Who are you trying to fool?..........

Who are you trying to fool?...........

I had to take the early morning bus from Chennai to Vellore last Saturday. So the cab was taking me at 4.30 am from home to the bus station.

The driver was muttering that I could have driven to Vellore rather than take the bus. I patiently explained that I could not get one of my two safe and favorite long distance drivers and hence the bus journey.

Lo behold, we saw a government bus which had taken off from the bus station  rolling away from Chennai. My cabby raced and pulled up in front, stopping the bus for me. I hopped in wondering how it was going to be travelling unreserved after a long time.

Surprisingly only a few passengers in the bus. Nice reclining seats and it was cool. I looked at the conductor for the ticket, but he generally ignored me; so I trotted off and took the seat in the third row.

In front of me sat a well dressed lady in thirties with a little girl and a big tall boy. The boy was older and sat on the left side of the bus and the lady with the daughter on the right side.

After a while the conductor came along and despite the noise I heard him laugh when the lady said something to him… I thought  what a friendly guy!  After a while of some casual conversation, he asked the boy to go and stand against the markings on the door. And then it hit me that the boy was being measured for height. He was too tall.

The lady had then to shell out the adult charges for the boy. Conductor then came to me in the next row to give me my ticket. When he went back to his seat, the boy winked at his mother and shrugged his shoulders ; both had a good laugh.

It was obvious to me that the mother for a few rupees, had tried to fool the conductor.

What sort of an example was she setting for her children? She was obviously a middle class lady who easily could have afforded the normal rates for her brood. What sort of adults will they be when they grow up? Do not parents realize that children are like sponges absorbing the good and the bad from parents all the time?

I still remember what an LKG teacher told us in UK when Pravin started school; the child learns at home and comes to play in school. There is a lot of truth in that statement. We talk about corruption, bribery and wonder what makes us crooked- well obviously bad upbringing is certainly one mighty good reason!

www.lapsurge.org

A Visit to Passport Office- A Novel Experience

 Passport Office, Coimbatore, PDG Kuriachan                                       Clean corridors in Section 2

Abundant Waiting space for public in Section 3   &; Transparent cublicles of Senior Passport Officers                          

A visit to the Passport Office - A Novel Experience

"Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation and a pinch of creativity"

I had to go to Sri Lanka for a meeting as speaker next week. So I happened to glance at my passport and had a shock. It expired in another one week after my travel date; any foreign travel requires 6 months validated passport.

So naturally takkal passport reissue was the choice. I went on line and applied for one on a Saturday not really hoping to get a reply soon. Back came the response saying appointment was at 1030 hours on the next Monday less than 48 hours away!

I rang up my friend and the youngest Rotary Governor Kuriachan. He was very helpful and rang up   some folks and said that I would get everything sorted out the same day. I have had several passport experiences in the past- crowded corridors, long noisy queues with no really directions posted on the passport offices. … lots of touts. And officers who never look at you more than once except to make sure that the picture in the photo is really you!

So not expecting much, I showed up on time with all the necessary documents at the passport office near the airport in Coimbatore prepared for a long day. The difference was striking. The building was classy and the security at the gate was smart and demanded to see my appointment slip. I walked through and the first thing that hit me was the entire complex was air conditioned. No sweaty crowds. People standing in orderly queues while young men and women -  uniformed  and polite explaining patiently and in low tones what the forms needed were and how to fill them up.

The chairs were clean and orderly; not one speck of dust anywhere. The whole complex was partitioned into three different areas with a door opened by electronic lock . Everyone was identified by a token with a number, I was asked politely to go the next section for the document verification. There were many usherers who politely guided the customers to sit down in comfort and fill up the forms; were helpful when there were queries by the innocent public. This section had fully furnished seating arrangements with abundant space. One could wait anywhere in the lounge like in the airport and see on the monitors the status of your token and which counter you are expected to go next.

There was a nice Xerox printer for photocopies where the lady insisted on paying back my one rupee out of the five rupees for four copies to be made. When I  met at the counter for verification, a  young woman conducted the actual interview..... there was plenty of politeness, clarity in conversation and no waste of time. She verified all the relevant details of passport, cross checked with my records, typed them on her computer form which she read out to me on the computer console. She again showed me how it would look on the passport by spelling out all the names every time. She took a digital picture, took finger prints and uploaded everything to the server .... all in record time without hurrying me!

By then my curiosity was aroused. I had to know how the change had come about. The passport office had undergone so much transformation in the past three years since my last visit elsewhere. How was this possible? The usherer informed me that the passport officer was walking closeby. I met him briefly and told him how proud he should be of his office.

He surprised me in stating that the office was run by only six government officers who were at the very last control of the passport. Outsourcing had been done to Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) . TCS had provided the building and nearly 40 young men and women who were so orderly , patient, polite and methodical with all the public. Yes, he was proud of his office; and he  invited me to a cup of coffee  which incidentally costs only Rs 5 per cup served in a clean cup and saucer to all officers and public alike.Mr Kumar also told me that passport unlike driving license and pan card is a document of the government which it allows you to have!

The last stop with the passport government officials was in two sections with the officers sitting at right angles . There interview were very transparent and quick. The last verification was by two senior passport officers  who said that I would receive the passport by courier within 24-48 hours. As I was exiting , much to my surprise a feed back form was given asking me and everyone else to rank each service. I waited for a while watching others;almost everyone ticked all columns uniformly as excellent. Such was the satisfaction!When I had come home, I received an sms stating my new passport number and the tracking number for the speed post... so much efficiency despite so many thousands of passports every week!

I could not believe how the changes for achieving the excellence had come just over the three years since my last visit. The mind set of everyone here, be it government officials or TCS officials was just to make the experience in the passport office for everyone a pleasant and rapid experience. There was so much politeness, purity, plenty of curtsey… it was unlike any other government office I had ever encountered.

I am not going to ask why all the offices not change like this..….. I just know that this change was very welcome and the change was achieved from within the department. I believe that most government offices would see this as an example to follow and change for the better. As for the youth- the TCS officials…..each knew what he or she had to do, and did it well. There is so much hope for India and the youth!

That night I had to take a flight out of Coimbatore and a fleet of politicians were sitting in front of me in the fuselage. They were showing each other their individual visiting cards printed with a huge picture of their esteemed leader. One of them was using the mobile phone as the aircraft was taking off; the others noted  this and seemed not to care……. Such was the anticlimax!

So as I mused on how there is hope for a bright future on the private sector and the government sector, the politicians who rule us need to change as well. I believe in the common good , but the incident during the flight did not mar the happiness and the pride I took in visiting my passport office and my brief interview with the passport officer Mr Kumar.


The sky is the limit for some people.... if you aim higher, nothing is impossible!  I can see it in my passport!

www.lapsurge.org

AN UNFORGETTABLE SURGEON

Aristotle said, “Bashfulness is an ornament to youth”, but he would have thought twice had he encounterED Muthu.

Muthu Raman came a year ago to Global Hospital , Chennai and said he wanted to work with me . He qualified in surgery about 8 years ago and spent some time in Kerala ; I remember asking him why with me….. his reply was kinda vague except that he wanted to stay for a year and have exposure to basic and advanced laparoscopy. Anyway we needed a junior surgeon in the unit and he was qualified for the job.

Always short sleeved, with his shirt tucked in, he was a tall lanky lad, quiet and smiling.His notes in the mornings were always neatly written even when I reached early for rounds.

A few days after he joined, I asked him to write up a chapter on prevention of obesity for the public; he wanted to take a day or so. 2 days passed by and he gave me a paper. I was astounded by the clarity of his thoughts and the richness of his English. This was obviously of excellent schooling; that is how I learnt he studied in Monford. I had come to respect him and his English.

Surgeons especially the ones in training usually want to be in theater to scrub with us; and do as much “ cutting “ as possible. He was different. When there was work to do in the wards, Muthu was with the patients, comforting the ones with pain, or talking with the families of patients. I do not ever recall his wanting to push his way during surgery; but if he differed in opinion as to the treatment, he always gently made his opinion clear. When he was scrubbed in theater, I was sure that all patients in wards and out patients had been well cared for.

He differed from many of the young surgeons in never trying to impress me with his knowledge or his skill. His love for patients and his care for the family members were legendary. There were times he spent hours with the families when he could easily have gone home. Home… that reminds me, he resided in the hospital campus and made himself available 24 hours a day,365 days. He was always the first one to arrive in casuality ward when called for major trauma. When there was work to be done, he did other departmental work whenever the patient needed it.

His relationship with the xray specialists and anesthetic colleagues was exceptional. They in turn always obliged him at odd hours; he spent a lot of time in the departments collecting results to ensure patients spent minimal time in the hospital. He was popular among other surgical colleagues for lending a hand whenever needed. The nursing staff and paramedical staff too got along well with him- he was always smiling and was so soft spoken. I do not recall his ever being loud or pompous… surgeons generally are!

As time went on, we needed more surgical help in the department. When the less experienced surgeons requested more pay, he declined further hikes in pay, saying he was getting enough and wished for no more pay! 

Like Bournville chocolate, he had “earned” respect from patients and their relatives … they used to stand up for him whenever they saw him passing by in the corridors.

He qualified in FIAGES examination thus specializing in laparoscopy; and helped with numerous live workshops in Global Hospital, Chennai and in other states.

2 months ago he quietly mentioned that he wanted to be relieved from duty on 11 december; he explained that that was the day he joined one year ago. All the kings horses and all the kings men appealed to him to stay back. It was not for taking on a much fancier job or a hiked up pay, he was leaving; it was just that he wanted to work with tribals in the remote rural hospitals. He had desired for experience in advanced laparoscopy and now was able to take it to the tribal communities................... What an idea ji !

He even vacated his room on the exact day without being asked to do so and shifted to a lodge to make room for his successor. At his farewell, there was not a single doctor or nurse or administrator who did not feel the loss.

We presently live in an environment where basic values such as kindness and compassion are not often given the importance they are due. Self glorification and arrogance are often seen in abundance and considered the order of the day to be popular. The present era has witnessed law suits for trivial reasons on doctors not to mention the  mindless murder of an obstetrician yesterday. Here was a young man who put others before himself, who loved his doctoring, who treated others as he would have liked to be treated.

He will always be an unforgettable character for the right reasons. He made the place richer by his presence and association.

 

FROM THE CENTER OF CYCLONE THANE

FROM THE CENTER OF CYCLONE THANE

My wife and I returned after a train journey back to Chennai at 14 hours on 30 Jan 2011 from Trichy. True there was a cyclone warning on the telly- a huge cyclone was going to pass via Cuddalore and Pondicherry that night and travelers were advised by weather department to avoid coastal routes that day.Our earlier plan was to drive in 2 cars that afternoon to Chidambaram a small town near Cuddaore to leave my son Pravin with his wife and spend the new year weekend with them.After consulting some well meaning friends we decided to stick to the old plan, but shift to one vehicle for travel- namely the sturdy SUV Scorpio.

It was raining a bit when we started out at 1430 hours on 30 Jan, 2011. We took turns at the wheel , generally avoided Pondy and the coastal route and reached Chidambaram by 1730 hours. The sky was grey and cloudy and it rained a bit in patches on the way.

When we put on the news on TV that night the weather forecast was scary with the police evacuating all the coastal folks with the advice to the rest of us to stay indoors. It was also strange that there were no birds around; the animals - the stray dogs, cows et al which we see by the roadside were conspicuous by their absence. Another strange thing was that electricity kept going off after 9 pm.I know it as I was trying to read 'Timeline 'by Michael Crichton... in small print!. Finally all the electrical power went off and I had to only rely on a candle to read my book. The rain had picked up pace and there was a fair amount of wind.

At 4 am on 31 Dec - saturday, I woke up with the windows banging , doors slamming. There was a constant howl and it was of course dark when I looked out of the window.The cyclone was in full swing. This was my first time in a cyclone. The power was out and no TV; electrical charge on the computer was out and no internet too.It was too early to ring up friends to find out what was really happening in Chidambaram.

Over the next 3 hours, we saw nature in all her fury. There was no sun rise that day, the day just go lighter and finally we could see what was happening around. Though I tried to get some videos of the early 4 or 5 am views of the scenery, it was too dark. There were so many bizarre events.Though it was constantly drizzling, the downpour was horizontal due to the heavy winds. There was a deafening noise all around as though we were inside a cement mixer. Every tree in sight plant, shrub or grass was wavering with the wind. The furious cyclone broke branches, uprooted large and very large trees, tore down the power supply by sheer uprooting of the electrical poles; there were flying missiles in the form of stones, objects around at terrific speed.No animals were about.

The clouds were rushing in the sky at a terrific pace I had never seen before.... like some of dream scenes one sees in movies when the hero remembers his past in a flash!My son who tried to go to his hospital for work at 8 am had to return as his scorpio was being tossed about in the wind like a tincan and there were too many fallen trees blocking all the exits in the street. After 0930 am , the wind velocity dropped a bit and the rain took over. Still the winds continued till 1 pm or but more tolerable.

The devastation had to be seen to be believed. First and the most prominent change was - no electrical power. So no TV, and the cell phones needed charging . Water was running short everywhere as we needed power to pump up the water. Food was in short supply in shops which had uniformly closed everywhere. No milk, petrol had to be pumped with generators.

My wife and I took the journey back on 31 Jan cutting short the vacation. We started out by a different long about route to Chennai as the travelers on the way told us to avoid Pondy which had suffered severely. 3 large multi axial vehicles which lugged giant wings of solar power generators had been overturned by the wind. Large containers with heavy metallic cabinets had been rolled aside by the gusty Thane. Telephone polls, electrical poles, trees, house tops had been totally displaced.

But there was plenty of human spirit around. People were helpful, the few cars on the road were very considerate to the people in the middle on the road. There was no honking by the motorists. The number of hotels which were open was limited. Less traffic, less people on the road, less animals on the road today similar to some 3 or 4 decades ago. But there was some sunshine about at least in the morning. We reached Chennai by a circuitous route after 5 and half hours. Even as I write, in Chennai , it is drizzling.

Very severe cyclone Thane was the strongest tropical cyclone in 2011.It left at least 33 dead in Tamil nadu and Pondy. Fishing industry was affected a great deal along with the agriculture due to gross destruction of the crops.Government of Tamil Nadu had warned people well before and and had ensured that most of the electrical power had returned within 36 hours which must have been an enormous task by itself. Naturally it would take much longer to rehabilitate the state considering 700 fisher men who had been stranded and the money needed was to the tune of 150 crores of rupees.

I was indeed much relieved to be back in Chennai during the aftermath of the heavies cyclone having travelled into it and back. I do hope that I would appreciate life much more after this episode of adventurous holiday. Happy New and Blessed year in 2012 to each and everyone of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdDTLXftvno&list=UU8KZuXlWWO3QzoR3u0edsGQ&index=1&feature=plcp

Dogs and Sickness

Dogs and Sickness

Dogs make great pets. Folks have pets for various reasons – companionship, security,children like them and to be part of family. Dogs make people happy. It is always refreshing to come home after a tough day at work s, stressed and anxious, to be loved by a welcoming dog at home. For the dog, you are everything and she totally trusts you with all her loyalty.

"The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's”-Portugese saying.

As far as I can remember we always had dogs at home. We had a Pomeranian dog Caesar since 1997 for the past 14 years. He grew up along with my kids as part of the family. Among the two larger females, a German Shepherd Dog (GSD)and a Great Dane who towered well over him in size, he still ruled the roost. He recently was acting his age. He was moaning a lot and was slow to move around. He stopped barking and kept coming into the kitchen all the time to lie down at the feet of my wife. The vet said he was just old and he passed away 2 weeks ago.

We decided to have another male dog in the house and opted from a breeder for a 42day old pup- a GSD. 3 days later, Dino became very sick with parvo virus with marked vomiting, bloody stools, fever and dehydration. Vet gave him 5-10% chance of living.

So at home we rolled up sleeves and decided to make him better. My son with his wife (surgical trainee and physician respectively), my wife a pediatrician dripped him with IV fluids and hemacoel, antibiotics for secondary infection and other drugs like for children.

He looked so sick like a ragged doll. He yelped in rhythmic fashion denoting abdominal spasms. We were helpless except to support him with correction of dehydration and hoping he would get better. And that he did thanks to support from friends and help from above.

As a Gastrointestinal surgeon, I am concerned about the spread of diseases from dogs to humans. In most countries, dogs form popular pets. It is reassuring to know that some diseases such as common cold, canine parvovirus, canine bordatellosis, heartworms do not spread to the humans. Though these can be severe and sometimes fatal in dogs, they do not affect humans.

Infections which spread to humans from dogs include rabies, tick borne diseases, lice, scabies, hydatid disease (dog tape worm), toxoplasmosis(parasite), salmonella (typhoid),etc. Generally small infections do not spread from the dogs to human. It is important to keep the dogs vaccinated and healthy. When concerned about spread of disease from dogs to humans, please contact your vet or your doctor.

Vacation cum Conference

Two days for a surgical conference in Mahabalipuram. The idea was attractive for many reasons- technique is relatively new and we did have a fair amount of experience with it, the town was a historical one and I did not have to travel far- only about 35 km from where I live in Chennai.

The accommodation was large and spacious. The verandah faced the beach and had wonderful rocking chairs. Such a welcome change from the routine grind with traffic jams in Chennai. So many trees and so much of greenery on the way to the sands. … Birds chirping in the morning awakening you reminded me of how much we miss out on nature in cities. Beach was without a single human being before sunrise. It was great to run on the beach at sunset for a long distance with not a single soul in sight, just the crabs for company! The sound of waves, the vastness of the ocean, the ceaseless activity of the water remind you constantly of the beauty and the strength of nature. Small fishing boats returning at dawn, made a pretty sight as they neared the shore. Weather was cloudy with intermittent showers. Gym was a good one.

Radisson Resort Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram deserves its reputation because of the high standard of food and service. The band at the dinner was great ; unlike most bands, they had a violin too and did some Latin numbers till the rain played spoilsport.

Surgical part was good too and the holiday was very refreshing. It was a time to catch up with old friends and make a few. On the whole, a well deserved break.

HELPING THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see”- Mark Twain.

I was leaving to do a clinic this weekend at my hometown and booked my travel by train. It was an obscure ’special’ Mangalore Express and its announcement was not even on the billboard at the railway station. It even arrived at an obscure platform 2A in Chennai!

The train arrived in Coimbatore at dawn- 6am. As I walked towards the exit , I saw a couple- a blind couple with the man holding a white tell tale stick. I slowed down when the man and woman were about 10 feet away; people walked around them clearing the space for them. The couple clearly did not know which way to go. The noisy platform did not help them either. The man rotated around himself as if to assess which way to go. The wife just held his hand and circled along with him.

I politely walked past but then out of curiosity turned around to look; no one wanted to help. My pick up was waiting and I wanted to go away; but was interested enough to see if anyone would help. Well, no one did. So I stopped and walked back to the man and asked if he wanted to go out of the station.

He said he wanted to go to the bus stand. Coimbatore station has 2 long flights of stairs and I walked holding up his hand, warning him of the steps and the pillars around. He was a bit slow at first and then picked up momentum, gathering enough confidence in me not to use his stick for tapping. I walked him and his wife to the bus stand and then rang up for my car pickup.Ten minutes of my time probably save one hour of his.

I suppose most people would be like me – knowing when some one needs help, and hoping that someone else would help them. I guess that is human enough. But then, when help is not coming , we should step up. A little bit of kindness in spirit and action goes a long way to help the physically challenged and the weak.

Mark Twain was not wrong.