Home Coming !!!

Pl.accept my Bijoya greetings !! Due to extreme engagement couldn't quite chat on ph, DP passed ,with Debi Ma besides Us all.She will show us the path of courage &fortitude.
31st we will again cross over Indian Ocean for BLR.&finally on 3rd by train 2 NZM(Delhi).We want to enjoy the relaxed holidaying mode of the train.
Pain balms Nanu & Panu are well ; both their Mother's pain however & whatever it is disappear upon their management.
I will be terribly busy with my training program of 6 hrs daily in Delhi.But surely will enjoy Driving in the winter.In fact Gurgaon is best in the winters.This time I hope2take possession of the Bhiwadi unit Camelia Garden 1 ,wherein we intend to shift all excess belongings and let,197 Hope semifurnished.
We will do a good Laxmi Puja in 197 Hope on the 5th Nov. the day of our arrival ; its 197 HOPE which brought us Luck & Good HOPE...!!!!

Maha sasthi & Mahaprayam

Martya asiache' Debi Ma ,dookhohoron koritey...!!! meaning Goddess Durga has arrived on Earth to root out Penury!!!Ma Anondo Moyi Chaitanyamoyi,Satyamoyi Paramay Ma is here heralded on MahaSasthi day today.She will stay here on this mundane Earth her Home for a 5 day period having being prayed by Lord Rama the Hindu King God of Ayodhya!!!!in this season of Saratkal also called Okal Bodhon :meaning untimely unscheduled emergent urgent call to salvage from the Evil Mahishashur!!!!!!!bringing sukhshanti to the people.

People passing away on such a Day for the Eternal World,attain Moksha or Salvation since it is DebiPaksha now the fortnite of the Goddess.It is the chosen few who attain such a salvation and their Soul is set free for Eternal Bliss : Nirvana !! One of our Mothers passed away silently yesterday reaching her heavenly abode....!!Sis-in-law Wendy and Neil & family of Mr Dale Nesse' are bereaved & in Mourning at the sudden Demise of Mrs Nesse' a lady loved by all.May her soul rest in peace.Our heartfelt Condolences we offer at this hour.

This is the time to revert back to prayers and absolve ourselves from all wrongdoings advertantly or Inadvertantly in front of Debi Ma who will bless us with munificient Bounty...!

AkashBangla,DD Bangla,Rupashi Bangla,Etv Bangla,24Ghanta,Star Anondo will air the puja and we are lucky2 have these here....!!

Little Nanu & pano are getting their daily dosage of Mythology & Archana is leaving no stones unturned.....!!!!

Tarpan ,Mahalaya & Durga Puja

The fag end of September ...was the time to remember our forefathers in the form of Tarpan,which steadfastly every Hindu would do to pray for forefathers departed & long departed from this mundane world...ending with MAHALAYA invoking NAVARATRA & Goddess Durga Durgatinashini.

Durga Puja far away from Home will be celebrated by us with lots of enthusiasm & typical Bengali recipe.

31st October is the date of Dep.and the butterfly revisited us again in our respective abdomens exicited about seeing our kith & Kin very soon.I am excited in more ways than one,in having performed on the frontfoot from Feb to uptodate with a 300% growth rate as per current calculations.Having started with n now its 3n.It happened exactly the way I preferred and I salute my patient clientele for their unflinching support & love.As a fitting tribute a programme on Ultrasound and Echocardiography will I undertake this Holidays in Delhi under the aegis of Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia at their Delhi Chapter.This will help diagnosing and quick mitigation of my ever supportive patient community here.Need all your Good wishes for this noble endeavour...!!

Also,seeing Ma is a pilgrimage to me.There is no substitute for your Ma your Mother who shown you the lite of the Day.....!!That she is sick and away from me has bugged me for some times now ,though she is speedily recovering & Inshallah!! the day is not far when we meet,and Lo..!!! what a meeting will it be !!armed with Pann & Shyam unleashing tons of laughter & happiness on her old frame.I am also happy for my ever supportive tough manger wife Archana who will reach India highly successful and happy .She will reach relaxed having steered her family so well.Our three day Bangalore trip starting 31st Oct will be dedicated to her cause.

And finally adversity had brought in all of us immense courage and fortitude and this homecoming is the Return of the Castaways,having set the Clock back Right....!!!!

Ramadan & RakshaBandhan

The Holy month of Ramadan has come to a close now with Eid moon on the site...may be tomorrow evening as the silver crescent will don the Sky with the feeling of gratitude sweeping the archipelago with Eid Mubarik in having thanked Allah for letting us see another Eid another Mubarak....!!

The Sister in another Mythology tied a string to her protector the Bhai a momentous event in both little Panu and Nanus lives...RakshaBandhan.Hence Aug was more eventful with Janmastami ,Rakshabandhan celebrated world over.

The truncated schedule in both Hosp.& school made me feel like testing the Hooke's Law in Physics for the Elasticity to which I was subjected to:the Evening Clinic of 8pm to 11pm was like a 20-20 match as more pts reported to be seen in 3 hrs only as against the sparse 9am to 2.30pm slot.With vacillation to the school to escort Doel for school and back in between...!!

August also saw Little nanu confidently striding the tiled floor his initial steps in life may GOD grant him strong footage in life.Hectic communications to India was also another highlight with Nephew Rahul's marriage dates being fixed for Dec4th and Neice Shweta's marriage proposal being activly discussed .May God grant them all the success for their own travelogues.....!!!!

Primitive instincts still drive a frenzy in this modern world with the News of a declared act by an USA Minister of a church.The Jittery Moslem world in the eve of Eid is a sad story for USA :the country of Liberty.Its a concept of Terrorism which is far venomous than what happened in 9 /11.GOD cannot be desecrated,dismembered and mutiliated in whatever form HE exist in whatever Hearts Hindu,Muslim,Christians,Sikhs and host other faithfuls.The Babri dismemberement has no rationale and the judgment of 24th Sept we are waiting

for.

Being a physician handling a milieu of nationalities and religion here ,the biggest challenge is wellbeing!!

We have to ensure a better world for Nanu and Panus likes & mutual give and take is the only solution and not fascism....!!!

Baidyanath...Anniversaries...& Ramadan....!!

July was eventful,in more than a few terms.With SAWAN MELA in INDIA in full swing ,BABA BAIDYANATH is being worshipped with fervour for a droplet of HIS karuna(mercy):...the HAR HAR MAHADEV,LORD SHIVA...!!!!
Lord Shiva is the embodiment of Power of the Universe and a larger than Myth of Hindu God Kingdom.Jag Teen Lok will sing Paens of Lord Shiva.Dev sab se Nyara ,tujhko Naman Hamara will reverberate the household every morn with Shiv Mahima Bhajans with Archana astutely fasting on Somwaris i.e Mondays :the auspicious Lord Shiva Day.Also,this Sawan Month i.e July-Aug she would abstain from NonVeg.This month ,one would see Kanwariyas :pilgrims would collect Holy water from Ganges & would travel on foot for Days enduring all hardships & finally pouring on Lord Shiva in Designated Temples of ages.Amongst ,these ,BABA Baidyanathdham in Jharkhand state of India and Kashi Viswanath of Varanasi :the Eternal city & Lingaraj of Bhuvaneshwar of Orissa state and not to forget Amarnath Shrine.
The Physical Self is exercised to maximum for Spiritual emancipation & this is the strength of the largesse at Home.
The adopted home here is also in the process of emancipation in the form of Ramadan Mubarak and an endurance of month long fasting ushered in today.Its a Holiday here to mark the first day of Ramadan
Luckily ,it didnot rain at all during the Nite Mkt period,enabling brisk unhampered business( which ended recently )as it was open air and rained heavily before the advent of Roadha(Holy Mth ),the much needed cooler climes, for people will go waterless for the whole day. :this is the Power of Almighty :ever protecting...!!!
...the Hospital & school has now truncated schedule of OPD to accomodate the Holy Month.
Amidst these electrifying atmosphere Nanu celebrated his First B'Day with a B'Day party in FUD BANK on the 5th instant.The entire Health Center and family friends appeared to bless him.The pocket Bajrangwali was unamused in the begining but later on warmed up after a nap.Incidentally ,5th Aug is the death Anniversary of Nirmalendu Bhusan Das: Das Babu to the common Railroad workers of yesteryears ;our creator and Mentor ,little Nanu's and Doel Didi's Grandfather,who passed away in Gurgaon,Haryana in 1998...so when little Nanu was born on that very day a sense of victory and Happiness enveloped all of us in having squared up with Fate....a very rare occasion in Life...!!!...the Compensation unfathomable.....!!!!! Inshallah...!!when the pocket Bajrangwali meets GrandMother in Dec.for the First time :....I am already seeing the twinkle in her eyes and edentulous smile just as if she is seeing a soul who hitherto was with her.........!!!! & when that happens I will be filled with a deep sense of Gratitude towards my Creators.....!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

.....MeghMallar !!!

........the olive branch is up & reconciliatory postures so adopted by both Ruling & Opposition augurs well for this Archipelago where Democracy is nascent and in Infancy.In my opinion our region i.e South Asia; the root cause of all ailment is disparity.Republic of Maldives is no exception....with education having been ushered not so long ago it was a field day for the Have's on the resources at the expense of the uneducated Have nots....so when the thought of ushering in the new era developed mimicking Liberty & Justice of the West in the form of Elective Presidential form of Governance as anvilled out of the 2007 Referendum there had to be hiccoughs....stitching the Garland of 1800 or more odd Islands ,one fourth of which is habitated for the Garb called Democracy was a Tall order. MALADWIP or the Garland of Islands ;the Maldives is in a churning phase.With a population of 3 lakhs dispersed in the Atolls one would say its so easy to formulate remedies and delivery.But unfortunately the keys lie with the vested interest and it is no better than the other parts of the World.Just like their other world ilks the politicians are rich and politics is just another investment...the ordinary denizen now marginally better aware feels that lot can be the level of progress and self sufficiency ,which is woofully lacking & heavily is the dependence on foreign aid & blue & white collars from abroad...!!!
Nevertheless the churning is on in this hitherto sleepy Island Nation.The average Maldivian is well aware of his rights & duties & aspire for the best.
Despite all this hullaballoo,the show is on:...the local and Expat hand in glove is ever more evident when it comes to generate foreign currency & dhanda is as brisk as ever.
The Independence Day passed of with fanfare & Salman khan was the cynosure yesterday here..The India Club have arranged programmes to commemorate 26th July &15th Aug as part of the excellent India Maldives ties.
Nanu the Pocket Bajaranwali is on a walking spree these days and the home here is always on High Alert to clear his way & Doel Pakhi the bird is a chatterbox keeping Archana & myself at our wits end...speechless,spellbound and tired unable to quench her thirst of Queries,,!
And finally the pre Roadha(Roja) Nite Mkt is on and laughably Archana has procured the info.that first few days better be avoided and fag end panic sell is the best time to go..needless to say I am amused,There are more than 100 odd stall to drain your pocket,Personally I am interested in the Car Expo which will showcase the brands.....!!!but Megh mallar is on & We got to be lucky without getting drenched for its Monsoon in full swing here.....!!!!!

....and Quiet flows the Don....!!

With the cessation of the 11.30 pm theatrics of wakawaka Mundial,its time to catch up and and a great sense of relief came with the predictable outcome.The Spanish Armada had the last say and Africa resurrected with a wonderful finishing ceremony of the handing over of the FIFA Cup.With the Referee sticking to book the final seemed to be marred with indiscretion.There has to be stricter rules for a smooth game.True its a Man's game,but its not Rugby.
Also the recent Rugby like skirmishes in the local Govt.& Opposition with the vote for cash scandal in the Peoples Majlis had been rocking the fledgling Democracy here having been ushered in 2008.
But for the resilience of the trading people:....and Quiet Flows the Don....!! Its dhanda (business) as usual .And exit entry as feverish as ever...!
With Vietnamese shrimps & Sardines of the west finally our long awaited fish buds got satiated.Having been deprived of fresh water Labeo Rohita & Catla Catla meaning Rui and katla in vernacular due to the saline realms in which we dwell these fresh water stuff is a regular feature in Archana's Bengali kitchen these days & not to forget Lamb from Aurangabad Mahrastra India.
In fact ,in Male'you get everything in host many stores but you have to be on the prowl...!
This is a place which is home to the yellow fin Tuna and Tuna and more Tuna...!
Doel is excited about her Sports day, & Archana for the Fortnight long Nite Mkt which hosts more than 100 stalls just before the Ramadan where its like India ,dusty ,musty and huge crowd,...yes the people will go on shopping spree for the impending festivity..
Needless to stay little Nanu the pocket Bajrangwali,will accompany his mother wherevershe goes.....!!!!

.......Sepp Blatter and outdated policy

....that England had to go home after their ignominous defeat is another story & that goal denial and Hand of God has been a regular feature in the FIFA Futbol Mundial,the matter needs to be addressed ASAP to save the game.
Sepp Blatter is an outdated official and Joao Havelange his predecessor no better and this great game needs fresh review as far as governance is concerned.where their is a 'Hawk Eye' in Cricket and Tennis line calls monitored in Camera,there,is no reason why Futbol be deprived and robbed of authenticity as far results are concerned.
With Gyan of Ghana ,hitting the cross bar in that last minute penalty of extra time ,I think that match will stand as best may be better than the Final.But I have reasons to believe that Africa wil post further ahead in the later editions.No reason to lose heart.But European Champion Spain with gameplan around the dee is the best outfit.When results matter most the action should and must be manouvered near the dee as Spain rightly deployed the tactics.Individual players are gr8 but Christiano Ronaldo can be a passenger if not fed.
With Germany 1 up in the lemon time Argentina have to double up against Podolsky and company......!!

.......the full steam juggernaut...!!!

...16th to 26th ,hands were full with backlogs and deadlines to be met and an increase in Patient clientele kept us even more busy...there was this rumour that I had visited Desh i.e India instead of Sri Lanka.I had to correct it umpteenth time to the hapless patient ,who are innocent & to them leaving Hulhule(the Airport Island) & Male'International terminal means nothing but landing in Swadesh ....!!There has been a spurt in the case registration,and Doctors & staffs are busy..!

Little Nanu(Shyamu) stepped out today after 10 days blissful at Home ,to visit Agora our Local Mall in MajidheeMagu. (Magu meaning Street) and a relaxing trip to Pappodums :India Restaurant,swung them back to Male' Action.

Upon return both the kids swung to the Waka Waka tune of Shakira and it is their favorite by all standards.

..aged 10 months,2010 World Cup is little Nanu's Baptism with soccer & that too in a soccercrazy land..!!when the game is on! : the streets wear a deserted look with flags of playing Nations fluttering & hung from all vantage pts.

Midnite, with a cordless head set I will barely prop up & see some scintillating matches ...the dejavu of 1986 Mexico World Cup visiting and revisiting ..:the B/W konark tv set with

the likes of Platini,the french legend,the Danish Dynamite Preben Elkjaer,the Algerian Abdel Azez Bouderbala,Carlos valderamma the Colombian,Zico & Socrates of Brazil, Shilton & Gary Linekar of England ,Buruchaaga,Valdano and the Great Maradona of Argentina,donning its Manual Mantle flashing like meteors is hard to forget and even today it is fresh in the memory...as if it happened yesterday.....!!! ..it is like first love & old wine hard to forget and always cherished...!!!!!

Total Recall.... !!

...the A 340 Sri Lankan,brought us to Male'comfortably on the 15th instant with colorful memories and immensely satiated we landed.Our little abode felt warm and cosy with home made food served in record time by Archana..!
The following day Doel sped off to school and I to the hospital.
"Changer Babu" is the coinage for the Kolkata Babu who came always in winters and spring to Madhupur where we spent our young lives & the fresh air of the santhal parganas and the plateau topo resurrected many a Bengali dada who came for a change from Kolkata's hectic environs.
The quantum change of well being we feel now after this change..! augmented by nostalgia of 1986 Mexico world Cup where we started our worldcup campaign in Madhupur in a b/w set called Konark TV is immense and spinning I had been to Total Recall....!It took 24 years & five World Cup campaigns to feel the same recharge and enthusiasm and happiness this World Cup.With Maradona deeply entrenched in our 1986 memories and now in his new avatar as a coach have struck a note of accord :the fresh Medico that I was fully charged ,exonerated and in High alter & esteem and now to a well established practitioner of the Trade...! It seems there is a similarity with Diego's journey and travails...!
...hence ,this World Cup is a special one as the relaxation is Deja vu ,akin to 1986.
..in this hulla balloo.quietly our Nephew got engaged in India..& a special request ,however is to be met ,as it is Archana's wish to drape Shyamu in a 3 pc suit & Doel in a fabulous Lahanga for the marriage festivity of dear Rahul our kin in Dec...! where we intend to meet our kith & Kin and Bless the couple ....!!

Panacea called Little England

Yesterday ,was spent visiting Sita Eliya or the Sita Amman Temple and Hakagela Botanics (Estd 1861) in the first leg and Ramboda Falls and host of tea factories in the second leg.
...the chilly winds in the Temple and the gushing rivulet underneath and the jungle and hills around made us feel rivetted to our Mythology, of being a Hindu ,our way of life.With Bajrangwali perched with folded hands made us feel fulfilled as far as our Faith is concerned steeped and ingrained since childhood...!
Ratnasiri,the Station Master of Nanu Oya who is also a partime guide cum Tourist van driver drove us through the rough terrain further to the Hakagela Botanics ,Estd in 1861 its pristine and with lots of Ghost and Ghowlies trees as Doel put it,also has a fernerry lodging the Ferns with rivulets crisscrossing the entire terrain.
The breathtaking view from the Botanics and the fresh air envigorated our spirits and a welcome change it is from the goalhis of Male'.
We learnt why this place is little England once we were in the second leg of excellent road and Lo! the hillocks bearing the tea plants ,the verdant green with tunnels and waterfalls ,dotted with tea factories with steep granite hills on sight and placid lakes with cloud kissing them is what we needed to a perfect rejuvenation.The Ramboda Falls with Avocado and Jack trees interspersed and a wonderful resturant for that recharging SriLanka tea embalmed us as never before.
....we dropped in St Andrews a fantastic trip till the end...!! .Tomorrow we are again hurtling down to Nanu Oya for our reserved seats in the train from Badulla to Colombo Fort and if the weather is fine we should reach CMB around 3.30 pm to halt for the nite in Galadari Hotel with its breathtaking sea front rooms and not forgetting the stones throw from there in The Ceylon International Hotel at the Indian Tandoor Restaurant where all the chairs are painted in the tricolor....!!

In New England

Nuwaraeliya today we reached :little England of yesteryears in Sri Lanka;having completed the tour of Colombo & Kandy with the Old Parliament building and the most reverred Budhdhist shrine of Dalada Maligawa deeply eked in our memories,the vast expanses of Tea gardens and the breathtaking journey to this Hill station has been a feat of sorts.
St Andrews Hotel 125 yrs old steeped in tradition is where we will spend 3 nites and it was just the rt thing I was looking for.
Our mythological Sita Eliya temple is nearby and caves where Ravana imprisoned her is nearby,
It is a quirk of fate that Hindu mythology has strong settings in Lanka & Buddhist well entrenched here with strong links in India...!
Both countries look alike and people traditional and friendly.
I am doubling up to satiate Queries of Doel ,Nanu and Archana,
They have been very co operative and little Nanu(shyamu) is practising stand ups with feverish agility,,
Incidentally ,the station where we detrained from Kandy to go to NuwaraEliya: or little England as they say is Nanu Oya.where we are booked in the observation car for Colombo Fort on the 14th morn.15 th Eve we are flying to Male',
Away from the sickness arena the little England and sri lanka with her friendly people have soared our spirits with cheers to some good Tea...!!

...mad rush..!

...incomprehensible last few days it had been..the butterfly in the stomach refused to die down & recent gains were waiting translation..the rainbow in the clouds bedazzled and down went I hurtling memory lane...!it was a total recall of sorts & hence the recoil from 29th till date.
The Sri Lanka trip now on anvil & 7th being tentative departure put the butterfly even more on the frenzy.
...the pre tour research also gobbled lot of time.& Doel's and Archana's queries satisfied.I never knew we had a beautiful neighbouring destination nearby & needless to say we are all happy..!
Personally ,I intend to cover SAARC Nations first before any major travel plans though USA is ever high on agenda with our kin there.Also Singapore with my dear childhood friend settled there is also high on the list.
It is truly a satisfying feeling,that the new arrangement on the workfront has set my soul free.....!!

.....and the invisible Hands of Our Forefather's Blessed us gently by infusing an invisible strength and taking our capabilities to newer heights....! the ordeal of ill luck mopped with steady gains and strength to strength we grew.Archana was the driving force co operating ,tolerating and delivering and little Doel and Dad made comfortable.

so the parleys and negotiations paid off and acquiscence made....& the Phoenix Rose from its Ashes ultimately reaching the coveted destination...yes it happened three days back ...the hard work recognised.

So when Pann & Shyam play in the safe realms of their Ma ,,,I feel fulfilled having set the Clock back Right.It is a promise fulfilled to my family ,my greater family,most importantly my creators my Mother & Father.....!

the Castaway

........busy it really was.From the urbane locales of Gurgaon ,with a plus 4000sft freedom,not so long ago,the corrugated sheet roofed house was a distant cry.With potable water stashed in a sintex tank of last seasons rain to drink and shallow well water for ablutions took out the best in Archana as a homemaker and Doel and her Dad spun around her kept her ever busy...!
The first weeks heat and stuffy atmosphere saw a 12btu Mcquoy being set up for 600usd and the bedroom looked like heaven with a 14inch TV displaying Star Plus.The freshness salvaged Doel who spent most of the time there.We learnt in adversity that how a half eaten chilly can be preserved for the next session for want of it.Yes,Vegetables were scarce in those islands and an occasional rough sea would jeopardise supply from Male'.However,ruthlessly we motivated and even got a Mazda B323 sedan for touring the quartet of Islands of Fonadhoo,Kadhhoo,Mandhoo & Gan all linked by causeways built by Japan.This led to us access to more habitable plantation islands for a steady supply.......!

Like the Phoenix as it rose from its ashes....!!

Last three days were Parleys and Negotiations......!!The resurrected patient appointment list and the cell phone rang incesantly like Kansor Ghanta(bells) of a Mandir really kept my hands ful.And Lo! finally the Phoenix rose from its ashes!!from the decimation unheard and uncalled for some 5 yrs back.

When the dilapitated structure with all our Father's telltale signs was rejuvenated some 10 yrs back the satisfaction was immense there were bricks laid down by forefathers which were reutilised after resurrection and the marathon took an year in 2000AD many found a livelihood in that establishment...!the satisfaction immense.

Side by side ,1300kms away in North India a new era was ushered in 1037 sec

31 Gurgaon with the same zeal and enthusiasm...!

The tumultous period that followed led to a cascade of events and decimation was near total complete..!

The Castaways landed 4000km down south with hopes and prayers on their lips in 2007 Jan and were banished further 228 kms down south of Male'Atoll near Equator in Laam Fonadhoo.After a long time an average of 50 pts in a day kept me terribly busy

Maatam..........

The colossal tragedy that struck us in the form of Mangalore Crash is hard to digest...

Teeray eshe Toreey Doba( you sank when you almost reached the shore) is hard to comprehend.Having landed umpteenth time,since '98 I can feel how anticipitory one's mind can be and how mobiles will buzz as soon as touchdown.Expats who perished upon homecoming ....a sad end to many an enterprising and also many a fledgling life.

That survival is a wonder we are reminded time and again by cruel fate....!

Let Good Lord Grant them Eternal peace and home.

It is a dream far too fetched when all forms of travel will be 100% safe and foolproof.

We are still it seems grappling with technology and human error.

I propose therefore that utmost research and measures be taken to improve our safety and security records.Checks and cross checks,standby and backups should be the order of the day.

Being a scientific man I feel still we are in a primitive age,and we are wasting precious time and energy in Non issues and taking things very casually and callously.

Modernity in the truest sense is yet to be attained and lots of effort need to be made....!

Notun Athithi

Last two days have been hectic,and the depression in Bay of bengal had a profound effect on the clime here,in as much we preferred to stay indoors with just essential shoppings..!There is sporadic Dengue and Mahabub passed away in IGMH( Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital ) in a short span.Dengue ,Chikungunya are endemic in some Islands and HFMD(Hand Foot & Mouth Disease) has a regular arrival and departure.
When I was in Laam Atoll in Hadhunmathi :Fonadhoo I was warned by MOH about a possible HFMD outbreak.The Pattern is Island after Island get affected, one by one, much akin to Locust invasion.The warning was in May2007 and our Island reported the first case in July the coxsakie virus knocked at our doorsteps after ravishing other nearby Atolls.We were geared and first week was panic in the populace for the virus mostly affected kids and I had cases literally everyday pouring with constitutional symptoms and otherwise just with ulcers of hand ,foot and mouth.For full two months we bravely faced the onslaught and finally the virus waned and invaded other Atolls.This was my first brush with an epidemic and successfully we warded of the challenge.
Those were the days when I & Archana used to regularly check little Doel's anatomy literally everyday.But the stringent aseptic precautions and quarantine I developed for my fledgling family kept us safe and No communicable Diseases ever touched us there.On the contrary little Doel never had a slight indisposition there and thoroughly explored the Islands and other Islands linked by causeways in our Mazda B323.
These sparsely habitated Islands at these latitudes are endemic for many diseases with high morbidity but low mortality.Hence this is the land for the General Practitioner who is nothing but a reverred King.....!!ably assisted by an efficient Health Care delivery system.

Roogi ,Bhoogi ,& Shookhi

The Clinic burst into its seams yestday with Clinical & Medicals pouring on all sides.The rain God have felled many a Hero and like wet cat they poured in ..Never was such a heady cocktail of cases.For the Medicals Malay,Indonesia,China.Italiano,Francaise,Deutsche,Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India flooded my table.Jobseekers from all part make a bee line and I am the ultimate hurdle they have to cross.The Resorts of adjoining Atolls have a sizable clientele and seek on my cell aptts.which I regulate .They are a priority for they have return boats and Air Taxi schedules ,the follow ups are telephonic and sms prescriptions are dominant.I have ensured a service in remoteness at least...!!
In lieu,jaggery from Faridpur and Ghee from Comilla will reach me reminding me of my roots which lay in Bhanga ,Faridpur.
Half of my genes are from that part of the world and no wonder why a note of chord have been rightly struck.It all started at the turn of millineum where I was drawn into the vortex of my native place in Katihar,the support of our roots still nurturing in a foreign land...!!Now its almost a decade of unflinching support of our forefathers invisible hands!!

The Last 24 hrs D day

Last evening was rushing to the National Library to return The Muslims of India by Mujeeb.The library admin closes at 8pm.Despite best intentions and having an impressive tally of never ending patients I reached at 8.20pm.Since it was the last day of without default I pleaded.After deliberations it was accepted.The thought of returning something without default thrilled me.Though the plea for..! a re issue was not accepted for that day.The treatise a wonderful work by Prof.Mujeeb on the evolution of the Muslim in India in otherwise a Hindu land and how commonality was there between the two communities.Snaking through the sections of the National Library reminded the attachment to the same in SXSS(St.Xavier's School Sahibganj) where I frantically searched for Edgar Rice Burroughs :Tarzan.I still can scent a book not so unfamiliar few racks away....!!

The mad rush continued in the morning to Stelco and Mwsc offices viz; State Electric Co.& Male'Water & Sewerage Company Pvt Ltd for the Deadline day for clearing last mths bill.Doel accompanied and we sped in a taxi .Doel generated the tokens and was happy waiting for her turn.The 5yr old had all sorts of Queries and learnt, that, if you do not switch off unecessary fans and lights you pay more.I was thrilled to pay 200Mrf less since after a recent strike the fuel surcharge was waived.Diesel based gensets are responsible for Island power and there are no powercuts.

The spillage continued ,since it was already 11.30 am and 1200hrs being prayertime all shops will close I was torn between a mobile shop and Book shop.:the former for Archana and latter for Doel.Archana badly needed a new set and Doel's color books and 4 ruled had to be purchased.After having Doel's we managed to a cell shoppe just ,back home ,as we take a local train in motion.Once we were in ,the CLOSED sign was on outside,but customers who are in can shop at their own pace.In Male' all business establishment adhere to the Closed & Open timings&sometimes it can be frustrating.....!!

Barso Re Barso Re...!

The culmination of four days of courtship between the Wind and The Clouds finally deluged us today.O what a showery spell it was.I was apprehensive of my Evening Clinic going Bust,but in the end it was business as usual,and lot of patients reported.
Amongst the Medicals for fitness. a 55yr od French-Aussie turned up having been hired by a leading Edu group for augmenting their schemes.In as much ,Maldives still lack an University and GCSE UK O & A Level are available.Most Maldivians prefer India,Malaysia,Singapore,Thailand,Uk,Russia for Mgmt,Engg.Medical and software courses and Florida is a popular training grounds for Maldives Air Taxi,Trans Maldive Air ,Maldivian i.e erstwhile Island Aviation. Male' is the favored destination for other Atoll Islanders for education ,business purposes.Having lived with family in Laam Atoll in 2007 I can really feel what remoteness could mean and what demigod status Male' with all its hustle bustle and modernity mean to the simple islanders of Maldives....!!

Chhutti arr Hutoputi,lutoputi...

Friday resonated with mild sun,intense breeze and Sun God playing truant forced us to go outdoors.Doel was excited and gobbled up her breakfast in record time which hitherto would go cold on another day..!Arnav trotted feverishly in the walker anticipating a whiff of fun in the air.
The lagoon in Male' was reverbrating with waves and the crystal clear water and sand underneath glimmering as the wind caught its speed...!We had a hell of a time and dropped dead in our Aparts.in no time,once we were done .Luckily ,Lunch was already , as Archana had the wisdom of preparing it prior to dep.
Tomorn ,again no school for Doel and mine Evening clinic will mean extended sleep time.and Archana is happy about that..
The pix are latest for happy viewing....!!

Loading Dose....

The streak of Good weather further augmented today and the wind speed is formidable....though it creates hurdles in the sea being rough and inter island transport is slow and jeopardised.The speed boats would jump high and fall on the rough sea with a thud and journey is tiring....the amount of travelling amidst resorts and island is hard to believe.The local airports and international is ever busy and sea plane transfer is common......

Dwitiyo Khorak....!

Male' again is in the grip of a pleasant weather spell.As I was inching towards the Laundry with a sack of clothes to be utilised in the ensuing fortnight ,I was greeted with a fresh burst of cool winds which instantly dried up the sweat shirt,which I was donning since late afternoon.
Last month had been unusually warm and humidity was high.
Male' is known for its pleasant evenings with the Indian Ocean Breeze having a profound sobering effect on the sunny weather of the day.
Its a city and country of joint ventures with practically all nationalities here....harmoniously living together with the island populace.Interestingly ,the local language Dhivehi with its origin in Sanskrit,Pali and Arabic is well spoken by the predominantly expat. Bangladeshi workforce.
Sometimes a Tamil patient will speak to me in Dhivehi about his ailment to which I will reply in Dhivehi which is the common Denominator: a strong point in this liberal modern Islamic Democratic Republic.

Notun Jatra

With all ye Blessings Thakur! we start the sailings amidst the serene dark waters of Indian Ocean, in quest of success, happiness and true identity.........!yes its Male' calling on all ye denizens of civilized society to share and relish the thoughts and travails in this tiny nation of Maldives!

To begin with ,on 25th Baisakh(Bangla) 150th Rabindra Jayanti was celebrated under the aegis of The High Commission Of India,here in the Faculty of Management auditorium. H.E : Tourism Minister Maldives ,High Commissioner of India,High Commissioner of Bangladesh and Officiating High Commissioner SriLanka shared the dias.A host other dignitaries graced the occasion.

H.E High Commissioner of India opened address and stressed on Literary pursuits and exchange and recited a poem of Tagore,which was followed by an address of Maldives Tourism Min.who urged larger participations for his Maldivian brethren .The keynote address was delivered by Bangladesh High Commissioner on Rabindranath Thakur and lucidly portrayed his epic journey from childhood to fame.

Then,followed the innauguration of the orientalstudies.org web site which would further the literary pursuits in this part of the world.

The cultural programme followed with songs from Geetobitan and recitations from Sanchoita by a host of participants :a fitting tribute to Tagore in a small and humble way in this Island Nation.