Marpaacho ashillo, melo!


The vibes from the banging thalis & taalis hadn't even faded away, the petals dropped from the choppers hadn't even settled on the ground, the lit wicks from oil lamps hadn't even blown away... and even as the HM wasn't done with his whirlwind tour around the state presenting plush bouquets to doctors & staff of hospitals; just then the oft revered position of the doctor got back into limelight, albeit for the wrong reason this time round.

The issue of assault on a doctor by an aggrieved relative who had lost his new born baby nephew is hogging the media realty at Goa these days. Claims and counter-claims are flying thick and fast; police seemingly dragging feet, doctors threatening with tools down, rumours of political interference in the probe making rounds. 

I had tweeted back during the peak of the pandemic that the doctors don't need flimsical display of affection; rather they would be much more happy with decent work conditions,  respectable salary, sensible work timings and ofcourse safeguard from physical & mental abuse at workplace.

Needless to say, workplace violence is to be deplored and no-one is entitled to take law in one's own hand. The accused should be brought to the book; and his political connections notwithstanding, the due course of law and justice should be prevail. 

Police's action or rather lack of it have since been questioned. However whats more questionable to me were the actions and reactions of the eminent doctors of Goa.

IMA-Goa was quick to get in a huddle to shield one of its ilk, which didn't come as a surprise. Finally its not just a reputation of a doctor that has just taken a beating (pun not intended) but its the faith in the profession that is what at stake.

It was heartening to see the "Who's who?" of medical fraternity of Goa present at the Porvorim police in support of one of their aggrieved colleague while demanding action against the accused. What was missing though was objectivity and empathy.Some of the statements made by imminent medical professionals of Goa were appalling, and showed sheer lack of compassion and not befitting any ordinary human being, much less a doctor.

An eminent doctor -more often seen on political dias than with a stetch around his neck- was quick to give a clean chit claiming its a conginetal heart condition  that led to the death. Perhaps it was, but how do you know? Was a post-mortem conducted on the infant ascertaining the cause. If so, how did you get the copy and who authorised you to make it public? Whereas one of your colleague brandished the 'hypocritical oath', what about patient confidentiality and consent?

Even if this not inhuman enough, there was another doctor who very gloriously claimed "Marpaacho ashillo, melo!" (which translates to 'he was meant to die, thus he died' in konkani). Who the hell has given you the power to issue death warrant? 

You were meant to save lives as a doctor and not sure if you are succeeding a 100% at that. Least you can do it not try to be the judge, jury and the executioner. Much less, don't act like a God. 

A human trait were clearly evident when one suggested 'indefinite' tool down; only to be swiftly overruled and corrected by another to make it 24 hour. Priorities and motivations driving their practice were clearly evident thus.

It's fair upto an extent that you came out in support of your colleague and pass a strict message that any sort of violence won't be tolerated, but dont overstep your brief. What could have been ideal is if you have shown some objectivity and suggested this case be referred to proper agency for impartial investigations to rule out case medical negligence rather than doling out clean chits.

In this times, when the medical science has advanced and so much technological support is available, its tough to believe that such alleged congenital abnormalities are not picked in the zillions of scans and tests that are recommended nowadays and the parents undergo even if they cost them an arm and a leg. Even in the rarest case when these abnormalities are missed, it hardly comforting that there isn't any consistency in the medical condition that is being conveyed to the family members; much less the secrecy, lack of communication and coordination as perceived from the accused's narration of the incident. Also, the allegation by the accused that there are many such cases in the past pertaining the same doctor doesn't bode much confidence and shouldn't be overlooked. Cases of doctors practicing without a formal degree isn't all that unheard off in this country.

My locus standi in this comes from being able to relate to parties of either side of the Isle.

Having been through a similar situation a few years back when I lost my beloved niece to sheer negligence of an eminent paediatrician based at Ponda gives me locus standi in this matter. No, not the absence of political connections or lack of grief that stopped us from pursuing the case to its logical end, just that we wanted to mourn, we wanted a closure and most importantly we wanted peace, especially for the departed soul. But unlike us, there might be others family who seek to pursue the case, demand justice for their plight and unaware of any avenue to seek answers except the treating doctor. Thus it puts them in a confrontational position. 

Being married to a doctor myself, I am pretty familiar with the struggles on the other side. I see my wife battle it day in and day out, the weird shift timings, the absent parent to a growing kid, working on the weekends, the hazardous work environment and once in a while an aggrieved and abusive patient - a la professional hazard.

I was really moved by this news and could relate to this situation.But what sprung me in voicing my opinions here was that one heartless statement not befitting any human being, much less a doctor. He sounded more like 'Chitragupta' and less like 'Dhanvantari'. Perhaps it was 'the heat of the moment', making him just as fallible thus shattering the oft revered analogy with god; and thus getting you on the same footing as the accused.

A doctor being a god is a fallacious construct of the past and don't hold ground in these modern times and sooner the public (and some doctors themselves) come to terms with this 'FACT', the better. They being mere mortals should be clearly ingrained in our minds and will help people acknowledge their fallibility.

What's the need of the hour is clear cut laws against workplace violence and its implementation to the tee. But equally important is processes being in place for impartial investigation of cases of medical negligence. Also awareness about the redressal process should be well formulated and made easily accessible. What's needed is an appellate body for redressal of public grievance who have lost a beloved one or left impaired or suffered physically, mentally, emotionally due to a human error. It will also make the medical practitioners more accountable. As Ibstated earlier, doctors arent gods and they shouldnt be made sacrosanct.

At the end of the day, remember that a mother has lost a child. A life she nurtured over 9 months, a hope she held perhaps even longer and plans she had for decades in the future have been shattered in a matter of hours. This hasn't just left behind a scarred womb but a scarred soul, which may never heal.

P.S: I have since come across another video wherein the alleged victim doctor is threatening to 'technically' kill the accused; I will refrain from dwelling deep into it, leaving you with the thought whether he is acting there like a God, a human or a ..... 


A second-class citizen

So, it has happened. The thing that many of my dear ones had been apprehensive about after I planned to move down under has realised. The fear of being called names and being subjected to abuse has just materialised -- one close friend had even gone to the extent of warning against the ‘convict blood’ running in the veins here.

But hey! before you jump guns and picture a hefty Aussie throwing racist abuses at me, let me rein in your horses. Because that isn't what happened, in fact something exactly opposite did. Two years into my move to the land down under, I was tagged "a second-class citizen". Not by a work colleague, not by a fellow parent, not by a road side Joe... but by someone whom I thought as one of my own from back home (Yes, I still consider Goa and India as my home and always will). And all this happened over the battlefield of the social world, WhatsApp. My crime being expressing an opinion (which was promptly tagged 'long distance advice') that was contrarian to their collective thoughts. Now I think I know what the intelligentsia back home has been crying over the growing 'intolerance'. No, I am not overrating myself to be among the 'intellectuals' ilk, but certainly I can empathize. I don't know if 'hurt' is the correct word for the feeling I got when I read his comment but I surely lost a good night's sleep in this pleasant weather and was moved enough to vent out my feelings on this blog which has been dormant for quite a while (wearing the optimist cap, something good turned out from it). 

It wasn't an 'off the cuff' remark because the person calling names thumped his chest saying he made the comment 'not in Josh, but in full hosh' when another common friend tried to play the good cop. More so it wasn't the first time, it did happen earlier as well -same person, same platform, similar abuse. The first time I did take it casually for I have known this person (or have I?) for some time, shared common interests and had some good time together.

Going back to his comment I wonder what made him say what he said? What did he mean by the term 'a second-class citizen'. To begin with and to eliminate the technical aspect I am not an Aussie citizen and still hold Indian citizenship, and very dear to me. I moved here as an expat (yes yes, fancier word for immigrant) to advance my career and in the process avail what " the world's most liveable city" had to offer for its constituent.

So, is it jealousy? I beg to differ. It can't be that because there is no commonality between the two of us, be it age, be it profession or be it social status. He surpasses me in all these three criteria by far and while I toil hard abroad to make ends meet, that person can surely go roaming round the world least caring about the bank balances thanks to his affluent background. I am positively confident that by no means he wants to live a life of ‘a second-class citizen’ that I am relishing now. So, no it’s not sour grapes.

So what is it? Ignorance, perhaps. But the common quizzing group that we belong to and on who's WhatsApp group this all transpired, shouldn't we be striving to seek knowledge rather than making unfounded comments. Perhaps his opinions were formed based on media reports he subscribe to. About news items of incidents of racism and the tiffs between the natives (did I hear aboriginals?) -- or in a more proper way of the saying -- early-arrivals (… and they say expats is a fancy word, eh?) and the recent migrants. But anybody who has spent a decent amount of time under the Melbourne Sun would vouch that it harder to spot a true blue-blood Aussie amongst the potpourri of second class citizens that arrive from various parts of the world bringing in along their rich culture helping shape the cosmopolitan fabric of the city. I can’t rule out existence of racism here but then doesn’t it exist everywhere? Isn’t it racism when we (and even I am culpable to that offense) as Goekar would rue the influx of ‘Bhaailye’, or tag someone ‘Ghaati’ or ‘Bhingtakaar’? Xenophobia exists everywhere and if we dwell at it at a micro level I believe it might even be a survival trait deeply ingrained into our genes. All said and done, this country has been kind to me till now, well at least no one has tagged me ‘a second-class citizen’ as yet.

Or is it Intolerance to a divergent perspective? Most likely yes. For my views, I emphasize ‘views’, were at odds with the views that were being commonly expressed on the group at that time. I might have ruffled a few feathers with a contrarian but none came back with an ad hominem rebuttal as he did. I certainly can’t see any reason why it was called for, even more so when I had myself conceded that we can exist with difference of opinion and that views and opinions need not be mutually exclusive. After all, apart from various cultural shocks this country has taught me to be a bit more inclusive while being less judgemental and never to generalise.

Or is it something more sinister?
When ordinary people - whom you once called friends - tag you this, its shouldn’t surprise us when their elected representatives tag us ‘toilet-cleaners’ on the floor of the assembly. These MLAs are just the extrapolation of the feudalistic mindset that the privileged few harness and feed into. When one is their subject they are treated as inferiors based on the social parameters and always kept under the tab. And when one tries to break the shackles, -makes one’s own choices and chart one’s own path that is when it comes to hurt them the most. What better then ridicule them for their life choices?

Yes, I am a second-class citizen but not because of the choices I have made, the places I have moved to or the manner in which people treat me here. But rather because my own people ridicule me and alienated me not just now but even when I was there amongst them all. All this made me think and gave me a few life lessons and most definitely a signature to sign-off this post with…

-A second-class citizen

भाजपा, कसले गोंय सरकार! (Konkani version)

भाजपा, कसले गोंय सरकार!
ना खय राजा , मंत्री पांगळे , ठप्प सगलो कारभार !
भाजपा, कसले गोंय सरकार!

खाण अवलंबितांक मरण दोनदा, कॅसीनो पुण बरे धावता
मोपा खातीर झाडा मारता, कचरो जाला सग्गयार!
भाजपा, कसले गोंय सरकार!

चोरांनी घेतल्यो गाड़ियों बंगले, गोयकारांक दिले फक्त भोपके
भुंर्ग्याक मेलना नोकर्यो धंदे, PDAचो हांहांकार!
भाजपा,कसले गोंय सरकार!

विज दरवाडीन लोक सोपल्या, म्हाद‌ईक हे सुकोंक उटल्या
गोयकारपणाच्या सरकाराचो ना गोंयकाराक आधार!
भाजपा, कसले गोंय सरकार!

-अमेय मार्दोळकर

भाजपा,गजब गोवा सरकार!

भाजपा,गजब गोवा सरकार!
आजारी राजा,प्रजा पांगळी,अधांतरी कारबार!

इथे खाणींना मरण दोनदा, कॅसीनोंना पण चिरंजीविता
मोपा-दाबोळी उगाच झटती, कचय्राचा प्रहार!
भाजपा,गजब गोवा सरकार!

लबाड जोडिति बंगले गाड्या, जनतेला मात्र थापाड्या
गोयकारांच्या गळ्यात धोंडा, PDAचा हांहांकार!
भाजपा,गजब गोवा सरकार!

विज दरवाडीने लोक त्रासले, म्हाद‌इचे भाग्य नासले
या गोयकारपणाच्या सरकाराचा ना गोयकारास आधार!
भाजपा,गजब गोवा सरकार!