Do no harm…….

Dear countrymen !

Let’s light a diya on April 5^th at 9 pm for 9 minutes…

It was the PM Modi on national television , appealing the nation to show solidarity during the most intrigue situation of our lifetime! This was 12^th day of countrywide lockdown, imposed on 25^th March 2020 as a preventive measure to break the spread of a very recent but virulent virus nCOVID-19.  

Immediately the social media was swarmed with messages of varied emotions.

I’m a citizen of the Republic of India and not a clown to perform to the tune of the ringmaster…..

Lighting diyas on 5^th April at 9 pm for 9 minutes is astrologically backed up as the number 9 represents Mars or Mangal and this double 9 increases its strength…it’s a master stroke by Modiji….

I have always been sitting on the fence when it comes to be with or against Modi (ji). I can decipher his moves more objectively ….as some may lable me , I am his bhakt  but not andh bhakt.

Earlier on 22^nd March, he appealed the nation to express its indebtedness to those who are working relentlessly to keep us safe from this health calamity. The task was simple that we have to clap, chime bells, blow conch, beat utensils for 5 minutes at 5 pm. Both the appeals looked like tasks given in the house of Big Boss.  Big boss chahte hain ki sab gharwale……

Modi (ji) is a hardcore politician who knows his job as back of his hand. When it comes to his charisma he is in the left upper quadrant of Johari window where his quality is not only known to him but to others as well. While the government machinery was deep into combating spread of the infection , he took the task of motivating people to follow the lockdown righteously but without being aware that they are being pushed to do so.

This country can unite only on two emotions….first cricket and second patriotism…in that order. The year when Kargil  was won, maximum people sacrificed picnic with the family and went for flag hoisting on the subsequent Independence day !! He knows how to emotionally exploit people ….this time the charm was used for a better cause.

There have been tremendous response on both the occasions. Its amazing to see a nation of 130 crore population following unanimously …well almost…illustrating solidarity. Everyone had their own reasons to agree (or not to ) to accept both the appeals. Reasons varied from….

 Modiji ne kaha hai to karna hi hai

Modiji ke liye kuchh bhi

Arrey kuchh to karen…bore ho gaye ghar me padey padey

Agar maine nahi kiya to paaswale Sharmaji ko mauka mil jayega mujhe bolane ka

Ham sab kitty wale safed pahan kar karenge …theek hai !

Chiming bells and lighting diyas wont help, there is no PPE for health staff.

We need more testing facilities,everything cannot be turned into an event.

I had a totally different reason to follow the request….and without any scientific reason, even remotely. In medicine we are taught the principle of  do no harm . While managing a patient utmost care must be taken not to aggravate the morbidity. It’s a known fact that morbidity or illness is affected by the social, mental and spiritual status of a person other than the physical.

By following the two appeals of Modi (ji) , I was following the same principle.

It reminded me of 1996 when I was pregnant with my triplets. My parents being doctors, I was in the best hands and we were in a better position to handle the situation as all of us knew all the pros and cons of it. My mother lined up all her contemporaries to be available during any emergency if it arises. I was getting the best possible and timely medical facility by best clinicians in the city, courtesy my mother. But she was my mom first…being an obstetrician made it more difficult to keep her calm as she knew all the possible prognosis in this situation!

In addition,we went to a Vaidya who asked me to boil a herb in black cow’s milk and drink it every morning. We went around searching a black cow and then made arrangements to get the milk delivered every morning. I was also made to wear (obviously by my mother) a silver ring in my right little finger with the embedded cat’s eye stone touching my skin. I wore white dress every Saturday and lit a diya under a peepul tree at the twilight. I don’t know whether it was helping the foetus or me to be healthier….but one thing was sure, it was not doing any harm.  

I did all these things only for one reason….it kept my mother’s pacing heart and thoughts in control and her quietude kept me going. I don’t know finally what resulted in the uncomplicated birth , though quite premature, of my triplets. What helped in their growth as normal kids without any physical or mental (touch wood) shortcoming…Whether it was the clinical care that I received ….or due to my above acts something happened in the cosmos which gave us a wanted outcome…..