YOUR HEALTH AND HEALING POWERS.
Among the most sought after pursuits by an individual throughout his life is love for his own health. Never the less, it is a prey of his own hands , victim of soothes Sayers, quacks, dummy gods, neem hakeems, and scores of so called modern educated physicians. One is taken aback to see several well organized supper specialty hospitals health centers, health care organizations with outstanding infrastructures, man powers under the latest manpower planning, management and administration where the patients and their companions will not feel disappointments ,element of mismanagements and indiscipline. City of Hyderabad ,where I came to work on my transfer from Indore , Madhya Pradesh) dazzled my eyes when I saw large number of such hospitals .As many as fifty to sixty hospitals are in the city at present .No other city of India can boast of having these many and quality of hospitals. Almost all the hospitals are enjoying sound reputations and healthy competitions .Although ,there had been reports of exchanges of female babies with male children by some officials of some hospitals, news of selling of newly born babies ,cases of child adoption by the foreigners in connivance with local agents and agencies operating under the guise of social organizations yet ,by and large, these have been doing very well .I had an opportunity of knowing them as a patient and escorts of my family members visiting for purposes of their treatments.
CMCH Vellore in Tamilnadu state, is one of the best hospitals in the country that I visited in connection with my treatment as a cancer (Hairy cell leukemia) patient from 1993 –1996. Dr.Mamen Chandi ,Professor and Head and Dr. Alok Srivastva. Assistant Professor then of the Department of Haematology Department will never be forgotten for their advanced knowledge as compared to similar other doctors of Medical Colleges in the country .On interaction with equally good physicians in other cities, I had a chance to discuss about my disease and the treatment ,it was disgusting to know that they were not knowing the names of the latest medicines used for the treatment of such diseases. A doctor close to me at my work place at Jaduguda, Bihar now Jharkhand state ,spoilt a medicine costing rupees 1600.00 per vial by loading it in to syringe and shaking the same as usual against the instruction passed to him for handling such injections. He was M.D. Many doctors are not knowing or do not require to know the fundamentals of such diseases. Public faith is immeasurable in them. Many of them do not deserve it.
Every hospital commits lapses on a regular basis. These prove fatal in many cases. Communication in a simple language is the greatest problem faced by these hospitals. Once I noticed serious water leakages in the bath room of room (single bed) .It was found that a tap had blown off its` point and thus water had started running and would soon submerge the bath room as well as the room occupied by the patient .My daughter rushed to inform the nurse on duty who after witnessing the running of water informed the mechanic on duty that `there was leakage in the said bath room .The plumber on duty was busy in attending a complaint elsewhere. Mean while I kept on sending reminders after reminders to the sisters on duty. The same statement (message) was passed to him .He did not turned up for about thirty minutes and by that time the room had started over flowing water from bath room to the patients `chamber .I personally telephoned the Director of the Hospital who ordered the his chief security officer to do the needful at once. Next moment ,the plumber on duty appeared on the scene but by then damage had been done .I stopped him at my entrance and enquired about his half hearted almost non compliance. He said the message, he got every time was of leakage, which was not treated seriously and needed urgent attendance .I realized how important is right type of communication. Most of the sisters and nurses have this chronic problem .The hospital authorities perhaps do not take notice of it.
In another instance, sister on duty recorded the temperature in the graph without measuring it .On another occasion, the medicine was recorded to have been given to the patient but it was not. This has happened in more than one hospital. The tendency still continues to hide the observations including recommendations made by the doctors on round by the sisters .I had a chance to observe the efficiency of staff. They can do only some routine jobs but jobs of new nature make them handicap. I was administered a medicine which was dissolved in saline water and had to be transfused drop by drop numbering about 176 in a minute. Many times the counts were abruptly increased calling for the attention of sister on duty .I noticed they were undone.
When I was young ,I saw many newly born babies in my village dying immature due to ignorance of the village population regarding their health hygiene .Many died of a deadly disease popularly known as tetanus .It was marketed by native nurses drawn from lower rung of Indian society looking after the menial works of their masters in particular and the village folk in general They were using a rusted shackle chiefly meant for cutting grasses and other products of agriculture .This was used to scissor the naval rope of a born baby . It had unalienable effect in spreading the disease in the child .His jaws were choked stopping the babies to suck milk from their mothers breasts. The child due to suffocation caused by this attack would begin crying nonstop .The parents and their family members would blame their ill luck and bad omen Soon witch craft and services of quacks were swung in to action resulting sure and certain deaths .I am citing these cases of the year fifties and sixties. India had already attained Independence .Present education system does not feel the necessity of identifying the common ailments in villages to include them in their syllabus separately .Curriculum is framed and approved by the scholars of city dwellers .Now when I visited my village the awareness due to their contacts with urban population reduced the incidence of ailments but still one has to go a long way.
I was only son of parent. My father was an employee of Tinplate Company of India Jamshedpur then centre of about fourteen private companies including TISCO and TELCO .My mother fell sick .She had acute joint pains ,severe stomach ache on a regular basis .She had severe acidity and was slowly losing her weight .Three doctors including a popular MBBS of my city were consulted .Their treatment lasted for about six to eight month each but each had treated for different disease for three years without any relief .No suggestion was made for any tests during these years .Treatment depended on their oral findings emerging out of briefing by the patients. Condition kept on worsening day by day . I took her to a missionary hospital of the city opened only just. The young doctor immediately hinted that she was suffering from cancer. She was rushed to Tatanagar which had an excellent hospital -TMH Jamshedpur .She was diagnosed suffering from cancer .Operation revealed that it was irrecoverable .She died after twenty two days of her surgery. She was laid rest in her native place.
It was during the year 1977-1988 that I had an opportunity to work as teacher and Head Master Junior Residential section Sainik School Telaiya Hazaribagh (Bihar) under the command of Lt. Colonel Satsangi .It was 16th of March, I was attending an interview for the post a lecturer in a teacher’s training college at Jamshedpur (Tatanagar) in the state of Bihar then .I returned to Sainik School campus next day and was told that Mrs. Khan had given birth to a girl child in a nursing home at JhumriTelaiya in a district of Hazaribagh (Bihar). I rushed to meet the family. When I entered the ward of Mrs. Khan, I found her in gloomy face. After a while she uncovered only the face of newly born baby .Incidentally the sheet covering the remaining part of her body lifted and what I saw was shocking .She was born with her left foot twisted .One can imagine the future of a girl child born in this state of health in an Indian society. Tears started rolling down from the eyes of her mother .I consoled that it was God sent and the child is His Amanat. We are her custodians only .We shall not deprive her giving all paternal love.
This news had already reached in the school campus which was a residential institution and lived like family .Everyone was sharing the concern of family members .This was an unique experience nurtured by the then principal Lt. Colonel P.S.Satsangi .It was Lt Colonel Ganeshan who had taken over as his successor during this period.
The inspection house of school was manned by a retired doctor and an ex army compounder. They were very competent and worried of the health of my baby .They were anxious to do their best. Host of doctors as parents were visiting their wards on every parent`s day usually falling on the first of Sunday of the month. It was a grand fun to see streams of ladies and gents coming to see their children .It were like a grand festival in the campus. The school was located on the bank of river Kharkai ,Telaiya dam and Hazaribagh National Park -a serene and picturesque surrounding. Human habitation was far away.
At my level only solution that came up in my mind was operation .The financial hard ships were acute and did not appear so simple to undertake this treatment. Mr Singh the compounder and resident of Muzaffarpur came to my residence with Dr. Tripathi FRCS on school panel who on examination assured to go for plastering on 30thday of her age. He plastered it in our presence on one of these days assisted by Mr. Singh .The child kept on crying and gradually her foot and the leg became blue threatening her health .This frightened all of us. Although Mr. Singh was not happy with this arrangement, yet he waited him to depart from the campus to enable him undo the plaster. It was undone soon after his departure in the late hours of the day .He was upset on his failure and soon came back with another group of physicians .Three or four of them were there .One of them was a bone specialist .All advised to go to Patna Medical College .They would operate her foot and set it right without any involvement of finance. I had to bear only the to and fro expenses. This too was unaffordable. I explained it to Shri Singh .Before the sunset, he brought a couple –Dr Jha and Dr.Mrs.Jha , who had recently returned from U.K.Dr. Jha was son in-law of Dr. Tripathi.None of us informed about him having done the plastering .We were waiting for the third advice that suited our way of thinking .He called Mrs. Khan and enquired as to how many times would she massage the twisted feet of the baby. She agreed as many times as the doctor wanted. Dr. Jha recommended to apply mustered oil around the affected part ,massage it thoroughly ,pulling the toe straight even if it made the child to cry and straighten the paw towards the ankle in the same way .This was undertaken by her mother religiously many times a day .After a fortnight it started showing results .The foot became normal in a span one and half months .All of us were besieged on this miracle which had happened without any financial hard ships .This had succeeded because growth of a child is faster in the initial months of birth and physical deficiency if any is done away with the treatment if any and normalcy is restored .Shockingly many of us are ignorant of the fundamentals of physical development of a child .As a result of lack of such experiences children are victims of man made handicaps through out their lives .Other institutions spring up to counter such ailments .Many can not afford the luxury of modern treatments. Thanks to Dr. Jha for his insight .This child is tallest among all of my progeny . She is the brightest and the healthiest of all .
It was winter of 1992 .I went to Delhi to attend an interview for the post of Education Officer in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan New Delhi .I had applied for this job about a decade back but for litigation pending in the court against this advertisement, the selection was postponed. I reached the venue-.Arvindo Marg with my nephew ,Sunny who was asked to come back to collect me at about 1400 hrs.At the reception counter, I was informed about the cancellation of this interview. In order to confirm this news, I approached Asst. Commissioner Accounts ,Shri Gupta, who told the telegrams were sent to candidates informing them of the cancellation well in time .It had not reached me. The department was nice to approve travelling allowance. Had it taken place, I was confident of managing one out of thirty five vacancies. The new date was fixed falling exactly on the eve of Idul-Azha ,an important festival of Muslims. I informed my in-laws on phone about it`s cancellation and requested them to arrange to pick me up .While coming down the stairs, I felt I had an attack of dizziness and sudden loss of energy. This made me gradually feverish and pale .In the mean time car arrived to pick me up. On reaching her Khel Gaun residence, I informed Madam Jamal, my sister in-law. She passed this information to her husband, Mr.Siddiqui IPS I.G. RAF(Rapid Action Force). The sickness further deteriorated with attack of diarrhoea He hurriedly arranged medicine from a homeopath doctor ..The Homeo path doctor besides giving medicines for quick relief had sent medicines for journey period which I was unable to discontinue as a return journey reservation had been booked due to All India Inter AEES Athletic Meet of which I was an organizer. It was commencing on 13th of September .I had planed to visit my mother –in –law at her 122 civil Lines Jhansi residence on my way to Tatanagar availing the halt facility of journey break. All plans seemed to be upset. However I was seen off by Sunny at Nizamuddin Railway Station .He wrapped me with a chader and administered the medicine .The Shatabdi express covered the journey faster and my brother in-laws were there to receive at Jhansi .By the time I arrived at Jhansi Central Railway station I was O.K.A family doctor at the residence was present to examine my health .Some anti biotic medicines were given .We had evening walk with my in-laws .Next evening I was healthy to board in Utkal Express. Who knew that it was the beginning of bad days . A fatal disease has already attacked and subtly eating the health.
Instead of going to my residence, I went to inspect the progress of preparations made in connection with the meet. I left the venue of table tennis at about 1400 hrs. Fever with intense diarrhoea attacked once again, compelling me to be admitted in the UCIL hospital Jaduguda .Here I was treated for malaria .I was bed ridden for about five days and discharged from the hospital to resume my duties.
I had to report again to Dr.Sarkar after a week for my spleen enlargement , coughing , low grade fever through out the day and loss of weight . Initially he treated for a couple of days and later referred me to TMH Tatanagar . The doctors at this hospital conducted all necessary tests-blood test, hyper tension, malaria, cobalt tests etc. These tests were completed in a period of 10 to 15 days. They concluded that I was suffering from spleenomegaly due to Chronic Malaria .Treatment began and I was called to report after a month. Luckily I did not notice the medicines that were to be purchased and consumed .I reported the doctor concerned after a month .The symptoms mentioned above had disappeared .I felt ,I was O.K. After a gap of fifteen days, the old symptoms resurfaced.
In the meantime a date for my Ph.D. viva-voce was fixed at Patna Teacher`s Training College .The principal,Dr. Jha was one of the external examiners .The other examiner was Dr…Prof. and Head of the Department of Education ,Sagar University( M.P). My guide, Dr.R.K.Rai former Dean Faculty Of Education of Muzaffarpur University(Bihar) and me traveled from Ranchi to Patna .He was upset to see my deteriorating health and decided to take me to his family doctor , Dr. Sharma of Ranchi Medical College Ranchi after our return .We were back by the next day .We had our lunch at his Ranchi residence. We took appointment and visited Dr.Sharma at his residence in the college campus .He examined thoroughly besides going through the treatments given and the tests conducted by TMH Tatanagar .He too confirmed that I was suffering from spleenomegaly due to chronic malaria .He drew a very thick book on medicine from his book self and besides prescribing three injections of lariogo- an injection for the treatment of chronic malaria, gave an injection then and there. He advised to get injected the remaining medicine in twenty four hours. I was advised to refrain from traveling by buses or taxis lest my enlarged spleen bursts causing instant death. I traveled the same evening by bus to my Jamshedpur residence. By the time I reached I felt that my respiratory track had choked and it was difficult for me inhale and exhale normally .The second injection was given by a compounder readily available that night and the health worsened .I was desperately looking for immediate relief .I felt like dying but there was no money to rush to TMH and get admitted unless referred by UCIL doctors. As a private patient one has to deposit about Rs. 4000.00 at the time of admission. The night was but a night mare. At dawn somehow I reached my work place and without waiting for referral letter ,my friend Siddiqui Supt Chemical Dept.escorted me to TMH Tatanagar .The authorities admitted .I lost for about 25 kg weight in ten days of stay in the TMH. Respiratory condition worsened ,coughing increased many fold, ninety days fever persisted, weight loss continued. Condition of my of my health worsened further. X.Ray.bone marrow test, blood test and sputum test revealed nothing .Dr. Balsara.,an eminent medical practicner looked helpless and decided to release me .He referred me to CMCH Vellore Tamilnadu,.one of the top most hospitals in Asia.
Varadraj ,presently Vice Principal ,a Tamilian accompanied me to the referred hospital. Two days journey was awesome .The conditions of lungs did not permit relief .I was admitted on 3rd of November 1993.next day, all sorts of tests were carried out for about 11 days .The treatment was held up for want of correct diagnosis. Every day doctors would come in groups ,discuss among themselves and recommend for further tests .They would answer all the queries and doubts raised by the patients and inform the outcome of the findings .Every morning I was told that my disease had not been identified .It was on 11th day of my stay in the hospital that Dr. Chary came and informed that disease had been diagnosed and treatment would start soon. I would be shifted to Hematology Departments .
Dr. Alok Srivastva, Reader of this department came in the mid of night and awakened me. He informed that I was suffering from two diseases; Hairy Cell Leukemia and Tuber clusis .Since I lost my body immune ,the T.B.attacked. I got infected by one of my group (D) employee who was getting the treatment of T.B.He was assisting me in my office besides he would offer a glass of water as and when needed. It would not be out of place to narrate the pangs and pain of the disease progression and the treatment that followed. The treatment began the same evening .The ninety day fever disappeared after three days of treatment. The medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis continued for about nine months. Mr. Varadraj had left for his work place after a day or two .Telephone was the only source of contact between me , my family and colleagues .I disclosed about the finding to few of my close colleagues –Shri C.K.Yadava and Shri S.P. Nandi .Next day doctor Dr. Alok Srivastva informed receipt of a fax message sent by Dr.Rakshit ,CMO UCIL Hospital .He also informed about the message that had come from Shri A.A.Siddiqui ,Inspector General of Police RAF and CRP from his Delhi Head Quarter. One of the CRP Unit was posted to the campus of the Tamil Nadu Governor .The commandant Yadava was in touch with me. In fact he had deployed an inspectors to monitor my disease progression..Mr. and Mrs. Siddiqui were enquiring about my health on day to day basis.
On 17th of November 1993 my health deteriorated and I felt ,I was sinking fast .There was extensive sweating and this had dampened my Jaipuri quilt .Dr. Alok was summoned at once .He ordered for two units of blood and these were transfused in to the patient .This averted imminent disaster .There was no one beside my bed. I was asked to call someone immediately. Soon my wife and brother -in-law Rafi Ahmad Siddiqui arrived and joined me .I was released on 27th of November .We were told to report for spleenectomy in the second week of January 1994. That was the only treatment available to normalize the blood counts. In this disease the total counts are raised high, the platelet counts are always abnormal and above all the lymphocyte counts decrease below normal rendering the defense of the body weak thus allowing other infections to attack the patients easily which can cause his death .We were released and went to our work place. My sister in-law Mrs. Iffat who had accompanied Rafi had taken charge of the house would prepare food for the children ,wash their clothes .iron them and send them to their school .She would not mind moping the floor of the house daily .Al though she came from a well to do family and her husband was an officer in the Department of Forest Govt. of U.P.yet she conducted un ostentiously. She was very beautiful .She conducted herself equally more beautifully .She cared one and all. Soon she became popular in this hamlet of Jaduguda among my staff ,neighbours, shop keepers specially ice cream wala and Sharma Book seller. My second brother in-law, her husband Iftekhar had sent a bundle of rupees amounting rupees ten thousands for the treatment.Such a gesture is hardly heard these days.Rafi and she left for Jhansi .Stream of visitors from Jamshed pur, UCIL company to name some; Madam Basin ,Mr. Basin(he is no more) CMD UCIL ,Dr.Rakshit ,Mr. Patnayak Personal Manager, all teachers ,my cousins ,local people and parents . Mr.Hakeem and Mr. Siddiqui now Manager Personal and the Supt. UCIL of their respective Departments were beside my bed even during the nights.My eldest brother in-law Intezar Ahmad Siddiqui a police inspector ,one of my cousins Rashid , Mrs. Khan and me reported to CMCH as per their advice for spleenectomy .I was handed over to Surgery Department soon .Date was fixed for the operation .Dr.Rawat Head of the Surgery Department operated upon it .Only two units blood were used in place of proposed four units .The operation lasted for about four and half hour .I became man without spleen. The operation passed off uneventful.
The purpose of the operation failed as the removal of the spleen did not stabilize the blood counts .The disease progressed and I was required by Dr.Alok to under go interferon therapy .I had to take three injections in a week .Each costing rupees 1600.00 i.e. an expenditure of rupees 19,200.00 per month (2,30400.00 per annum).All patients including very affluent could not afford .It was started .Madam Khan was trained to inject .She trained her son also .It had to be given after administering metacin of 1000 mg before and after the injection. This followed high fever and severe cold for about eight hours .I continued with it for one and half year. I had to report CMCH Vellore after every six months. Initially I was admitted for this for about twenty one days and released. This therapy brought the blood counts normal. The upward trend continued .In the year 1996 the dose was reduced to two and later on once in a week .During one of my visits in the year 1995 , Dr. Alok prescribed a medicine which was not marketed to India and had to be imported from Switzerland . Seven vial of medicine was costing rupees 1,50000.00.It was available in UK and USA. but the patient had to go there. This was not possible. On contact from Hong Kong, it could be procured but it had to be smuggled and no cash memo was issued. These options were not considered .It was agreed that CMCH Vellore would process the formality of import for which it had to obtain import license for life saving drugs from Drug Controller of India and Directorate General of Health Service, New Delhi .Even after considerable period of correspondence, CMCH Vellore failed to get it and advised me to procure this certification at my level .Fortunately Mr. Siddiqui IPS and Inspector General of Police was based in the capital .He saw that it was issued and the license was delivered to me in August 1995.
In the mean time I was transferred to Atomic E energy Central School Indore (Center For Advance Technology, an unit of Department of Atomic Energy Govt. of India). I shifted to this place on 25 th of September 1995.The steps to import the requisite medicine were taken here .Dr. Mrs. Bhatnagar Chief Medical Officer CAT was approached who immediately initiated to procure the medicine through the Director CAT. He at once deputed an assistant of accounts department specially for this purpose. Style of functioning of all of them was more human oriented than red Tapism .It was perhaps due to Dr. Bhawalkar`s way of doing things. There were no if`s and buts’ in his administration. Other officers had learnt to fall on his line of looking at things.
I got a copy of a fax message that the import agency has transported the medicine to our Bombay agent-Balyaya Shipping Agency-Airport Office 6 Rose cottage Daigo Compound Church Pakhady Road 1 Sahar Village,Bombay 400099. .The medicine could be preserved for twenty four hours only. I had to receive the
Medicine at the Bombay Air port and travel to Vellore via Chennai . One had to spend not less than twelve to reach Mumbai by train and another fifteen to twenty hours were needed to reach the hospital. The patient and Dr. Mrs. Bhatnagar were caught between the devil and deep sea. The Central services Rules governing the traveling rules were coming in the way. Dr.Bhawalkar took quick decision allowing me to travel by train up to Mumbai and from there to Chennai by plane .His office arranged for the plane ticket. I landed with medicine in Chennai airport in the evening .One Arya, owner of net works of transport companies all over the country took me to his Chennai flat , offered me food and arranged for my night halt .He was aged person and his frequency of travel by plane was not less than sixty times in a month. Indian Air line had accorded him the status of an accredited passenger.
I rushed to CMCH Vellore by a morning train reaching Katpadi ,the nearest railway station in the morning .I hired a taxi and reached the hospital campus to hand over the medicine to the office of Dr. Alok Srivastva.who was informed about my arrival .I had already intimated him about the programme of my journey and arrival. The medicine was at once preserved in a refrigerator under …degree celcious. I was admitted on 14 th September 1996.Mrs. Khan was joining me next day from Jamshedpur. I received her next morning at Katpadi raiway station .As per program, D r. Alok prepared the medicine and administered it through a pipe inserted in to the chest via wrist and neck veins which had to be given in a span of seven days without break .This restricted my movement and I had to meet my natural calls with medicine and the machine assisted by Madam Khan and the hospital staff . I was briefed in advance that the medicine would pose some problem such as loss of weight and fall of blood counts. I would be in observation for about a month till the blood counts are stabilized .I was also told that some severe side effect might recur during the intake of medicine soon .It did not happen for the first six days and the doctor was surprised. It was on the 7th day of my admission in the hospital that unbearable back pain occurred .Even the slightest movement of the body caused alarming pain .It was so frightening that my screaming did not allow the patients to rest in the night .In spite of my repeated requests ,the staff on duty did not bother to inform Dr Alok. His junior came to attend and informed him about this development .I briefed of this trauma to him on his morning inspection round .He took the corrective measures and reprimanded the sisters on duty over their conduct. It was controlled in twenty four hours. I was kept in the hospital for about 21 days in observation to allow the blood counts to stabilize and the weight to increase .Mrs. Khan was at my side during those painful days .I was discharged on 8th of October 1996.I was in touch with our doctor for some months and he advised to monitor the blood counts initially on month to month basis, later on quarterly and then six monthly .The disease was declared to have reached remission stage .I was as healthy as ever . Approximately rupees fifteen lakh were spent by the DAE Government of India .I express my profound gratitude's to all those who shared to combat it .
I realized this beautiful world is for healthy ones .It was a huge hospital and all the departments were full of patients .Some were screaming ,Some were yelling .Some were in coma. Some were always taken to operation theaters .Operations were going on in all four or five its modern equipped operation theaters night and day .Bypass surgery, heart operation ,brain surgery ,kidney transplant and bone marrow transplant were order of the day. Only two or three hospitals in India were known for bone marrow transplantation facility .It was costing rupees six to seven lakhs per patient . CMCH was also one of these hospitals .The success rate
of the transplantation was 60%. in this hospital .A particular age group of patients would be considered for this treatment .A donor of about 2.5 gram bone marrow from a matching ones, specially from a blood relation was given. There was an independent cell for this treatment where the patient was kept isolated for 21 days .Except the doctor and a sister none was allowed to contact the patient all these days . Visitors could see the patients from a window glass fitted with wall of the cell .Day to today administration of drugs were monitored by the sister on duty.
Many patients were seen fighting with death .It was a missionary hospital .All services were carried out with missionary zeal .The verses from Holy Bible were recited ,played and transmitted to the rooms and wards of patients which could be switched on and off as per their likings .There was huge church inside the hospital .There were scores of priests coming to the patients to offer them healing touch .Love for worldly life is so dominant these days that we ignore many meaningful activities around us.
I visited the mental health branch of the hospital The same human being behaving abnormally ,it was strange ! .It was worth watching them .Some one interested in researches could have been deputed to note down their ways of behavior .I saw a women who would spit at every one else .One of the patients came out of her room every day and lay face down on the floor ,stayed there for hours. Most of the patients there had been rejected and ignored in their lives ,made to feel that theydonotexist. We spent a part of our summer vacation in the year 1979 at 122 Civil Lines Jhansi U.P.in my in-laws house with my children –Lubna and Homa . One fine morning, youngest brother in-law, Razi Ahmad Siddiqui, presently posted as sub inspector of police U.P, of late returned from Bosnia where he was on deputation , came rushing to inform the lady of the house that Moulvi Saheb had arrived . He was college student then. He was seated in the visitors room outside the house and had been visiting on regular basis to offer treatment to my youngest sister in-law, Miss Hilal said to be suffering from neuron attack in one of her legs. The disease would attack her any time; while riding a cycle, walking, sleeping and attending natural calls. The leg would soon become numb and senseless. Once she had a fatal fall but escaped unhurt. Modern treatments had failed; they said .Moulvi Sahib was directed by one of her friends Indira who was also treated by him.
“The rehearsal of verses from holy books for a prescribed number of periods, would give the practicner a divine healing power,’’ it was believed by all such faithful. I had high regards for the Muslim scholars. I felt it my moral obligation to dash to pay respect. I was the first among the family to greet him.
Reading from the face value, I noticed no evidence of scholar ship and the expertise offered for the treatment of this disease. He was in shirt and loose pajama. One of the trousers sleeve was folded up to his knee. He was wearing prayer cap. He was an eyed man. I was shocked and surprised that highly educated family was in his trap. My father in-law was a deputy inspector of police (late then). All were university graduates and had good family back ground.
The client and her family members got busy as if some VIP has landed in the house. He was going to be accorded grand welcome before his callous charms begin. I had hardly failed in recognizing the worth and intention of a person. I had jumped to the conclusion that he was cheating .I started testing his credential.
“What is your education? How old are you? Where do come from? Which madarsa are you from? How many chapters of Holy Quoran have you learnt and crammed? You recite the Surah …..You reproduce all the Kalama’s. How do perform this Namaz.What steps do you follow?”
He not only faltered but failed miserably to answer my questions .It was proved beyond doubt that he was a fraud.
“What other therapies do you do? ``
I give some medicines.
“Where is the medicine?”
Here it is.
These were antibiotics .I had pinned him down .Now he was sweating like any thing .Guilt makes you tremble .Guilt make you sweat. Guilt make coward .Guilt make you surrender .I threatened that if any thing went wrong with my sister-in-law ,I would put him in sack and roll him down the hill. He was shaken and promised that he would not come again.. In the mean time, my brother in-law appeared on the scene and heard our dialogues. He rushed back and informed every body that I was treating him in that fashion .Mrs. Khan came running to inform that the patient had gone unconscious. “Why I had done that. Her life was threatened.” I was unmoved. To me it was a clear case of fraud and nervous break down of a weak person.
“Let her die.” I said.
Mean while moulvi saheb left the place. After some hours of the incident, she regained from her unconsciousness. The family members were very unhappy with my unwanted behaviour. He stopped coming but Indira continued to get regular treatment from his holy hands. Later, it was disclosed that he laid his holy hands on her costly ornaments and had been absconding since then.
During the peak of my illness, one of my friends, advised to pay visit to a tomb of a renowned saint at Kichhochha Sharif,Faizabad U.P. Muzaffr Ali Kchhochovi was Member of Parliament .Saint was his ancestor. His nephew ,Syed M.A.Jelani ,appointed by the principal Sainik School Telaiya as Urdu teacher, had a good business among the local tribes due to his witch craft .The principal’s family was also influenced by him .He worked under me, when I objected ,he threatened me with dire consequences on the strength of his art. I challenged, he left the place and shelved the practice for some time. Later, I heard, his business flourished after my resignation.
During one of my visits for consultation in CMCH Vellore,a Muslim ,owner of a stall ,insisted me to pay visit to a near by shrine headed by a priest ,known to be a direct descendant of Prophet Mohammed (be peace on him). Willy Nelly ,I located the shrine .I had to wait him for some time .He came out of his residence as per program at 1430 hours after the noon prayer. His personal assistant, a skeleton, with shabby attires on his poor body, informed about his arrival. The so called Sufi was young and handsome . Mostly women in black veils were in the queue. Many of them were carrying broken pieces of crockery, made of earth and bone china, some were leaning to whisper in to his ears to brief their ailments and carried some grains ,water bottles, oils eatable etc. I was watching the treatment .In return he was getting huge gifts. My turn came .He enquired my purpose of visit. Before I had said any thing, he said you are alright .He was wise and cleaver.
Nobody cheats you; you deserve cheating because of your folly which can not be treated. your folly is some body’s wisdom .It is some body knowledge. It is some body’s` fame. Similarly your poverty is due to some body’s` wealth. Your wealth is due to some body’s` poverty.
It is my experience that education and affluence have nothing to do with these irrational net works-faith in astrologers, witch crafts, evil spirits, and miracles by sadhus and saints and above all pinning hopes for healing from their hands. Our ignorance coupled with shaky blind and hollow faiths based on fictions and concocted stories, will keep on haunting our society. This has blocked our rational thinking whether we are Hindu or Muslim even in scientific era. . Alas! It is still going on .Such persons have no faith in them. They don’t know themselves and they fail to understand others also. It will be interesting to the readers to read a book authored by a Pakistani writer .The book is ……….written by a women author based on her personal participation as a member of the family of the custodian of the shrines.
