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"People are my gods.
I can sacrifice my life for them" .... so says hi-tech Chief Minister,
Chandrababu Naidu.
We keep listening to
these words repeatedly. Each time there is an election, THESE leaders would
sacrifice their lives !! How long would this farcical drama of hollow promises
last ?
THESE.... who, for a
small finger wound, would appear in newspaper photoes for 10 days.
THESE ... who, if the
nose is bloodied with a stone thrown by an irate victim, would carry a huge
bandage crying hoarse for weeks.
THESE ... will
supposedly lay down their lives for the masses !!
* * *
But there are some
people, really there, in contemporary life, who actually sacrifice their lives.
Without aspiring for notes, votes or accolades, with deep concern for the
downtrodden being crushed under society’s friction. They give their everything
for the dawn of a new society. Though their names are not even known to anybody,
they fight in the light of their conviction, move with unshakable
self-confidence and shed their blood in the path of struggle. It was a recent
personal experience that opened my eyes to this truth.
We keep reading in
the newspapers about some people variously described as extremists, terrorists,
and blood-thirsty people who, in the mask of revolution, perpetrate violence to
serve their economic and self-interests. Ravinder was one such person belonging
to a group, in this way. Our acquaintance took place under unexpected
circumstances.
When a friend
requested me to give medical assistance for a few days to a person, who had a
recent orthopedic operation following a hand injury, I agreed. That was how
Ravinder came under my supervision. He had had a major surgery and had 6 to 7
bottles of blood transfused into his body. He had a small girl companion to
assist him. The hand bone had broken into three pieces at the elbow. The two
wrist bones, below the elbow was crushed into innumerable splinters. Doctors
rearranged all the bones and using steel rods, needles and wires, tied the hand
and put it in a steel cast of an ‘external fixator’. Covering the hand casually
with a towel, how bravely he approached me! No pain was visible on his face…only
some tiredness. Actually, he had a fever of 102 degrees centigrade. There were
bloodstains under the covering cloth. A little puss here and there... In my
experience, another patient in his condition would have cried for half-an-hour
screaming about his pain and plead for relief and demand a handful of pills. But
Ravinder…if you ask him if the pain is more today, he would just smile and say,
he could bear it. If you say, "all the dressings have to be changed this
morning…may be unbearable…shall I give you anesthesia?" he would say,
"why? You first do the dressing. If it is painful, I will take a pill". He
not only bore the pain, but never for once felt sorrow that it happened at such
a young age. Nor was there concern about what would happen to his hand. He was
not despondent about the possibility of permanent disability. What courage!
* * *
"Listen! Today, the
doctor will remove some steel pins from the hand. But the bones have not yet
completely healed. But if the elbow has to avoid becoming stiff, these pins will
have to be taken out and you need to do some exercises. It will be very painful.
Can you do it. Or should we wait for a few more days?"
"Let us begin right
away, doctor! I can bear any amount of pain. But my hand must come under
control...as soon as possible…"
"Why such haste?
These things should be done step-by-step."
"I don’t have that
much time with me doctor! How long can I stay at hospital reading books without
any work? I have to reach the field immediately. How long will it take, doctor?
Please relieve me as soon as possible."
* * *
"Ravinder! All the
external stitches have been removed. But a pin set inside has protruded out.
Some screws have also become loose due to lack of strength in the splintered
bone. So, we will have to remove these and reset the bone with a cement
plaster.."
"It is already two
months, doctor! How many more?" a little impatience…but no disrespect…no
anxiety…no worry…just that the hand was not healing as quickly as hoped for…just
disappointment that his activities had to be put aside. "When will the cement
plaster be removed? How much time will it take to perform exercises on a full
scale?"
"You see Ravinder!
Your wound and the bullet-smashed elbow is not going to come under control so
easily. You can’t do any work with that hand for at least 6 months. But do not
be downhearted! We will remove all the plasters after one month. After that it
depends on your physiotherapy and the more resolute you are in exercise, quicker
will be the healing. Medicines can’t achieve much. Use mental strength in your
exercises."
* * *
"By now all the bones
and pieces have stuck to each other and movement has become nearly impossible.
Famous doctors have seen your x-rays and said that the elbow has become immobile
and would have to be replaced", I told him one day.
"Please tell me the
details, doctor! I need to know, in full, about this treatment if I have to plan
my future". First time…a little concern.
"Replacing the elbow
and fixing an artificial valve involves very expensive surgery. Such operations
are done rarely. Very few doctors in our state are capable of performing it. Let
us see that later! For the time being we will remove all the bandages and wires.
You must exercise your elbow for three hours everyday. May be, about 30o of
movement can be achieved in three months…there is no other method of improving.
You need to put in as much hard work as the rest your muscles received in these
last few months."
"Yes sir! I will try
my best. I will use this hand again in the people’s war. I would be useless if I
can’t operate a gun…this arm will be a waste if I can’t aim at the enemy. See
you again, doctor", Ravinder took leave.
I was surprised and
immersed in thought, "what is with this guy? He says his hand is required to
wage people’s war!"
* * *
Ravinder returned
exactly after 45 days, on dot as required…happy…smiling…with satisfaction of
having met his goal…
"Thank you very much
doctor", he entered the room.
"Why thanks?" I
examined the hand. I was stunned. He was already able to use his elbow with a
movement of about 45-50o. His grip was firm.
"I am carrying out
rifle practice. If another 20o of movement can be managed, I can regain the aim
I had earlier. My life will be back in the old groove…I can live for the
people", he said with great pride.
"Your resoluteness
has entered you elbow, my friend! It is your determination and concentration,
which made the hand, written off by experts as irreparable, function again in
this manner. Now I am full of confidence…you will start your battle in another
four months."
It was an act of
bravery in service of the people…a reconstruction that was exciting….mocking the
accident that caused it.
After that period
expired, that youth took the path of the forest…moved on with his weapon. But I
never met him again. After about two months, the same friend who first brought
Ravinder to me came and told me. "Your patient died in an encounter, sir! He
fell while fighting with the special weapon he made himself to suit his elbow
movement. See if you can recognize him", he showed the newspaper. After
reading this I was plunged into gloomy surprise.
This young man, who
stayed with me for such a long time, was a big leader…a political leader with
huge responsibilities. Even by mistake he did not betray his identity. Such a
high-up in the party, but was so humble. What a simple life he led? I thought he
was an ordinary activist. Now that I think, how can he be an ordinary person
when he had such self-confidence, mental strength and iron discipline? Careful
speech, mixing so well with the hospital staff, never making adverse comments
against anybody, adjusting himself to small inconveniences without ever
complaining — what excellent qualities he had! Unless rigorously trained and
disciplined, how could anybody behave like that?
Two tears of emotion
rolled down.
For whom did these
Ravinders, of lofty ideals and exemplary practice, sacrifice their lives? For
whom?
Isn’t sacrifice too
small a word for this history in the making?
The song of
liberation,
The raised weapon
that cannot be lowered,
The ray piercing the
darkness of exploitation,
That is Ravinder!
* * *
"I will give my life for people"
..... CM’s statement. I threw down the newspaper.
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