Patients’ Rights Day
Anamika Ray, a media academician, a mother of a 5 years old girl was 36 when she died at a Delhi hospital on 19 July 2015. She had been admitted for a simple operation. It got complicated and she was shifted to another hospital where she breathed her last. A family got shattered. A brilliant career (by that that she had completed her doctorate and had made a name as a translator of fiction from Bengali to Assamese and vice versa) came to an abrupt halt because of what her husband alleged as ‘medical negligence’- a charge later proved and admitted by Delhi Medical Council. Anamika’s is not a lone case. A report says in India thousands die or suffer permanent damage because of medical negligence. Patients are looted and swindled at every step of the treatment. Read the cover story of Outlook June 19, 2017 issue to know more about the scale and modus operendi.
Most of us bear the loss and sit silently hoping someday somebody will do something about it. Or, probably the government will take notice.
Dr. Ankuran Dutta, her husband decided to fight back on behalf of all the patients. He formed a trust Dr. Anamika Ray Memorial Trust and started a campaign for patients’’ rights and against ‘medical terrorism’. The trust decided to observe June 25, Anaika’s birthday as Patients’ Rights Day.
As a patients we have certain rights, say for example- the right to get necessary information about our medical situation, expected treatment costs, expected outcome, redressal process and our medical record within 72 hours. We must be aware of our rights and exercise that right. Often we are brow bitten or asked to rely upon the doctors. It is ok to believe but it is not wise to get cheated. With the big hospitals out to make money, they want the patients to spend more money and go for expensive procedures when cheaper and better alternatives are available.
People must be aware of their rights and there needs to be a transparent redressal system. The Trust is doing its bit for that. To know about the campaign, please visit: http;//smt.armt.in
Rath Yatra
Today, 25 June 2017 happens to be Asada Sukla Dwitiya. On this day the presiding deity of Shreemandira, Puri, Lord Jagannath along with Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are taken on three colourful chariots to their maternal aunt’s home- Sri Gundicha Temple. This festival is known as Rath Yatra.
Rath Yatra is celebrated in many places in India and abroad. The Rath Yatra at Mahesh, West Bengal is quite well-known.
However, Rath Yatra at Puri, a temple town in Odisha, one of the four holy pitha of the Hindus is one of the grandest spectacles on the earth. Full of drama and panoply of rituals and ceremonies, Rath Yatra is rooted in ancient traditions, myths and legends. It embodies the most colorful elements of the classical and folk cultures of the Indian subcontinent and the Odisha region.
One interesting feature about Rath Yatra at Puri is: here the presiding deities of the temple are taken out on a procession. In many temples deities are taken out in procession. But in few temples the presiding deities are taken out. Usually a representative of the presiding deity is taken out on the procession. But here at Puri and in most of the Jagannath Temples across the world- the presiding deities are taken out. This has a symbolic significance. It is as if the deities want to mingle with the masses as much as the masses want to have a darshan of the Lord. It signifies the importance of the masses in creating their God. The God is as much the creation of its devotees as the devotees are of Him.
Rath Yatra
There have been several books on Lord Jagannath and Rath Yatra. Recently Subas Pani, the former Chief Secretary of Odisha, a well-known scholar on Jagannath philosophy has published a book titled Rath Yatra. Pani did his PhD on Jayadeva’s Geetagovinda. He has authored several books on the culture and heritage of Odisha.
Published by Niyogi Books, this 226 page, well illustrated book with beautiful photographs of the grand spectacle is a comprehensive account of Rath Yatra at Puri. It provides the background of the origin of Lord Jagannath, who has strong links with the heritage of the aborigine tribes. Rich in detail, the book covers a wide span including the legends surrounding the temple, the unique architectural style of the temple complex, the elaborate preparatory summer festivals leading up to the main festival and the varied rituals associated with making of the chariots and the actual Yatra or the journey.
Read this if you want to know about Rath Yatra, or just browse the beautiful photographs of one of the grandest spectacle on earth.
Tailpiece 1 Motivational Message of the Year
If you do not love your job… take a home loan. You will start loving it.
Take another loan, you will start loving your boss as well.
Get married… you will start loving your office as well.
(Courtesy: Social Media forward)
Tailpiece 2 Yoga Tips
Whatever your wife says, move your head up and down twice. This is the best yoga. This will not only reduce your insomnia, irritability, restlessness and keep your blood-pressure normal but also keep you content. This is the key to a happy life.
Warning: don’t ever move your head sidewise. That could be dangerous for your health.
Mrinal Chatterjee, a journalist turned media academician lives on the valley of Paniohala Hills at Dhenkanal, Odisha. He also writes fiction.
Comments are closed.