WISHING YOU A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER NEW YEAR IN 20201

           WISHING YOU A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER NEW YEAR IN 20201 

Dear friends, colleagues and loved ones,

This is to wish you all A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER NEW YEAR IN 2021!

We are happy to let 2020 go, ever so much with sad news of colleagues and healthy folks passing away to a totally unexpected pandemic. Most of my medical friends have contacted the disease but happily recovered to a varying degree. They say the experience of the disease with unchartered course can be terrifying. But all’s well that ends well!

As far as far as international travel is concerned, everything planned, went haywire. No safe airlines,no hotels, epasses - a headache for those visiting other districts! Curfews and lock-outs became the norms!

But as always, we have learnt to take the positives from 2020!

2020 taught us the value of taking the foot off life’s accelerator to slow down! We had more time to enjoy sedentary life, pick up on the lost hobbies and develop new ones. Joint families perked up again for the sake of convenience. We learnt to live without theater movies and cricket. 

We learnt simply to enjoy life and for the first time be aware of what is good health. Nature taught us all, that we were created equal, as disaster hit all the celebrities too! No one too big or too small! We also learnt to be happy just to be alive!

The greatest lesson learnt was never to take life for granted !

At ANURAG HOSPITAL, we worked full time during covid, not even stopping for a single day. We developed a novel device UVC CHAMBER WITH HEPA FILTERS for filtering covid-19 virus and this helped us to stay free of the disease along with other measures such as regular masks and hand washing. Our research paper was also published about this in international journal. 

We also developed our own PAPR ( respirator) with UVC CHAMBER and MASK which helps us to work in adverse atmosphere. We thank Dr Diwakar of IISc and Ragav Krishna, Atatri for helping to develop these devices and masks which would be useful to senior citizens and high risk individuals at high levels exposure.

Now with the advent of vaccines within reasonable reach, we seem to be gaining the higher ground. But it is best not to lower the shield yet, till the final results are borne out that immunity is safely reached.

My wife Dr Neena and I take this opportunity to wish you all A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER NEW YEAR IN 2021!

HOW TO WEATHER A STORM!

HOW TO WEATHER A STORM!

Before cyclone, prepare your home and check your emergency plan.

Prepare an emergency kit . In addition to bandages, cleaning solution, a whistle,  fully charged torch, water container container with chocolate can be added , if stranded.

A plan is necessary as there won't be time to think. So everyone  should know what to do. 

Keep candles, match boxes, lighters, small pick axes close by in case of wall collapses. Keep extra prepared food and water.

Have a battery-powered radio as part of your emergency kit, in case of power failure and mobile networks go down. 

Recharge all your mobiles,  your power banks, laptops,  top up your mobile data.

Keep mobile power intact, by avoiding games, YouTube, except to keep updated on weather data and communication.

If your power is low, send messages to people when in trouble with your location. Phoning up takes more power,  so save power.

Be prepared to have no electricity,  or mobile cover during and after the cyclone. 

If your home is in a low-lying area, decide where will you and your family will go in case of storm surge. 

Are you adequately insured? Make sure it covers you for storm surge, flooding and cyclone damage, including clean-up and debris removal. 

Check your roof and walls and repair any loose tiles, eaves or roof screws. 

Ensure windows are fitted with shutters or metal screens and that shutters and locks are working. 

Trim any branches and treetops hanging over your house and clear gutters of leaves and bill boards.

Make sure your household is familiar with broadcast when a cyclone is 12 hours or less away. 

Explain to children how they must quickly follow your instructions during emergency. Make it sound like a game, as not to scare them.

If you are the head of family, you should leave word as to who will take over the rescue in case you become incapacitated.

Decide how you to look after your pets and animals and what to do if you have to leave them behind. Pets manage better than humans in natural disasters. They have an extra sense.

They're generally not allowed to go with you to a temporary evacuation shelter so you'll need to decide where they'll shelter during the cyclone. 

Think about what items your pets may need and include them in your emergency kit.

Always help your neighbours, shelter those who are affected.

Lots of agencies and government rescue services will reach you much quicker than you think, in case you are stranded!

Kannum Kannum Kollai-adithal - A Movie Review!

KANNUM KANNUM KOLLAI-ADITHAL 

A MOVIE REVIEW! 

'Kannum Kannum Kollai-adithal' is a Tamil movie released on 28, Feb 2020. 

The 8 month old movie can be accessed on Netflix.

The movie opens up slowly to show 2 cons who cheat  at online buying. Plot moves onto 2 young apparently innocent women, they fall in love with. DCP Cop enters the picture and suddenly the movie gets interesting!

Lead actors are newcomers. Crime is done by next-door kinda characters.

Crimes are done in a real practical setting, like how to cheat at ATM, how to clone whatsApp from someone's phone or 3-D printing of a finger or  even remote breaking into a car!

 

Cops chase the cons very effectively and rapidly.  And the baddies are also mentally just a step ahead!😎

But I thought that DCPs in general, respect their boundaries! And not step into others territories 🧐! But let’s face it, it could have been worse! 💁🏻

A bit of 'mission impossible', a bit of TV series ’imposters' may have been the basis of this movie shot in Chennai,  Goa and Delhi.

Quite enjoyed the Tamil movie with no great dialogs. Songs needed fast forwarding!🤨 

Worth seeing ............... once!🙂

IS IT TOO LATE TO LEARN?! SIX DECADES & STILL STUDYING!😷

IS IT TOO LATE TO LEARN?!

SIX DECADES & STILL STUDYING!😷

When you are in the 6th decade, you cannot but wonder, what if I had done this or not done that, would things have been different. This sort of musing is well established among humanity. 

In fact, many a time, there would be other folks around you opining that you could have done this better which might well add fuel to fire and increase the tension.

This blog is written with this philosophy in mind hoping it may help a younger person to lead an easier life before reaching the sixties.

FAMILY:

You need to have family ties period. It may not be important in the first 3 decades, as your parents are around. Before you realize it, you are the head of the family.

Do not burn down bridges, even if times are difficult. Talking out a problem over a meal is a good way of agreeing to disagree.

Blood is thicker, remember?

WORK:

If you love your work, you can put all your passion in it. But in many situations especially in the corporate or government job, one has to work for a living. Always do your best at work. Be fair to juniors and they will be fair to you in later life.

The work will go on with or without you, whatever the boss says. Do your best , but it is best to remember that family will stand with you in times of distress!

FINANCES:

'Money is not everything,' has always been my motto.

But it is good to salt away some savings by the 5th decade.After that efficiency to earn comes down in most folks. In the next 2 decades, you are prone for major health hazards . Your own children would have their own families and expenses. Bear this in mind to build a financial reserve.

A government job gives you a pension, a private job does not.

HEALTH:

As a person who has stayed well clear of booze, smoking or drugs, I do not wish to preach. But when you are young, do not fritter your life away. Time lost never comes back ( includes the time watching TV or over sleeping too). TVs and newspapers tend to give you an overdose of paid for advertisements, politics and movies. All of which affects our lives, at least mine far less.

Keep your body fit and reasonably free of diseases.Diabetes, high BP and stress cause early heart attacks.

In Corona time, it includes wearing masks, facial visors, social distancing and avoiding crowds.

TENSION:

I am type A personality worrier. Fortunately. my sons Pravin and Mervyn tell me always never to worry after something which could have been improved upon.

Life is short. Too short to worry about the time lost.

If you have severed a friendship due to your faulty, make a call and move on.

If it is by the other person, just move on! There are better people in life waiting to make your acquaintance!

FRIENDS:

Friends like books should be good and few, was my dad's favorite quote. Far from true in the days of google.

Maintain good friends over the years from school, college, work, social societies based not just friendship.Not with any purpose in mind, but just to keep them appraised of your life and to be aware of theirs.

FAITH:

As times roll, you will realize that you have to philosophically  leave the good and bad to a higher power or God or Karma or a force, truly and well beyond you. Whatever your higher faith is, help those who need you, the poor, the orphans, the destitute and others without expecting anything in return!

HOBBY:

Have a hobby. Reading, pets, walking, cycling, golf, music, gardening, dancing,painting, whatever you fancy.  Be passionate about it - it is first of all of you, only then for the others!

Do not be shy to talk or exhibit it! People will tell you are too old for it.

My friend recently posted this image and I borrow it here! I am not able to trace the origin of this image from internet to pay credit to .

NEEDS:

As you near the sixties, the needs in life become less. You should be happy with your own company, though you have friends. Your need should get less with reference to talking, eating, regrets, worries.

This may not mean much to a 30 year old. Wait another 20 years, and read it again to know the true meaning!

                                   You live only once, live it well and make it count!

THE END

SCHOOL EDUCATION - THE PASSPORT TO THE FUTURE

 

SCHOOL EDUCATION - THE PASSPORT TO THE FUTURE

(Picture from internet)

" Education is the passport to the future , for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today" 

INTRODUCTION :

I did not know much about our present school education systems in India (nor do many parents for that matter ), as my schooling was quite a while ago!

So I have looked them up in brief for a clear understanding!

THE ETHOS:

When in UK for surgical training, my mentor was Mr RCG Russel, of Middlesex Hospital,London - an eminent teacher, author and surgeon par excellence. I had to meet him in person every six months for update and advice. 

The gist of my visits to him is to think of what you wish to be in 20 years' time from today. And focus all your training in that direction and in such facilities. That is life in a nut shell . Your life in 20 years as a young adult will take you through the most productive part.

WHY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE AT THE OUTSET:

For schooling, the period is even shorter - possibly 10 years go know which way you can achieve your dreams. Parents need to be totally in tune with the ambitions of the child and aid him /her.

A child can grasp whatever he is taught quite rapidly. Fluency in analytical thinking, languages, family and traditional values, sciences, morality to say a few are all imbibed  effortlessly as a child.

I don't deny that any child can adust to life in any state, any nation as an adult like most of us adults, have done. We were not exposed to different systems of school education, yet we had done higher education in India, completed higher eduction abroad and returned to work in India. So this is very possible. But with so many school education systems present nowadays, it is easier to fit in the correct groove, so that things are easier for the child when he enters college and take on higher education.

When you see a child, think of him/ her in 10 years' time from today🕺!

Because, in a moment, it will be 10 years hence, where his early adult life will start  with higher college education!!

THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS:

If you still wish to read on, go ahead!

School systems in brief of decreasing difficulty are:

1.ICSE

2.CBSC

3.MATRICULATION &

4.STATE BOARD. 

High lights of each are:

1.ICSE:

 Indian School Certification Examination (ICSE). English medium only. Arts, science, languages, and maths have equal importance.ICSE is the toughest, more western oriented. No Hindi.

United Kingdom College Admissions Board has recognized the ICSE standards as being at par with the standards of the University of Scotland in the UK.

2.CBSE:

It is conducted by the national board of India. CBSE follows a common syllabus nationally. CBSE emphaises on Science and Mathematics, but not on English.

First language is English or Hindi. Second and third languages are Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Urdu; foreign languages like French, Spanish, and German are 4th language.

CBSE is tougher than State Board and has a larger curriculum. CBSE prepares the student for entrance exams related to IIT and AIIMS.

3.MATRICULATION:

Each state has its own their syllabus, tougher that State Board, but easier than ISCE and CBSE. Exams are conducted only till X std, unlike upto XII standards in other systems.

In general, there is more stress on memorizing and less on analytical thinking. 

4, STATE BOARD:

Every state has their own State Board and is controlled by the Education Minister for the respective state.There is stress on traditional values existing in the state.

Syllabus varies from state to state making comparing marks from two different states impractical.State syllabus is confined to the state whereas for CBSE and ICSE,syllabus in pan- India is the same.

The same school may offer the various forms of education systems. These can be discussed with the school authorities who will only be too willing to help!

APPA'S EASY CHAIR

 Appa’s Easy Chair

"Let's sit quiet a bit, Toady!" said the Rat, throwing himself into an easy chair, while the Mole took another by the side of him and made some civil remark about Toad's delightful residence.

1908: Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows 

In the seventies, I remember my father lying in an easy chair in the nights, a bit tired. He used to tell me about some main events, trials in his life. I was a young medical student then, not always receptive however, like most adolescent sons!

Though mostly amusing, the discussions had been educative, instructive, advisory in nature. He was a traditional strict dad.

His main words were, “Always, put in the best effort.Be wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove”

He himself was a self made man and had worked hard during life; he took on 4 jobs after his retirement, to put me through a medical college education and my sister through mathematical higher education.

More than 2 decades had passed since his demise. 

I was looking through the attic the other day. I found a carefully packed easy chair. It was my father’s. I had not seen an easy chair, leave alone his, for many years. 

Thanks to covid, one gets a new overview of life! 

I took it upon myself to look for a cloth for the easy chair. The cloth I found was too long.With considerable difficulty,I located a tailor to alter it to fit the chair. Sadly due to my own stupidity, I had z small part of the chair cracked up, while setting it up 😷.

The furniture shop opposite to my house, glued it and gave it back. With the remark, would I be interested in selling it to them, because it was made of wood that you hardly ever get nowadays. 

I had never paid any attention to the type of wood; then I remembered my father once saying that he had the easy chair done out of rose wood as it would last a long time!

Late last evening, I finally took the easy chair out into the garden for a trial and sat out for half hour. 

It was cool, after the rains during the day. The jasmine smell was strong in the air. My new vigour in gardening had helped to blossom all sorts of flowers. I sat in a partially lit area considering the recent rains and the puddles, along with two of my German Shepherd dogs. 

It was wonderful to sit in my father’s easy chair, 25 years after he had left. And I don’t know how long he had the chair. It was in the family as long as I could remember.

It was very relaxing 😍, well, at least till the mosquitoes arrived on the scene. I beat a hasty retreat into the house!

5 minutes later, there was a knock at the door. The watchman showed me what he found at the spot where I was sitting… a large scorpion! 😳

Apparently it was moving across the floor , when the GSDs partially bit it with violent tossing of their heads. He managed to pry the scorpion away from the dogs, but a bit too late!

My father’s words rang through my mind, “Be wise ( cautious)” . I am sure he meant it in a different context. But even in this situation, I had chosen the lit area for sitting out, as the sun had gone down. I was  acutely aware of the dogs, as they always pick out reptiles around earlier than humans, rain or no rain. 

Some might have attributed this to karma!

If I had been sitting out for a bit longer, I might have picked up the scorpion in ways more than one 😩. I could not  help but thank  the mosquitos silently, for persuading me to go indoors!

So it is good to be cautious even when totally relaxed in a traditional easy chair, covid or no covid!😊

MAKE HIM / HER YOUR TEACHER

MAKE HIM /HER YOUR TEACHER!

Teacher as Cambridge English dictionary defines is ‘someone whose job is to teach in a school or college’.

 Wikipedia defines thus - ‘A teacher (also called a school teacher or, in some contexts, an educator) is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue. 

Informally the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. when showing a colleague how to perform a specific task).’ ‎ 

Teachers support with what the books don’t teach. Teachers are role models to emulate.They help you to go beyond what you generally can by yourself. They help build big dreams and help you to achieve them. Great teachers have compassion. They understand your background and have a lot of patience. They help you not only to do academically well, but also help you well beyond your school life into adulthood. 

They do not accept failures, but push students to figure out the problem solving. 

‘Teach a man to fish” rather than give him fish! We have teachers in schools and colleges who push us into adulthood. 

We enter the world as workers and professionals and carry on into 40s and 50 years of age. At that time there is lull. We have somehow become teacher by then. Our experiences are coloured by why what has happened to us over the past 20-30 years. 

There have been good and there have been bad experiences. So one becomes a pessimist or an optimist as a teacher or guide or coach. Some folks would contemplate retiring in a few years, whereas others would go on to achieve more. 

 At that stage, instead of continuing to lead life the way you have been doing, it is better to take on a teacher in whatever field you may want to excel in. By then one would have some financial independence also, to spend on a good teacher for advice. It could be any field such as computer, paining, potter, zumba, yoga, tai chi, personal physical training, music, cooking, etc. 

 Depending on your interest and the level of excellence you wish to achieve, you may need a teacher for a limited or long years. 

As time goes on you realise that you may find a friend in your teacher . As adults, we tend to read more, interact in the outside world more. 

Books may teach in various fields, internet too. YouTube is full of information. International and national webminars especially during covid times, have become popular. But there is nothing compared to a teacher who has your goodness in his heart and advises you personally. 

 Teachers in adulthood help you look over your shoulder, examine your blindspots and point them out to you without hesitation. They help you to adjust to the new advances which have cropped up over the past 1-2 decades when you have been professionally active. 

 Choice of a teacher in the professional life or hobby depends on the person having a high level dedication, skill, patience, understanding, being a role model and willingness to help you. It also depends how far you want to do in life. 

 Finding such a person may be a tall order at adult life, but when you do, latch onto him/her and make there you have your teacher!

COMMON INDIAN FLOWERING PLANTS

COMMON INDIAN FLOWERING PLANTS 

Plants in India which flower can be planted in summer or winter seasons. 

Summer season planting is from March to May. Winter season planting is from September to November. They grow easily and the plants are generally green throughout the year. 

They can be planted usually as seeds or as stems. 

I have mentioned the popular name as well as the botanical name of each flower below. The picture is also shown of the flower with the plant leaf for easy identification. 

This blog is only to highlight the beauty of flowers and connect to their names. I hope that this is useful to the new and the experienced gardeners.

Gardening is a useful hobby and  an activity for any age group. With covid-19 in the surroundings, gardening, planting is useful and welcome as a single person's or a family activity.

 FLOWERING PLANTS IN SUMMER 

 1) ROSE : 

 Family Rosaceae 

 2) BOUGAINVILLEA: 

 Botanical name: Bougainvillea glabra 

 

3) SHOE FLOWER: 

 Botanical name is Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis  

 4) IXORA: 

 Ixora coccinea (also known as jungle geranium, flame of the woods or jungle flame or pendkuli)  

 5) LANTANA: 

 Lantana camara (common lantana) is a species of flowering plant within the verbena family (Verbenaceae)  

 

6) DESERT ROSE: 

Adenium obesum is the botanical name.  

 7) CROWN OF THORNS, CHRIST PLANT, CHRIST THORN, CORONA DE CRISTO: 

 Botanical Name is Euphorbia milii.  

 

8) FLAMING KATY OR CHRISTMAS KATY: 

 Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a herbaceous and common. Also called Kalanchoe. 

 

 9) THE FIRECRACKER FLOWER: 

 The botanical name is Crossandra infundibuliformis  

10) PRINCESS FLOWER, GLORY BUSH: 

 Botanical name is Tibouchina urvilleana  FLOWERING PLANTS IN WINTER 

FLOWERING PLANTS IN WINTER

 11) MUSSAENDA ACUMINTA: 

 Mainly from Africa.  

 12) JUNGLE GERANIUM, FLAME OF THE WOODS OR JUNGLE FLAME: 

 Botanical name is Ixora Coccinea. Common in India, Bangla Desh, Sri Lanka.  

 

13) CRAPE JASMINE OR PINWHEEL FLOWER: 

 Botanical name is Tabernaemontana divaricata.  

 14) GREAT BOUGAINVILLEA: 

 Botanical name is Bougainvillea Spectabilis.  

 15) GOLDEN TRUMPET: 

 It is native to Brazil. The botanical name is Allamanda cathartica  

 16) SNAPDRAGONS: 

 Botanical name is Antirrhinum  

 17) ORANGE TRUMPET CREEPER: 

 It is a creeper, very attractive to hummingbirds. Botanical name is Pyrostegia venusta.  

 

18) ASIAN PIGEON WINGS, BLUE PEA, BUTTERFLY PEA, DARWIN PEA: 

Clitoria ternatea. Botanical name is Convolvulus pluricaulis.  

 19) NIGHT JASMINE OR PARIJAT OR HENGRA BUBAR OR SHIULI: 

Botanical name is Cestrum nocturnum.  

 20) PHLOX: 

The name is derived from the Greek word phlox meaning flame in flower color. Botanical name is Phlox paniculata. 

The END

THINGS TO DO FROM HOME IN THESE VIRAL TIMES!😷🤧

Things to do from home in these viral times!😷🤧

It is real testing time for home makers now!

No schools!

No movies!

No large gatherings (pools, game parks)

No places of worship

All the kids at home

Adult folks working from home!

Social distancing!

I have made up a tentative list of things to do from home for adults of all ages, children, teenagers! 

This is a biased list of my own ( My TV was disconnected from channels a year ago - as the news and the movies were too violent!) and I acknowledge help from internet also to make this list!

• Arrange old photos / slides and videos.
• Bake a casserole. 
• Browse current news on computer, politics,chat shows,comedians,celebrity on the net.
• Browse newspapers / magazines.
• Clean out your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
• Clean something in your bike, your microwave, your shed.
• Climb up the steps to upstairs and down at least 5 times a day ( within reason).
• Color, or draw or take up painting.
• Compose 1/many poem/s.
• Delete old emails and keep up with computer house-keeping.
• Do 25 push ups daily, iron man - 20 sec to 60 seconds.
• Drink lemon tea.
• Drive to a park / woods/ beach/ nature spot you've never been to.
• Eat snacks in bed.
• Experiment with old traditions like hand washing laundry, like making Thovaiyal paste on Ammikallu.
• Focus and Meditate.
• Get an activity ball / Stretch.
• Get an organizer and make a to- do schedule with time frame.
• Get yourself a haircut / pedicure. 
• Go for a hike somewhere you have not been.
• Go for a walk,sit-ups, for exercise. 
• Go fruits/ snacks or grocery shopping.
• Hunt for a new favorite quote and make an image with it, share with friends.
• Keep a schedule for doing at least 100- 500 pages of schoolwork or future projects.
• Learn / Practice yoga.
• Learn a new foreign language (German/ French).
• Learn computer soliloquy, sudoku.
• Learn dancing.
• Learn Hindi.
• Learn how to make animation movie.
• Listen ro FM radio.
• Listen to one TED talk a day.
• Listen to podcasts.
• Long tub bath or shower.
• Look to adopt a pet (even just a fish).
• Make a cocktail.
• Make a future finances plan.
• Make a list of people you meet daily whom you wish to spend most / least time with.
• Make a list of your positives and negatives.
• Make a movie of your past photo albums for the family and play for them with music.
• Make a trip on road on your bike car alone or with family once in 2 days.
• Make lists of stuff you normally don’t list.
• Make your own website.
• Meal / dessert preparation for next week. 
• Order an activity wrist watch to monitor your activities like walking, heart rate, etc.
• Pet care - give regular baths/ immunisation checks/ parasite medication/ tick meds.
• Phone a friend or relative out of reach for a while.
• Plan a skit, musical and video it.
• Play badminton with your kids.
• Read a book of self improvement, fiction, documentary.
• Read one story to your child, grandchild everyday .
• Redo your furniture or cupboard. 
• Religious folks to revisit Bagavath Gita, Koran or Bible as applicable.
• Research dream careers. 
• Sign up for a class. 
• Sit /lounge outdoors in good weather.
• Sketch a vision board.
• Sort out your old clothes or toys or furniture to your local charity.
• Stage a photo shoot.
• Start a blog.
• Start a garden or kitchen garden.
• Start a new do it yourself project.
• Start your LinkedIn profile/ sharpen it.
• Take a bubble tub bath.
• Take a nap.
• Teach your child a new game.
• Try a face mask or beauty product. 
• Try for a virtual part-time or freelance job.
• Try out a new hairstyle or experiment with your hair.
• Try out something new like audiobook or video blog or computer game.
• Update your curriculum vitae.
• Visit with a new ice cream or coffee shop nearby.
• Walk 5000 steps per day.
• Walk or play with a dog.
• Wash your car/ bike/ dust your furniture and sofas on a regular schedule.
• Watch a how-to YouTube video to learn something new in your own hobby.
• Watch movies on YouTube/ Adobe prime.
• Watch Netflix movies.
• Watch the stars, moon, sunset or sunrise.
• Write a letter to your future self.
• Write a poem or write in a journal.
• Write an article/ book or story.
• Write what you would like have liked to be if not the present occupation.
• Write your will.

REMEMBER THE DOCTORS?!

REMEMBER THE DOCTORS?!

Human beings have a short memory, or they choose to!

 It was not long before when the doctors were thrashed and beaten up. So much hatred and venom was spilled on the medical community!

Now with covid 19 in the air (literally), the same abused bunch of doctors not only take care of the sick , but also teach others how to prevent getting the disease. While the medical and nursing communities are advising every contact with the diseased person to practice no touch, no hand shake, hand washes and keep a distance of a metre between, the same medical community is treating the affected patients with physical touch, with ventilator support, with medications, and with resuscitatory supports! 

It is time we healers spoke up for ourselves and reminded those around us of what we do all the time. We act appropriately in emergencies in the role given to us.If we do not speak up for ourselves, people tend to forget ! No one else will!

'We act and we don't react!' 

Hence this short poem:

REMEMBER THE DOCTORS? 

(by John Thanakumar)

Before you beat up a doctor,

Or invade a hospital corridor

To break the glass

Or smash the computer alas!

We doctors treat corona virus

Without a thought of danger to us!

We put our lives on line

With nurses and staff we combine!

All the time we advocate social distance,

While the news commentators discuss in cyberspace 

Idly, about how it all started as a menace,

Our active care to commit we embrace!

In Italy, no more surgeons or urologists or orthopedists!

All doctors combine to work as purists !

We play the soul of heavenly priests;

Universally we follow the Hippocratic oaths!

Like soldiers we fight on without a care!

Life firemen who save the lives we share

Like the police who encounter the rascals who dare

We the doctors, our lives we share; so beware!

In future your illness is too severe,

Think before you complain and compare

To mercenary jobs any where;

We put our lives for the sick, with our souls so bare!

Next time, you see a mob against a doctor nearby

Do not sit down and wonder why

Stand up, speak up like a guy!

Remember we saved you from corona- don't be shy!