.....the sea saw ride is nearly over  now , now tht the yr is coming to an end ....the 12 Jan arrival frm India steeped in  winter, into the balmy climes of  the  Isles....nd thn the onslaught on life , liberty , fun & frolic ....the disease unfolded....Locked down ....Lock Stock & Barrel......as Liberty was snatched away....it was time to fight  back ....truly we fought  back .....the ship stabilized , a rudder on  an  even  keel  ....!!!....this is probably  Life  in  its  truest unpredictable  shade , bringing  out  in  us rare  qualities , primal  qualities  of  a  Survival  ....As the  City shook  itself  up  frm  its Slumber & veritable  all  round Rust.....it was  time to be back  amidst  familiarity ....

...As we sip tea overseeing  the  Deep  Blu  our  Constant  guiding  angel , We thank the Lord for our survival....tru  the  yr went  tough...but lessons  are  learnt.....the Journey continues .....!!!

......The departure ......

 ...Possibly 102/120marks in Medical Dental Admission Test of 1984,   Gautam was tied with me holding a rank of 36 & I the 38th,  this was enough in 1984 for a smooth sail  into  the  Coveted haloed Patna Medical College & thus  began our long journey of friendship .He was the  first  batch of Bihar Inter Council of 1983 & I the last Isc. batch of Patna university of 1982; one year junior to me in Science College Patna , he drew level at the entrance , with a deft rightfooter  ,  the striker that  he was in  football...he was good at  it , represented  our Class & a sprightly , active , much in contrast  to  his Chubby persona ....fondly  'Baba' to us as he donned  the fmly title of Pandey ...Rd no.13 D , Rajendra nagar, Patna and subsequently 40 F Saidpur medical hostel were our  common  address at least  for a  couple  of  years where a quartet of frnds that of Anindya, Pankaj , Gautam and myself shared a tiny accomodation ...we studied on our respective beds as there was shortage of  space , as proper hostel allotment was still not obtained...as we grappled  with Gray's  Anatomy , Baba would discuss animatedly and  at  the opportune  moment could  be seen napping behind a heap of books and  Cadaver bones which were strewn over  our  beds for academics , a half cut skull serving as the ash tray ....we all used  to  huff  and  puff  our  way  to  the college  a  full  3  km  away ....We had our bicycles ....these bicycles  took  us  to  movie  theatres of Patna , with host many  class mates  of  difft  floors  in  the  sprawling  Medical hostel, we wud  return at midnite post a nite  show on  these " Shaan ki Sawari ", Baba  was  ever  enthusistic for  such  a  trip ....in  as  much  we  made  it  to  Rajgir, on these,  102  km  frm  Patna on a blood  donation  awareness  campaign  of  the  Mountaineering  &  Allied activities  society  Of  PMCH ....thus  generating  a bond, for  the gruelling  years of  studentship & training   to  come .

That  Baba had a loving  family  , we experienced  first  hand  on  a trip  to  Dhanbad  his  hometown  where  he  took  us as invitees  to  his  Sister's marriage ...His father  was a Sr. Permanent way engineer in E . Rly ,& his Mamajees were very  well to  do, as Contractors in  the Coal  belt with varied business interest,and he  being the " Ankhon ka Tara Bhanja " , pampered  to the  tee.. in that  we  were  accorded a lavish  accomodation for  our  stay  there , participating in the marriage   and  getting  acquainted  to  his  fmly...It was a memorable event as GORA (his pet name)pulled all stops  to  ensure  that  we  had  maximum  fun ....!!!!...Cherished  is  that  Memory ...!!!

...thus  began a long  association  of  camaraderie  in  many  acts  of  Omissions  &  Commissions , in  that we  organised surreptitiously an exclusive  trip  to  Kakolat Waterfalls with a section of our female class mates...& with a far  reaching  consequences of an upheaval  later  on  in  the  125  strong  class, when  it  was discovered...that is another story ...Baba was a part and parcel of  what  I did and  a  few  of our illustrious partners , all hand  in Glove ....whom I  so  fondly  remember  now  ....Anindya Gupta , Pankaj Jha , Soubhik Roy , Kunal Hazari , Sanjay Kumar ,Nawneet Sinha , Anupam lal, Nirmal sultania , Anand Makharia our Guru , and a host many of  us....

Baba parted  company  for a  Boys Old hostel seat in the campus only  to  reunite  later in The newly Built hostel for  final  prof stds & later on  to Doctor's hostel 7  &  2 all in  the campus  where  we  relocated .

Umpteenth  time  we  wud  visit the  Chaiwali at our hostel  doorsteps sipping  tea ...

Always  presenting  a  bored  expression of a Non Existing Fatigue,  followed  by  peels of  laughter whn  we  struck  the  right  cord , never  in  want  was  our  company ...

As He  finally  bid adieu last week , I remembered  having  chatted  with  him  recently  on my Madhupur trips , wherein  he  wud  express  a  desire  to  meet  ,  even  a  programme  by  rd  frm  Dhanbad  was on  the  anvil only  to  be  scuttled for the  heat  wave thn prevailing ....That Madhupur  trip  never  materialised , and that  will never  now  ,  now  that  he  is  not  around  ...The CMS of Loyabad , BCCL , my close associate is  no  more...a Void Unfathomable, a Loss Irreparable ...!!!!...Rest in peace, Baba , my dear friend Gautam ...      

SHUBH DEEPAWALI

'Shubh Deepawali' to all : the festival of  lites....

 Sri Aurobindo said...." ...even  if  there  is   much  darkness and the  world is full  of  it  , & the physical  self  too ,  yet a Ray of  true  light will  eventually  prevail over  a  tenfold  darkness  , believe  that  & cleave  to  it  always...."

Belief in everything  thats  righteous, everything  that  procreates  kindness  , anything  tht  generates little  warmth , sensitivity  & sensibility  & emanation  of  the resulting  true  Lite , will prevail over  our sufferings , as unleashed & evident in our recent times , the Pandemic unabated , as it  sweeps across  nations , forcing  us to  its  submission ,  as World  leaders  grapple  with  such  an  unprecedented  wave  after  wave  of  Spikes  &  Mortality.....

Its no longer  a free  world , bondage to a disease , with  no end  in  sight .....

....but thn we hv a long history of survival &  hope amidst  despair  ....as Delhi  reeled under  Marauders attack in the eighteenth century , sacked  ,  robbed  , stripped , yet , the  ritual  of  Lighting  of  the  Shubh  lamp in every  home prevailed , much  to  the  disbelief  of  the  invaders who  witnessed  frm  its  outskirts  .... thts  the  Spirit  of  Lites....thts  shubh  deepawali ....!!

No matter wht.... We will  prevail ....Lets lit up our hearts on this auspicious Occasion ....

A Very Happy Deepawali to All....!!!

 

 

....The Free World....

.....It is as if the World is breathing freely, now that the results r out....With Democrats regaining  control of the White House, a new era of Statesmanship will be ushered in ....the President elect with his vast experience in the American administration is measured in his opinion and will provide the much needed healing touch....it’s definitely not an era of Strong arm tactics throughout  the World as it stands rejected.....but that of reason ....and consensus .....

to move ahead fruitfully....No Wall ever was Successful in World History.....!!!!

Sharad Utsav

......Its the mnth of festivities in India....dampened though .....the aftermath of a Pandemic very much evident in all spheres  of  life .....Maldives isles a transient home  to  many a tourist at this  point of  time wears a deserted look ....at least  comparitively  so , as this  is  season  time  & holidays are round  the  corner .....the Clinic now , as constant  as the Northern star ,catering  to  Greater Male' as distant  islands & resorts still out of bounds from Male' and only  dire emergencies  do  find  their  way ....Truly  "The Golden age of the Guptas" is over ....and  as is  well  known as King Arthur : "the  Old order changeth  yielding  place  to new",...the Deep blu  a mute  testimony  ...... the  Isles  of Maldives  since  its  inception .....!!! 

Bapu

 ....Mohandas K .C.Gandhi ....the name representing an indomitable spirit straddling the sub continent like a colossus...far ahead of his time Bapu was in the forefront as a social reformer and a freedom fighter ,leading India’s Independence movement to freedom in 1947.

Bapu’s spirited reply to British domination and his fight for all the tenets of a free citizenry is relevant as ever...as Freedom is precious...we owe all our happiness to this basic fundamentals of being free....

On the occasion of His Birth Anniversary, an auspicious day,truly salute the Great son of India : Gandhiji

.....the first drops of a rain .....

 As you untangle the knots of Life..... you hope for the best....actually hope keeps us alive.....no matter how strong the adversary is.....it’s the human spirit which will dominate ultimately.....time is the best judge and healer.....thr is no delimitation of a fair trial of betterment or beginning.... , for the human spirit is an embodiment of a relentless irrepressible lot.....come what may.....the grey fringed marauders , the loose tissue welcoming the first drops of rain with zeal....nothing can stop us not even a Pandemic..!!!r

Basic Concepts

 ....a day of a Friday holiday is most welcome now....as a tight schedule ,though now less dramatic ,engages the better part of the week....the mantra is back to the basics....with basic concepts to be cleared....the basic concepts are the bedrock of multistoreys of success upon which you can confidently build a castle of a dream of fulfillment and contentment....now it’s payback time...covid 19 push around time....it’s time to push aside and move ahead....nothing on earth is permanent....covid 19 will also fade into oblivion just like small pox , now nearly minimal mumps and receding AIDS with better management...all you need is to search for that beacon of lite of hope , a torchbearer who will show you the way ....yes it’s basic concepts time....back to the basics...all you need is a guru ,showing and inspiring you on the way...I got mine....

....Back again....

....Feels good  to  be  back  again   after a hibernation since May ...coming to terms as the Viremia is unabated....with vaccine in sight , we are hopeful....the  weather  warm , torrential downpour , scanty these days  I thought ...there is a direct effect  now on the socio economic front, as definitely the Pandemic has taken its toll....the action resumed on  the hospital front  last  mnth. with full  preparation for a re opening post lock down ...the old adage " ...when the going gets  tough  ,  the  tough  gets  going ..."....taking the Bull  by  its  horn....!!!

....Anniversary....Vows of thick & thin & a cup of tea in togetherness...

...Hovering dark clouds of a quarantine is no more ....as  we  breath  free......as 'the  old  order  changeth  yielding  place  to  new'....the weather  playing  truant ....a brief sunny  morn ....a  cup  of  tea & we re exchange  our  vows  of  thick  nd  thin  ....the anniversary is  as  usual tru  to  our  commonality  of  a  nature  of  quietude nd not withstanding  the  ponderance of  a current  situation , of a World in imbroglio vis a vis so called  development  & modernity , prostrate, to  a microbe taking on  the  might of  humanity.... thank the Lord , for everything ...a cup of tea in togetherness is all tht we crave  for .....the fragility of our  existence & establishment , fulwell we know to make  the  best  use  of a time in  any  kind  of situation .....the deep  blu yonder  is  as constant  as  the  Northern Star , a change  in its many  a  hue , imprinting  on  our lives , a towering infinite horizon , a mighty Sun dutifully   setting amidst its  depth ....day in  out , the ritual enacted .....thick  & thin as  they  move  on with  the  re enactment , a leaf taken frm Nature's page  for  a  Constant Journey , two of us  to

times immemorial .... 

.....Quarantined.....

….sooner or  later  it  had  to  happen  ...as  I  was  managing  the  clinic  since  March  with  skeletal  staff , as  many  were  on leave .....taking  all precautions  ,  managing  the  community  , taking  care  of  their  health & Prayers  on  the  lips  ....as  Covid  19 spread  its tentacles  worldwide  ,  the  Island  was  waiting  ....13th  april  was  the  day  whn  waterloo  was  met  as  one  of  my  staffs  presented  with symptoms  , having  visited  earlier  another  pvt  institution  as  an  emergency  with  shortness  of  breath at  midnight  ....15 th apr.  Male' city was  shut  lock  stock  &  barrell as  a  local  tested  positive ....&  we all  ceased operation  ....a  week  later  the  news  of  my  staff  hvin  tested  positive  too , with  me  having  referred  him  to  the  flu  clinic in  the  adjoining  island , came  as  a  shocker....the  HPA notified  & being  a  close  contact  I was  quarantined  at  the  earliest ....a  host  many  people  of  the  clinic  was  notified .....quarantined ......the  city reeling  now with  cases & the  frontliners  braving  it  out  .....Our  quarantine  ends  in  a  couple of days  but  the lock  down  is  to  continue  ....INS Jalaswa is ready  for  the  first  batch  of Indian evacuees  to  Cochin  tomorrow ....We  will  be  braving  it  out  as  the  situation  evolves  ....

....finally grounded....

....finally  Grounded.....the  Jet  set dramatics of an Island  sojourn ,Onset  of  which  began  in  2006, comes to  a screeching  halt  ....it  was in  the  offing , as  the Global  scenario turned  grim  ,  the  archipelago was just  waiting  for  the disaster .....a  mnth  of  lull  after  imported  cases  of  Covid  19 mostly  tourists got  admitted &  isolated  & Quarantined ,  treated , a  burst of Community  spread in  the capital City, as  Complacency was  begining to creep  in  ....brings  the  City  to  its  knees  ... Today  is  Ramadaan  the  Holy  mnth , the  City in Prayers sans  the  Congregation....an acute  shortage  of  commodities ..... as  an  effective  Lock  down is  put  to  place ....the Elements   same as  ever, The cool  clime  ,  sporadic  showers  &  the  deep  blu ....the  thrift  which  we  inculcated  in  the  last  14  yrs  is  bearing  fruits  as we organize  to changing  times....!!!

.....the Arrival .....

.....`it came today ..... as  an indigenous  case  is  reported here....24 hrs   lock down to assess  the  situation  & put a permanent  long  term  plan  in  place to  prevent  rapid  spread of  the  virus...the  morn OPD  was  brisk with  the  Evening  scuttled...possible  Health  care worker  "permits"  will  be  issued so  tht  we  maintain  the service to the  community....but  it  came  without  a warning  &  I  had  no time   advising  my patients as i  learnt  after  the  end  of  the  OP...though  as  of last  couple of  days  it  was  nearly  back  to  normal  , as I  had pts  : employees  wrkin ,frm  few of  the  resorts  , who had  hitherto  been  banned  entry as cases  were  reported  last  mnth  frm  resorts ; of  tourists  & employees  who  contracted  the  Contagion .....now  tht wud  stop  again  as  entry  &  exit  r  regulated  ...Hon'ble  President  making  a  fervent appeal  &  we  need  to  ensure  tht his  appeal  do  not  go in  vain  ....this  is  the  first time  all  citizens  r  interned , just  like  thr  brethren  in  India .....the badminton net  in  the  Living  room  again got handy  as  it  is hoisted again,  to  ensure  wrk out  &  fun  for all  of us  here , amidst the tense  situation ....though I  wud say  it  is part  of  our  survival  in the  planet , of adversities , man made  &  natural  , of  scourge of  diseases plaguing mankind  since  inception ....the  Vulnerability  of  our  existence  is  a proven  fact  & we  humans  either  survive  or  perish  ....it  is  nothing  new  ....but  this  chimaera  &  mirage of  permanency cloud our  vision ....thr  is  pain  all  around  amidst  our  short  moments  of  glory  ,  in  fact  pain  is the  more  permanent  , more  ubiquitous  ....We must  not  forget this ....tht  u  had  ur  own  little share  of  the  planet is  achievement  enough  ..the Universe  is too enormous  ,  baffling  , tht  u  had  a  lungful  to  breath  , play  ur  own  miniscule  part  is  enough ....hence  thr shud be  no  regrets for the fallen..only prayers on  our  lips  to sing ....!!!!

....a badminton net ....!!!

...there  is no  sign  of a  respite  as  the  pandemic  of  SARS  moves  on  unabated , engulfing  newer  towns  &  cities  thru out  the  world....rich  &  poor  , high  and mighty  all felled  ....a   vulnerability   unprecedented in  modern  times  ....as  millions  cope  with  lock  down  ,  its  time  to  ponder  ,  recall  , a  back  to  the  basics  approach  &   a badminton  net  at  home , which  I  got  today  for  the  kids  .....the  limited  space in  the living  room  will  make way  to  a  court  whr  we  will  play ...impressing  upon  the  kids , that this  adversity  will  make  one  learn the  nuances  of  the  game  better  ...handicap ....u  play  with  it  ....innovate  ....&  finally  come  up  on  top....!!!...irrepresible  is  the human  spirit  ....Long  Live  ....!!!!

We Shall Overcome ....

Today  is  Doel's B'Day, ..May Good Lord shower all  His  blessings  ....!!!....Curfew 5pm to 8pm in  place  now .......the  Clinic  is on  , though  far flung  island  cases are  unable  to  make  it  ....the  streets  are  not usual , though  Ramadaan is  round  the  corner ...with  isolated cases surfacing  we  are  all on  tenterhooks  as  Male'city  is  one of  the  most densely  populated areas  of  the  world ....the  local  populace diligently observing  the  rules  laid  by  the  HPA (Health Protection agency)...though normal life remains  unimpaired yet the simmering  tension  is  palpable  ....the  economic fall  out  also  main concern ....its  a  tsunami  of  such  a  proportion  which  has  hit  all  around ....the  safety  &  well being  of  a  civilization  is  at  stake  ....time to keep our chin up & move ahead  in all this adversity....."We shall  Overcome"  will  be  the  refrain  ....!!!!! 

......The beleagured world.....

SARS Pandemic ....& its unmitigated hardship afflicts  us all....unprecedented  challenge  thrown  to  humanity  in  recent  times ...worried  about  the  daily  wage earners  &  migrant  workers  of  India, who  is at  the  receiving  end  of the  lockdown ....wish thr  was sufficient  time  for  a  plan  for  their  successful evacuation to their  native  homes ...the  Virus  makes  us  breathless both  physically  &  perpetually  ....as it  is  a war  waged  globally , its  time to brandish our  finest  human instincts & defeat  its  onslaught ....Long live  the indomitable human spirit ....!!!

....Lockdown....

....SARS  Pandemic hogs  the  limelite ......despite being a  modern world  ,  we are  felled  by  a pathogen....history  repeats  itself  again & again as  chronology  to  major pandemics suggest ....epidemics , famine  , pandemics have been a  scourge & the  battered  civilizations over  the  yr  moved on...yet ,  a 21st  century  pandemic hits  us  hardest , as we  are  vulnerable  to  exposure the  same  way  as  centuries  ago  ....the  incessant  conflict  zones  , the  military actions , Global  trade  wars  all  receded  now  to  the  background ...thr  is  a far  bigger adversary  in  site  ....time  to  recollect  ,  save  old age  long  practises  of  well  being  of  mental  &  physical  &  a  massive  push  to  Climate  change  Counter challenge  tools  to  protect  The Good earth ....Climate Change , global  Warming  another  disaster  in waiting  ....!!!! 

.......Prayer on our lips .....

...there is a change in the air, since last week as we brace  up to contain Covid 19 , which  has  a footfall  now  in few of  the  tourist  islands....the archipelago  as  stoic  as  ever  ,  as  its  history  wud  suggest, a  gauntlet of  a  disease  process  now   thrown  ....the  pearl  of the  Indian  ocean, will  bear  the  brunt  now  to  the  vagaries  of  nature, as  it  has  been  doin   since  times  immemorial ...battle hardened  as we  are , ensconced ,the Islands delimited , and  movements  restricted....its  time  now  to raise  our  fighting  spirit & render  a  service , unwavering  , unflinching & as  constant as  the  Northern Star, with  Prayers on  our  lips....!!!

....a situation....

.....a meeting  is  held  in  the  hospital premises, to  discuss Covid 19  ….tourist  destination a  bulk  frm  Europe  , China, India  now  stand throttled , as advisories come  into  effect ...Standard operating  procedures  now  in place  provided  by the   nodal  Health  protection agency....its  anticipatory & in precautionary alert mode ….as  the archipelago braces  upto the   menace ….time  to educate, pre  empt and follow  the  SOP  to the core…..Since  times  immemorial the  scourge of epidemics threaten mankind....the  battle  lines  r  redrawn  again ….Long  LIVE our  fighting  spirit...!!!

....The Climate change......

…….the island warming  up  now, though  still  pleasant with cool breeze  all  round...the initial fear  of the  viremia receding...as  the  near  pandemic looks  halted as of  now  with  no record  of  a  spurt...modern day world  subjugated  to a particular  virulent  strain  ….much  work  is  in  want  as  the Communicable  diseases  hold  sway ….the Indian  mainland  news  is  least  heartening  as  non  issues  are  hogging  the limelight   ….torn  between  populism  &  pragmatism  the   world.....as  Antarctica records  20'C....the  archipelago  is  under  a  threat  of  oblivion ….as Coconut trees dwindle  in  the  cities....hope  lies  in  remoteness  as the groves still dignified, swaying  &  dancing  to  the  wind  ….

....Time at a standstill....

....pleasure to  be  back  after  a  limbo  ....which  continued  for  long ....better  late  thn  never...as the  continuity  of  a  gud  task  of  communicability  is  precious  .....14  long  yrs  hv  somehow  has  managed  to  take  the  sheen  out  of  the  defensive  armor of  the  thought  of  doubling  up  , getting  your  act  together  lest  everyone  forgets you, as  you  were castaway ....the  remoteness  formidable  ....the  modern  age  communication  forces  the  guard  to  be  lowered  as  you  feel  everyone  is just  a  click  away  ...the  remoteness  a  distant  past  ...the  people  matching  up  to  it  with  innovations  &  state  of  the  art  technology ....modern  age  living  and  smart  services  help  it  make  look  like  a  cakewalk ,  formidable  though  a  decade  ago  ....the  tourist  season  takes  a  hit  due  to  the  pandemic and  caution  is  in  the  air  .....the  laid  back  island  trip last  week   though  was  as  if  time  is  held up  for  an  eternity , as we  return  all  tanned  up ....it  was  business  as  usual  in  the  remoteness  ...Time  at  a  standstill  here  ....!!!!