Role model - aye or nay?

Recently at an interview, I was asked who my role model was. I didn't even have to think for two seconds to answer that question. Pat came my reply, so spontaneously that spontaneity may be put to shame. "When I was younger, I always looked up to my sister. So much of what she did, I tried to emulate in my own life." I distinctly remember being called her 'baala' (tail in Kannada) by all our common road friends because I would do everything she did and tag along everywhere like a little poodle.

While every bit of it is true, I am not sure if I really have a role model in my life at this point of time. Sure, I have dreams and I am working hard to inch closer but I think I mostly have my own idea of how to get there. Although I've heard and read a lot of inspiring stories, there is no one person I want to emulate at this point of time. I want to mostly focus on carving my own niche with all the good traits I've imbibed from various people and hopefully be a role model to someone who is in need of one.

As for my sister, growing up made me realize that we are poles apart in terms of personality. She likes cleaning (I hate it). I like cooking although my skills are questionable! (She isn't as fond of it)
She likes lazing around and I like my life outdoors. I still do look up to her for all the amazing and hard decisions she has been making in life. However, I believe I myself have grown immensely with all the experiences I've had and created an identity of my own. So much so that I am her venting machine. (Clearly my sense of humor hasn't grown yet) Call me her spine now, thank you ;) or maybe wings? 

Antibiotic Resistance - The New Age Pandemic

Can you imagine every person with a pink eye dying? Sounds ridiculously extreme, doesn't it? This is something our prospective children are staring at if the current trends progress. Antibiotic resistance is the new age pandemic and it is very real! Antibiotic resistance is spreading like wildfire, faster than an average man can comprehend. We've been reading innumerable articles on antibiotic resistance and how the future is bleak especially because organisms are mutating at a rate faster than the discovery of new antibiotics. The question however is, what are we doing about it?

A day ago, I decided to buy some antibiotics and tretinoin for my pustular acne that seems to have a mind of its own for the last month. (call it stress!) I was really appalled at how easily drugs are dispensed at pharmacies without a prescription. Of course, he had no idea that I was a doctor but gave me the tablets, nonetheless. The medications I bought need to be used extremely cautiously in a woman of child bearing age. Western countries do not dispense these medications without contraceptives because of the high teratogenic potential associated with them. Two decades ago, I wouldn't think its a big deal in our country. With the number of sexually active adolescents and young adults trending upwards, this awareness is paramount. Naturally, no instructions were given by the pharmacist. The only thing that was given was the tablet strips in the numbers that I asked them for. 

Our mindsets are such that we stop using antibiotics that are prescribed to us the minute we start feeling better. As doctors prescribing antibiotics, it is our most important responsibility to stress on the need to complete a course of antibiotics given because failing to do so, is leading to rampant resistance. 

We are facing situations where we have nothing to offer patients, not because they are suffering from terminal illnesses, such as a form of cancer, but even when they present with what should be curable infections due to pan resistanct strains of microorganisms that have forayed into Darwin's world. When asked, a forty five year old lady in the neighborhood admitted that she popped amoxicillin when she had a sore throat. Amoxicillin today is a household name in India. A little knowledge, however, is dangerous. Popping antibiotics for viral illnesses - against which these drugs are ineffective, has become an emerging trend. Self medicating is apparently the way these days due to sky rocketing health care visits. From medical students to health care personnel other than doctors, (nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists etc) to the common man, everyone think they've read and learnt enough to treat themselves, unfortunately.

Patients prefer doctors who can provide instant cure. Doctor shopping is therefore a common entity these days. Practice pressures lead even doctors to prescribe unwanted antibiotics more often than not without procuring a culture sensitivity test. 

For a country that wants to climb the ladders of global ranking, we should have more stringent and uniform rules in place when it comes to dispensing medications. Banning over the counter antibiotics has checked spreading resistance in the west. For starters, our health ministry should try and implement it. For a country that is not doing any cutting edge biotechnological research, it's our duty as citizens to atleast preserve what we have if we can't create something new. 

The best solution however is prevention (which is better than cure!). Build your immunity and ward off infections by adopting healthy lifestyles. Preachy, no doubt but practical.

Mysterious marvel in Malleshwaram

I've never been one to write about temples or the likes. This one particular temple has absolutely entrapped my rapt attention. I happened to visit a temple in Malleshwaram last evening - Dakshina Mukha Nandeeshwara temple - a temple that was discovered at the end of the last century. Yes, you read right. Sources say that this marvel was discovered in the late 90s.

According to residents living nearby, the temple was completely buried and the land above it was a flat stretch. "Three years ago, a politician tried to sell this plot. But people objected on the grounds that the land should first be dug through to see if they could find something," says the priest, Ravi Shankar Bhatt. Due to mounting pressure from the locals, they got the land excavated. True to their intuitions, an entire temple was found beneath this land. It was in perfect condition, preserved by the thick layers of sand. The preserved structures included the deity, stone steps, pillars and kalyani (pond) when found. A few leaks they've had to repair. Carbon dating estimates the temple to be 7000 years old. This could possibly make it the oldest temple around. It could also mean history requiring reevaluation. Of course, nobody has yet confirmed these hypotheses.

This temple is built in two levels of sorts. While one level has the bull or Nandi (shiva's vehicle), the bottom level has a linga right underneath. Another staggering aspect is that when they discovered this temple, they found water flowing out from the mouth of the bull onto the deity. The source of this water is still a mystery. A kalyani right in front of the main shrine serves as a beautiful reminder of the architectural ingenuity of our forefathers. It is now home to over two dozen turtles and different kinds of fishes.

While I am not sure if I believe in the existence of God, I surely believe that temples are an unparalleled source of positive energy. You rarely come out of a temple feeling agitated. The temple folks haven't prohibited photography probably to promote the existence of this temple that people know so little about. Shrouded in mystery, this temple attracts a sizable population of devotees from near and far.

I recommend everyone around to go visit this place once, for in our own backyard lies a historical treasure which was once buried in the sands of time. 

Mein aur meri happy wala Maggie *

I spend a lot of time on the go these days. Yet it never occurred to me to pen down my myriad thoughts during these hours. But today, for a reason I cannot confess publicly, I decided to share my experience with Maggie noodles 

For many of us Maggie simply means childhood. The innumerable Saturday mornings spent in slurping strings of noodles, one longer than the other is a vivid memory. I can confidently say that for the kids born in the 80s and 90s, Maggie noodles extended into their adulthood. 

Davangere, a small college town has a number of these tiny noodle outlets attracting all kind of people. The most surprising one so far has been the 60yr old man who was enjoying his plate of fried Maggie, a delectable alternative to the usual one. It's not surprising that people haven't received the ban too well. I believe more than Maggie itself, it's the million memories and the nostalgia associated with it that would make it so hard for people like me to give up on it. 

Maggie is particularly special for me because friendships were formed over them. One of the most important person in my college years became friends with me at a Maggie joint. That memory would go down as my "before sunrise" moment - one of the most spontaneous ones in my life. Classes were bunked just to squeeze in a bowl of piping hot Maggie noodles. 

The ban on Maggie, albeit temporary, is so symbolic for me. The timing couldn't have been more right. It's almost like the end of an Era. It's time to let go of something that was meant to only get me through college.

* I hadn't paid attention to the spelling of Maggi ever until a friend most kindly pointed it out recently.

Food for thought

Back in the days when people had 6-8 children, you could expect people to have atleast 1 or 2 boys who would look after their parents when they grew older. With the concept of "hum do humaare do", the odds are quite high to have 2 daughters as is the case of my family.

When you're young, there are dreams that you weave for yourself. You never take into account the fact that your parents need you as they grow older. You build dreams without them. But it really only hits you when they fall sick or grow weaker that its a choice to make - dreams against your ageing parents who have helped you realise a part of it.

My favourite quote as a teenager was "If its worth a dream, its not worth a compromise" (Copied from my sister as usual). Starting to realise that compromises are necessary to keep your support system as close to you as possible. I have always wanted to travel the world and practice medicine in different corners of the world. I have even taken a step towards realising that dream. 2 months ago, my father fell sick and my mother was so clueless and lost. I took charge and got things back on track. That was the first time it hit me that I cannot afford to be in another country while my parents are here given that my sister is away studying as well. Today I was at a store nearby when I got a call from my father who was at work. He sounded frantic as he told me that Amma was stuck at some place and couldn't walk because of her failing knees. Thankfully, I was close enough to rush back to find her and get her back home.

I shudder as I sit here and think of what could have happened if I was some place else.

My parents have always encouraged me to go live my life. They've sacrificed a lot to help me realise my dreams step by step. Do I say goodbye to that? Or do I ignore the fact that my parents are ageing and need me by their side. They're my life. There is also no denying that a man without dreams is like a bird without wings. What cruel irony.

Is there middle ground that could make us all happy? For, I live to please.  

Somewhere I belong

It's been over a month since I quit my job. Exams, higher studies and all that. But my ties with my old work place and some of the wonderful people I've met there have stood rooted. I am still in touch with a few patients here and there who send me loving "miss you" messages that make my day.

One of my patient's daughter put up a Facebook status asking for financial help. They were never poor. They weren't rich either. They got by. It has somehow affected me deeply. Does cancer push someone to such a place? I cannot even imagine what state they must be in.

Every single day, I would see dozens of patients who were struggling. Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially. They were struggling to come to terms with reality. To understand that some of them didn't have very long to live. It's gut wrenching to live in such kind of fear. The fear of knowing that the end is approaching. I saw so many people who desperately wanted to live longer. This is precisely why the suicide of a 15 year old girl from my sister school angered me. It made me so very angry to know that while there are people who are dying to live, there were people living to die. Life is a gift that is too damn precious to throw away. Not every soul is blessed with a human life. And those who are, shouldn't throw it away willingly. If you want to die, come and visit a cancer Center. Your life may fall into perspective.

In the face of adversity, people have stood tall. I'll forever remember Mrs V who told me I was like her daughter and if I believe she can pull through, she believes the same. I won't ever forget Mrs Y who would ask me to hold her hand and come see her every now and then. She loved coming to our hospital because she found us warm. I vividly remember standing and talking to Mrs A. I saw something amiss. Unmistakably, it was the sparkle in her eyes.

We can deny angels exist, convince ourselves they can't be real. But they show up anyway, at strange places and at strange times. They can speak through any character we can imagine. They'll shout through demons if they have to. Daring us, challenging us to fight.