Are we insensitive to the terror attacks?

its about the discussion going to happen tonight on NDTV- "whether we have become insensitive to terror attacks"?
What do you want people to do to show their sensibility? Today morning i called my boss and started the discussion, he stopeed me in the middle- "the country is bound to go down. useless to discuss these things. just take care of your personal belongings . . . .by not going to the crowded places and keeping an eye on things around you". It effected me so much so that when my inlaws called me from a new number, i was to inform the police but good sense prevailed in time and i called my inlaws on known number and confirmed that it was their number!
In my opinion, Indian subcontinent have been ruled by inefficient, ignorant and irresponsible people immediately after downfall of ASHOKA. If human civilisation still exists there, its because of care which we take as an individual and we tolerate as a human being. People in Indian society do respond, in slow but decisive manner. they have toppled the rulers, governments even religions . . . . . .people are not insensitive, they are just waiting and weighing the options.
Dr. Manish

is scraping of POTA responsible for terror attacks?

i think more than the legislation, its commitment of the adminstrators and security personals, rulers (politicians) and at last but not the least, the juducuary, which is more important. i think adminstrators and security personnels in our country are ignorant and incapable, politicians are insensible and on top of all, we all are corrupt. only then the role of judiciary comes where a legislation comes to play a role. If police and intelligence people want, they can arrest any one on petty grounds. even by existing rules.

Communication with a patient

Respected Dr. i m suffering from back pain since 4 months. Actually, the Disc below L5 has slipped out & causing mild compression of S1 root (from MRI Test). Neuro & orthopaedic surgeons are telling that surgery is only the solution. Kindly suggest some alternate.Thanks.
My Reply
Do u have leg pain as well? If its only back ache, surgery may not be helpful .. . .
Please send me the MRI pictures, I can tell you better .. . . . . If surgery is necessary, its the simplest thing we as a neurosurgeon can do. Please come over to Chennai I can see and advice you in detail . .. . I can finish the surgery (if at all necessary) for just may be 25, 000 Rs.
Well my brother in law is at aligarh . . . .if want any help.

communication with a patient's relative

Hi, My friends son aged about 2.5 years is suffering from Pilocytic Astrocytoma in the brain stem. The MRI scan report gives the following conclusion-1. Large expansile lesion in mescancephalon involving tectum with cystic and solid components extending to cerebral pedencle with patchy enhancement.2. The above features are consistent with tectal plate pilocytic astrocytoma.Doctor from Apollo Chennai has given time of 1 year or max 1.5 years. They said that it lies in very critical position where surgery is not possible. The kid is normal without showing any symptom of brain tumor, only the problem lies with the usage of left hand and leg. He uses very rare to hold articles and try to use only his right hand always.Please let me know any info/advice on this or is there any alternate treatment.
My Reply
I was trained at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai only, tell me the consultant who saw the baby.Yes if its Pilocytic astrocytoma . . . . . . even if the baby survives longer- the fact is, its not going to be longer than few years . . . . . in the best case may be maximum of 5 years- may be 6 . . . .if treated with all possible surgery/ medications (which will cost few lakhs and will leave the baby weak on one side which already is there). In our country most of us are not in a situation of investing like that for sure no return! Untill u have insurance (which most of us don't). Fact is that its not worth treating. Still, if you are ready to put few lakhs just like that- for your satisfaction . . . .if u r a millionarie- surgery . . . . radiation . . . . .may be even few medications . . . . . .may be tried. And yes, if u believe in magic, thats is also possible as TB is like our national disease . . . . after all said . . . after surgery the pathology report may through a surprise . . . . . and the doctor may say you grinning that it was an infection . . . . .. . Please keep the baby happy and wish no one else gets the disease.

Hinduism vis a vis other religions- my opinion

I have tried to read different religion books after reading main religious books of hinduism. I even read kalma- but to me it is just my acceptance to the single god- almighty- STRONGLY- thats all Islam tells- as a basic difference- which i don't find bad any way- i don't find anything else new or differnt in that as well! Of course it gives fantastic guidence for personal management at micro level.
After different readings which continues, i find the following things. I might be wrong- please tell me.
Hinduism is a guide for rulers. It has code of conduct only for judges (god or god like people)- for common mass it has deeds and its results- if you do good- you will get prize, if you do bad you will get punishment- by the god. You may do either- nothing is against Hinduism! You have an indicataion of what is better- but never a compulsion. You have an ideal- which you should try to be/ follow allthrough your life- and which every one is sure that you will not- by no means you can be perfect- but you need not to be! From Grihstha to Sanyasi- every one is Hindu! Rama and Ravna both were Hindus! Both the sides of Mahabharata were Hindus- relatives- own blood! And that was where the religion was tested! In the most trying circumstances! Where most people are confused, hinduism is very clear. That most important thing in life is life itself!
Other religions- you have a fixed code of conduct- if you do that you belong to that religion- or else not. If some thing was missed by the first person of the religion, the religion is devided at that point! And there is a wound at the division point! Hinduism is the religion of continuous evolution! Hinduism has been divided so many times and still the divisions have been so smooth; still it is so intact that the division and unity appears like branches of the single tree!
Minimum 4 religions from India have enlightened the world! But India itself remains only the source of light! The great Hinduism! Single like orange!
Some times few people try to creat CHIRAG TALE ANDHERA. I can simply say- Just avoid them, but human inside me says- try to bring them on right path- by making them to understand the basic religion- of humanity! All other religions are adavancements on and over that. And this basic religion is most closer to Hinduism- because it says that the most important thing in life is life itself!

I like Mr. M. J. Akbar as an Indian, a journalist, a secularist an Indian Muslim . . . so many reasons including our geographical closeness. His article- "How Pakistan Insulates India from Terror" (Times of India, 15th june 2008) has made me to think in two opposite directoions which probably Mr. Akbar did not want readers to do.

If Mr. Akbar aims at Pakistan's present alone, he is 100% right that Pakistan as a dream land of muslims of the reason has failed measurably. Probably a simple emotional Muslim would not have expected or wished that. May be serving as a bad example, present Pakistan might be making the choice of the Indian Muslims easier in the era of confusions and misunderstandings. But if by that Mr. Akbar is aiming at demeaning the loss caused to the world humanity and civilization by bifurcation and later trifurcation of British India, he is making big mistake. In my opinion, present unrest led by "wrongly enlightened" muslims in the world is not associated with Islam, Muslim or their welfare. Yes, it is associated with the politics which is made on the name of such attractive words. And, in this regard, a unified Independent British India would have served as a stronger source of light through its socio- political and intellectual power. In that case world history would have been different. Totaly diferent. And, even now if we just understand this we can change this world.

And, in dividing British India, Britishers played pivotal role as the inducers, continuous catalysts and emerged as the only winners. That they were sad on division of the British Indian Army was a lesser and artificial truth mostly due to personal and emotional reasons if anything.

And, borders are not safe if made up of strong walls. If so, no fort would have been ever captured! Borders are unsafe only if the citizens/ security personals are not loyal or uncapable. And don't suspect the loyality of Muslims. Only short sighted and poorly informed people will do that, whoever he or she might be. Neither any one should suspect their patriotism, if some one does so, he or she should read the history again and again. And the loyality and patriotism comes through proper enlightenment. And that comes in this region naturaly due to the culture and civilisataion of this "region" which is based on knowledge, freedom and tolerance. Many examples of varied types can be seen on individual and community basis.

To finish, i would request Mr. Akbar to write another article to clarify these confusions if some one had. I think Mr. Akbar can do it in the best possible way and he is the best person to do that.

attacks on the media people

Insecurity is rising all over the world day by day. It is being noticed by every one without exceptions. Ofcourse more so in unstable reasons. Like maximum killings in Iraq and so. Media people or for that reason most of the middle class are soft target in case of any violence as we can't protect ourselves due to lack of any "power" whatsoever. This is all to be condemned. Without exception. But few of these incidences need closer look, on analysis they lead on to different meanings . . . . probably could have been avoided . . . .or they are something with different clues and conclusions. I will like to bring all that to a book, but i can't do that now so i will try to bring at least few of them in which i was directly concerned. Before going in to the details, Let me tell you that in conclusion i feel that part of the insecurity posed to media can be blamed to the attitude of the media people. They are running for "hot", "stunning", "garama Garam", "Masaledar" news alone! They are making it a news when and only when its hot. If its cold, its of no use to media people! For example, there was a serial "jeena isi ka nam hai". Every "group" of people including those with corruption and criminal charges were brought to show how people should live except any scientist or any buisenessman who have been doing so much for this country tolerating every injustice. Even media could not justify their devotion and hard work. Not even Abdul Kalam attracted them! And in this run for the garama-garam news many times they earn the wrath of even those who otherwise sympathise with them. It can happen by either ignoring the sensible presentable thing by which you at least lose the sympathy or by giving undue importance to something or a mixture of both when one of the parties is overpresented. Dear reader, the worst thing is doctors beating the media people. Although I am at Chennai, I can guess what might have happened. But bigger issue is what made doctors to become violent? In my opinion whole lot of the young generation of medical professionals in India is stresed. People, media and politicians are ignoring it. Before i explain further, let me tell you my story from Tamilnadu. Around 10 years ago when I was doing my internship at Madurai Medical college, a political party affiliated criminal was caught by the doctors in side the hospital campus with sickle in his hand. He was overpowered by the doctors when he was chasing a doctor . . . . . He was left by the police officials then and there with support of the poltiticised college administration. We had gone for a flash strike which lasted for 4 days. Another time (the two incidents occured within few months) a politicaly supported professor turned college administrator threw away our belongings from the hostel to show off his administrative skills. I still remember his threatenning voice- " I am telling this to you people not as a teacher, as an administrator". Again we went for flash strike which lasted for 4 days. In both these cases i was personaly in touch with the top media people at Madurai. Both the time they gave a cold shoulder. Rather one of the well circulated national daily brought out an article commenting on volatile situation in the hospoital indirectly blaming the junior doctors. In the same city after around 10 years by almost similar group a daily news paper's office with its employees was burnt! The whole country and i wish whole world would have been shocked. I too was terribly shaken. But knowing the people around, i was not surprised. I feel and i am telling it from my heart, by ignoring their earlier activities (they might have done more similar activites), media had made them stronger enough to attack and harm the media people themselves. Coming back to the young medical professionals, dear reader, we are all overstressed due to multiple factors. It includes uncertainty of carrier and job, unorganised services, poor recognition of skill and performance, substandard training, continuance of the slavery attitude (which was transmitted by the britishers to the then young Indian doctors) by the professors/ seniors. On the top of all that there is total mismatch in demand and supply and gross malinformation and corruption in the government programmes. About all that even today I keep talking to the media people but they are not abale to segregate the fully qualified practicing doctor and a junior doctor or between a corrupt person doing unethical practice and a principled hard working doctor. And in this tensed up insecure environment we all are made to live for the sake of the politicians! Media never talks about that. Media talks if a doctor holds a criminal who has ransacked in the hospital (other than doctor and hospital employee any one can become a patient, even a criminal is a patient only. And who is there to safeguard the doctors from these criminal elements? Have you ever thought?) and not if a criminal turned patient tortures the doctor. Have you ever imagined how the doctors would be coping with the criminalas/ politicians who live in the hospitals? Has any one tried to shoot that in a hidden camera?Dear friend, I again express my deep sorrow to those who were beaten by the doctors at Patnaa, but i feel it needs wider introspection to whole of the society thaan just a prersentation aabout attacks on the media people. killing in Kargil war is not compaarable with burning in the ofice by our own criminals.Dr. Manish Kumardrmanku@yahoo.co.in