1. O Jalandhar!
I've fond memories of this place, thanks to my numerous visits to my friends, the Banerjees, during the late '80s. While the city was mad in its own way, with crowded roads and noisy markets - cowed down only to a certain extent by its then fight against militancy - it had a charm and the cantonment area had a quiet, dignified aura.
And from this city, comes a horror story of a government hospital, where a baby infant was pulled off its emergency treatment system just because its parents could not pay up Rs.200/- for the purpose! The little one died soon after.
I have just one question to ask of the hospital authorities which is, 'Would you've resorted to the same action had the patient been related to a VIP or if it was your own?' And for the departed soul's sake, do not make any insensitive statement even if you cannot own up your mistake and apologise.
2. And O Tinsukia!
A young man was picked up for questioning by the police, in the town of Tinsukia, a while back. Wonder what happened at the interrogation but the man had died while in custody. A TV grab showed the dead man's body being stuffed into a car's boot - presumably for postmortem - with smiling policeman as spectators to the gory sight!
If you can't respect life, there's nothing much left to say. But treat a lifeless body with dignity because that's the least one can offer and it doesn't involve costs!
Tailpiece.
An absolutely disgusting situation. What can one say about a country that does not respect its citizens? And worse still, where the mortal remains aren't respected at all? I hang my head in shame with a prayer to the departed.
Will the guilty be caught and punished? Are these the manifestations of the 'kaliyug'?
I've fond memories of this place, thanks to my numerous visits to my friends, the Banerjees, during the late '80s. While the city was mad in its own way, with crowded roads and noisy markets - cowed down only to a certain extent by its then fight against militancy - it had a charm and the cantonment area had a quiet, dignified aura.
And from this city, comes a horror story of a government hospital, where a baby infant was pulled off its emergency treatment system just because its parents could not pay up Rs.200/- for the purpose! The little one died soon after.
I have just one question to ask of the hospital authorities which is, 'Would you've resorted to the same action had the patient been related to a VIP or if it was your own?' And for the departed soul's sake, do not make any insensitive statement even if you cannot own up your mistake and apologise.
2. And O Tinsukia!
A young man was picked up for questioning by the police, in the town of Tinsukia, a while back. Wonder what happened at the interrogation but the man had died while in custody. A TV grab showed the dead man's body being stuffed into a car's boot - presumably for postmortem - with smiling policeman as spectators to the gory sight!
If you can't respect life, there's nothing much left to say. But treat a lifeless body with dignity because that's the least one can offer and it doesn't involve costs!
Tailpiece.
An absolutely disgusting situation. What can one say about a country that does not respect its citizens? And worse still, where the mortal remains aren't respected at all? I hang my head in shame with a prayer to the departed.
Will the guilty be caught and punished? Are these the manifestations of the 'kaliyug'?
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