients including me. It was only 06:15 in the morning and ours is a sleepy town. You banged into a second motorcyclist and he dashed into an unsuspecting victim. Eye witnesses claim that it took you a second to escape but you've caused the death of a man so useful to society depriving his wife of the many years of togetherness that they might have shared.

Parents of teenagers why are you in a hurry to buy that brat of yours a motorized vehicle? Can you not wait till he becomes responsible enough to handle the pressure of safe driving? Why do you let him drive a geared vehicle even if it means that his licence had to be obtained by greasing palms and he thinks that the hero in the Hindi movie that he watched actually performs the stunts when they are nothing but camera tricks.

Finally civil servants who issue licences, policemen who ought to keep a check on these teenagers as well as people like you and me who are silent spectators are all responsible for every life that is lost in this manner. It is easy to say that it was his destiny. Was it? Will this explanation satisfy his children who would have wanted him to see them reach for the skies?

I am sorry if I have put you off. My sister in law is improving and I thank each of you for including her in you prayers. I was hoping to be able to say the same about doctor sahib. Unfortunately the injury was massive and nothing could be done. Be careful each one of you I want all of you in tact. Whether behind the steering or before it there is truth in what my husband says - "Never mind what the other person does. It is your duty to watch out." Take care and God bless you all.

17 comments:

Jaya said...

HHG: I am happy you are back to the blogworld but am really sorry for Dr Sahib. Hope your sis-in-law comes abck to her usual self soon.

HHG'pa's words for us to be on our guard and be watchful is priceless.

dipali said...

Oh- I'm so sorry to hear that the good doctor succumbed to his injuries. What you say is so true- the lack of road safety is becoming a daily issue.

I hope your sister-in-law continues to make good progress. When does she go in for the valve replacement? Or has she already had the surgery?
My prayers for her well-being. Take care, HHG, it all must have been terribly stressful for you as well.

rajk said...

Thank you.
For sharing your anguish with us, for warning us, as kids, as parents, as citizens. Thanks. And I pray for Doctor Sahib's family.

kurrodu said...

That is so painful to hear. My heart felt condolences to Dr sahib's family.

Just Like That said...

Very sad about the good doctor. Indeed,a big loss for those he knew and helped, an irreplaceable one for his family. Esp so because it was out of the blue..:-(
A hug for you- it must have been a very trying month for you- hope your SIL is much better now.

Madhumita said...

Glad to have you back. Many condolences for the loss of your friend. After reading your post, it seems like he made his life really count. Not many can claim that. Hope your sister-in-law is also on her path to recovery.

Sumana said...

Sad to hear about the incident HHG. It is really a irrepairable loss.

Tys on Ice said...

knew in my heart that something was wrong when i didnt hear from u for such a long time...

how u bearing?

sometimes its the best among us that leaves early...

sorry tht u r going thru such times

Unknown said...

So sad to have you back with this terrible story . I;m with you there- such callousness and rash driving which has taken away a man's life .. Jamshedpur being a small place the guy would know his victim has died - will he able to live with this guilt,I wonder ? Condolences to the bereaved family .Take care, Padma .

aMus said...

HHg, my condolences...

sometimes it seems that the nice ones are being punished for being good decent human beings...:(

take care...

Hip Grandma said...

Hi all,
thank you each one for your response.I knew that you would understand my sentiments.We in Jamshedpur are yet to come to terms with the death of Dr.N...... but life goes on and we must also move on however difficult it may be to do so.I feel bad because I've known his wife even before they got married and i have no words of consolation to offer.I can only pray that once she is back to work she may find solace in her interaction with students.

My SIL's valve replacement is scheduled for Oct/Nov. and we hope her health improves and she is back to her normal routine after the operation.

It is long since I read any of your posts.I hope to catch up soon.

Sunshinemom said...

Hi, first time visitor. A cousin recommended your blog to me. Just wanted to say that I completely understand what you say. I wish the rash drivers would also think of what happens to their own family members when they depart (I know someone who did die that way). I hope Dr.N's wife is doing good.

Usha said...

This is really sad. It makes you angry that it is such an unnatural way to go and something that could have been completely avoided if all the rules in the system have been observed.
People like that are becoming so rare in today's world and even the few around are taken away like this.

I am so angry that I can't write a coherent comment.

Archana Bahuguna said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Archana Bahuguna said...

Glad to know that your SIL has been recovering. It was a news we've been waiting to hear. Hope she bounces back to her active self, real soon.

And really sorry to hear about Dr Sahib. Its really difficult to rationalize these things and make peace with a loss as big as this.

The Inquisitive Akka said...

I keep thinking about the motorcyclist who killed my mother. I hope he knows what has he has done and I hope his conscience kills him.
I know I sound terribly harsh, but this is how I feel on most days.
I hope your sil gets better soon!!!

WhatsInAName said...

Life can be so cruel :( Sad to know about doctor. You very rightly have pointed out to the young people of today what rash driving can lead to. One moment of carelessness and someones life can go topsy turvy!
May Docs soul rest in peace