Satyamev Jayate - My hue, cry and appeal to you

When I first saw the teaser video, it gave me goose-bumps. Honest! I even tweeted it as 'soul-stirring'.

The first episode was eagerly awaited. The topic - female foeticide. Aamir Khan hit the mark! What better way to start the show, especially when U.N is focusing on women's issues for 2012. This definitely speaks for the intensive research done for the program.

But what irked me was the audience's reaction. People were shocked and declared the show as an eye opener. But why? Don't people read the newspaper? The same incident of the high no. of cases of female foeticide in Rajasthan was reported a few months ago. There are hoardings around cities against the death of the female child. I have been aware of this issue ever since school.

Then came the rumors that Aamir is being paid 'x' crores for each episode, and that the emotions are fake. Aamir Khan, India's answer to Oprah Winfrey.

The angst was however, settled by my mother. She is a social worker with a women's human rights group. They had been petitioning against female foeticide, and Satyamev Jayate had helped their cause, with Aamir Khan bringing the issue into the limelight.

But then came a second blow with the episode on medical malpractices. I agree that a lot of malpractice does happen. There are so many doctors who have bought their degree. Haven't you heard about a famous minister's elder daughter being a doctor? India has probably the highest density of medical colleges. And yes, action must be taken against such practices. But Aamir, do you understand the psyche of your audience? In India, one rotten apple spoils the entire basket. And that's exactly what happened to the medical fraternity. My fellow doctors were attacked. Yes, what was highlighted in the show is true, but people need to be sensible and not ostracize the entire medical community.

Today morning, I caught the rerun of 'Persons with disabilities - we can fly'. Thankfully, before the start of the show, Aamir requested viewer's discretion (though no direct apology to doctors). Anyhow, the show opened beautifully with the story of Shreya. My heart just went out to her and moved me to tears. Sai's and Krishnakant's stories were so inspiring. Even normal-abled people are not as optimistic as these people. And what their parents have done for them is the greatest gift of all - not giving up on them and treating them as normal people. Why do we fear people with disabilities? What KK said is so right - we can't keep blaming the government all the time, it's also the public's responsibility. Mr. Jawed Abidi used to live in the same building as I do, and it was only due to him that a ramp was built for access to the building. Now others with difficulty in walking are so grateful for that ramp.

For this episode, I truly applaud Satyamev Jayate.

However, I have a dilemma - there are a lot of people who would love to fight for social causes, and even make it their career. But why are social organizations always not-for-profit? Why do NGOs always have to request for monetary help? Why can't social workers be paid MNC salaries for carrying out a public responsibility? (Aren't ministers social workers too, for the country?)

Is anyone listening? Satyamev Jayate is supposedly only airing 13 social causes (as the rumor goes), but I wish they would tackle this too - give business recognition to our NGOs. If the basic resources were soundly based, then these social issues could be better solicited.

The Common (Indian) Man


The big men play their games,
The small men cry in pain,
And in between, are us common people,
Who do nothing but complain.

Shambhuji's ideology of monogamy

Warning - The content of this article is explicit. Narrow-minded people, and aunts&uncles who read my blog, kindly refrain from going further; but if you cannot, please do not hold me accountable.

Everyone has a funny incident from their early years that sticks on for a lifetime - and this is the account of that story of mine.

When I was interning in Psychiatry, it was the routine of taking up a patient's case study and discussing it with the consultant along with the patient, so that it would be a learning and teaching experience together. There were four consultants in the department, and on that eventful day, I had to present my case to Shumbhuji. When you looked at him, you really couldn't imagine him as a psychiatrist, with his big fat belly and lazy eyes, and would rather pass him on as a shop-keeper instead. He seemed to be the disinterested one, often caught sleeping during important seminars.

My patient that day, was disinterested in sex with her husband, due to which he started having an affair. It turned out that she had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) wherein, she found sex a dirty act and needed to keep herself clean. Having reached the diagnosis, it was time for Shumbhuji to put on his show as the great counselor - आदमी का जो ____ होता है - I choked on the water I was drinking when I heard the word! I went red in the face and just wanted to crawl under the table. But Shumbhuji kept on about it's importance, why Lord Shiva's is worshiped, while my patient was completely enthralled as this sexual evolution of man was revealed to her!

His theory was that monogamy is based on the size of a man's tool (I am trying to be as decent as I can). Basis this, Man actually stands between the Chimpanzee and the Gorilla. (I wish I were artistic enough to actually draw that image, couldn't find it on the internet. But does this mean that the theory is wrong or no one bothered with the image? Anyhow, back to the story...) Chimpanzees have a smaller size and apparently do not stick to one female. The Gorilla on the other hand, has a much larger tool, and remains loyal to one female.

Hmm....and since then I have pondered on this theory, and discussed with girlfriends. But assumption were not enough, and I had to research whether this was true. Alas, I have no literature supporting this. The closest reference I got was from this blog - http://alexk2009.hubpages.com/hub/Humans-are-not-monogamous-by-nature - We relatively hairless apes share a common ancestor with Bonobo Apes, Chimpanzees and Gorillas. Gorillas have harems, Chimpanzees have a power based society that lacks monogamy, and Bonobo Apes are most similar to humans in their sexual behaviour, but unlike humans they resolve disputes with sex not violence. We Humans exhibit sexual behaviour that has aspects from each of our three Great Ape Siblings.


Ironically, I came across an article by Dr. Phil that says the exact opposite, which I am NOT going to share because there are other points over which some women might obsess over and ruin a perfectly good relationship.

So N, I have finally shared this story, and we will never truly know whether Shumbhuji's ideology holds true.

What do you say when you want to break someone's heart?

What do you say when you want to walk away from a relationship? Do you have the courage to end it right? Do you have the grit to shatter the other person's heart? And yet, you move on ahead, thinking that things would fall in place, that the other person would understand. But they never do.

I look back at my breakups, and I've never once have had an explanation. He would just move on and I would be left behind with the question - what went wrong? People leave but the questions still linger.

What do you really say when you want to break someone's heart?

Be the change

I am sure that most of us look at the plight of the poor around us, and wonder to ourselves – What can we do for them? We ignore the street children begging for money because we are told not to encourage such acts. True. By condemning begging, we hope that this would compel the beggars to work for their livelihood. But is this all we can do?

We look towards our NGOs to deal with such situations. But even they are ill-funded and are limited to the help that they can extend. Our Government is unreliable. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So ask yourself again – What can YOU do and what is it that you are doing for those in need?

For the past couple of months, I changed my route to work. I noticed a group of children sitting on the pavement, and an old woman teaching them. She had hung her small blackboard and ‘alphabet’ charts on the wiring near the road, and each child with a slate of their own. This was the school I passed by every day. Never was the teacher not there for her students.

Here was a woman who had set up shop at the side of the road and was teaching children all by herself.  I was amazed at her uniqueness, and so, I stopped on my way to work and spoke to her.

Gaurav Ma Snehlata Hooda runs this small पाठशाला for the slum children. She is 68 years old, retired from an administrative job and lives on a pension. And it is with this money that she takes care of these children.

How did she start? She’s been doing this since 7 years, and she does it because she just wants to.

The children didn’t go to her, she went to the children. She went around on foot looking for these children in slums, and in labour groups. She picks up these children from the streets and gathers them together to try and provide them with a better life. She tells her children that she wants them to study so that one day they will come riding on a bike to visit her. She wants these children to dream, and know that they can.

When I went there, I didn’t know what to expect. But I was greeted warmly by Gaurav Ma, and she gladly told me her story. She showed me several newspaper clipping and magazine articles about this endeavor of hers. People come, write stories about her, and yet she asks for nothing. All she asked me was to give her support.

Even the children were such a disciplined bunch. Not at all rowdy as expected. Infact, most of them were in uniform, with clean faces and combed hair. I was greeted with a very cheerful ‘Good morning Ma’am’, and was asked to come visit them again. :) Gaurav Ma has truly done a good job with these kids.

And so my friends, even I am not asking you for much. If something really bothers you, then put your foot out first and go ahead to make the change. Gaurav Ma is making the change that she wants to make.

For those of you who would like to visit Gaurav Ma, her small school is on the Gurgaon Golf Links road on the way to Huda Metro Station. Her contact no. is 9818391118.

Traffic Police - Love them or Hate them?

I was rushing to catch a movie the other day (yes, I was 'rushing' within my allowable limits and not merrily driving), when the Traffic Police Constable stopped me. I was driving at the extreme right of the road when I suddenly saw the Cop in the middle of the road, hailing me to stop.

"Oh boy" I say to myself, "Now what?"

My experiences with the Traffic Police have never been pleasant, and honest to God, they have been due to no fault of my own. (Yeah, yeah, I know what you must be thinking. It's always the other driver's fault. But honest!) Ok, on with my story.....but don't you think that Cops should be reprimanded from standing in the middle of the road? They could get killed.

So anyhow, I park my car onto the other side, pull down my window and politely ask him what's the matter. He tells me that I have committed a traffic violation by jumping a red light. "What??!!!"

There is a traffic light on that road, but it's a pedestrian crossing which till date has never been used by anyone to cross the road. Somehow, people would only like to cross the road at points away from the official crossing.

I use this road often, and know that the Traffic Police waits at the bend to catch the helpless motorists who ignore this light. (But how can they see whether the light is green or red from where they are?) Hence, I do stop at the crossing. But that day, I did not stop because the lights were definitely not red.

So I politely apologize to the Constable and tell him that I really didn't see a red light. But I guess he was in the mood to swindle someone and he found poor old me. Well, from past experience, I knew what he was up to and wasn't going to let him get his way. However, for some strange reason, my tongue refused to speak in my local hindi dialect, and instead, my strong pseudo-american accent comes on.

बस, अब तोह यह लड़की गयी. The Constable must have thought that I am some NRI chick driving a fancy car, knowing nothing of the dirty delhi ways.

I got out of the car, and standing 5'10" tall, I tried to intimidate the short, fat guy. But like they say here in Delhi - वोह भी चौरा हो गया. And we started arguing. He was firm on the point that I had committed a violation, and that I should just pay the fine. I usually don't carry and cash and showed him the empty wallet. Then he insisted on cutting me a चल्लान, but I refused to give him my license.

I then remembered to phone call my sister, who luckily for me, is a lawyer. The woman just gave it back to him! She threatened him with a case of harassment. Haahaa!!!!

By then, another constable nearby, joined to see what the ruckus was all about. Luckily, this one was open to reason. I told him that I understood the violation of jumping a red light, and that accidents can happen. Then I mentioned I am a doctor who has witnessed such cases at the hospital.

At the mere mention of 'Doctor', their attitude just changed. Constable no. 2 then cajoled my indicter to let me go.

My noble profession, which I no longer pursue, may have saved me, but my sister later did give me some useful tips that might save anyone of you some other day:

• Only a Head Constable can cut you a चल्लान 
• Maximum fine for a traffic violation is Rs. 200

But Dear Traffic Police, why do you stoop so low to set out to swindle people? There are so many heinous violations being committed, can't you please actively pursue them instead and keep our roads clear and safe?

Advertisement! Advertisement! Advertisement!

Vidya Balan’s famous dialougue from ‘The Dirty Picture’, when asked what drives a movie – Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment!

Ask a marketing strategist, what drives a movie? Promotions! Promotions! Promotions!

I used to have a classmate whose father was into the film industry and he once told me that if ever in a scene, you see a label of a product, it means that that product is one of the sponsors of the movie. And since then, I have always kept an eye for this small little detail. It’s a weird little fascination of mine, but I think it’s these small facts that make things so interesting.

And since this piece of information was shared with me, it has become evident to me that our famous actors appear more frequently in advertisements even if you barely see them acting in a film once in a year. Infact, it seems that our actors rake in a better income by endorsing products rather than acting in ‘GOOD’ films.

I read an article in OPEN Magazine, wherein an unknown ad professional confesses that the numerous Indian award functions are just set up to recognize/celebrate their favorite actors for their support. 

Now take for example our latest Shahrukh Khan movies – Ra-One and Don 2. Even though Ra-One was just released towards the end of 2011, and despite the numerous ‘extremely bad reviews’ that I have heard, it has been nominated as one of the best films and obviously Shahrukh for best actor. Similarly, for Don 2. Have you even seen the movie? (I usually avoid Shahrukh Khan’s movies but had to humor a friend’s request for this one). There isn’t a plot in the movie! All I could make out were the numerous brand promotions – the cars, watches, tourism….damn, it just felt like a very long ad film!!

And so it goes for the movies. However, it seems that this trend is even catching up on our blogging and micro-blogging sites…..One of the blogs that I follow, did a feature on ‘Flipkart’. The article was quite interesting in itself, but what I’ve noticed is that since then, advertisements from Flipkart are mainly featured on that blog. For those of you who do blog, it is known that a little side money is made by featuring advertisements through AdSense, and so far, I’ve only earned $0.26. So if I recommend a product that I use, would it contribute monetarily to my blog? Hmmm……I do use Snapdeal a lot. Anyone listening? ;)

Progesterone vs. Testosterone

Today, I write for a personal health cause – Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD). But the reason I’ve encroached upon this is due to what my Ultrasonologist said to me this morning – "You modern women are trying to become men, and in the process your progesterone levels are going down while your testosterone levels are going up."

The doctors to whom I go to are obviously much older to me, and to them, I am the modern generation. Ever since I presented with symptoms of PCOD, the only true cure that they tell me is – get married and have a baby!

Marriage? Baby? Really?!! I don’t think I am ready for it yet. There is still so much more that I strive for. I need a better job profile; I need to earn better money. I am swallowed in an eternal rat race which seems impossible to leave. If I stop even for a minute, I shall be trampled down. And what guarantee do I have that after marriage I would be able to sustain my finances and lead the same lifestyle as I do now?

I can hear my consciousness say – ‘we poor souls who fail in the exuberance of personal accord, encompass ourselves in the false comforts of wealth.’ (Sigh!)

It is 2012…we live fast paced lives where everything is achieved at the touch of a button. We work hard to acquire social treasures, but at what cost? I am brought to mind what Dalai Lama said when asked what surprised him most about humanity – "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Ladies, this is especially for you. Are we ready to put down our aggressive independence? Is macho-ism so essential for our existence? We know that we are as good as men, but to what extent do we need to keep proving it?

I am also sharing some medical facts about PCOD which is a good to know since it is becoming a prevalent lifestyle disease. The cause is not yet known. Since it tends to run in families, it is a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors, stress being one of the predominant ones.

http://women.webmd.com/pcos-directory

PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a common hormonal disorder in women that with interferes with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries, or ovulation. It is the most common cause of infertility among women. PCOS occurs when a woman's body overproduces sex hormones, called androgens (= male hormones). The hormone imbalance prevents fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries from breaking open and releasing mature eggs. The fluid-filled sacs bunch together, causing many tiny cysts. Symptoms of PCOS include missed periods, abnormal facial and body hair growth, acne, and weight gain. PCOS may run in families.

Symptoms

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms tend to start gradually. Often, hormone changes that lead to PCOS start in the early teens, after the first menstrual period. Symptoms may be especially noticeable after a weight gain.

With PCOS, you may have only a few symptoms or many symptoms. It is common for PCOS symptoms to be mistaken for other medical problems.

Early symptoms
Early symptoms of PCOS include:

• Few or no menstrual periods. This can range from less than nine menstrual cycles in a year (more than 35 days between cycles) to no menstrual periods. Some women with PCOS have regular periods but are not ovulating every month. This means that their ovaries are not releasing an egg each month.
• Heavy, irregular vaginal bleeding. About 30% of women with PCOS have this symptom.
• Hair loss from the scalp and hair growth (hirsutism) on the face, chest, back, stomach, thumbs, or toes.
• Acne and oily skin, caused by high androgen levels.
• Depression or mood swings.

Living with PCOS symptoms can affect your sense of well-being, sexual satisfaction, and overall quality of life. This too can lead to depression.

Gradual symptoms
PCOS symptoms that may develop gradually include:

• Weight gain or upper body obesity (more around the abdomen than the hips). This is linked to high androgen levels.
• Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair (alopecia). This is linked to high androgen levels.
• Repeat miscarriages. The cause for this is not known. These miscarriages may be linked to high insulin levels, delayed ovulation, or other problems such as the quality of the egg or how the egg attaches to the uterus.
• Inability to become pregnant (infertility). This is because the ovaries are not releasing an egg (not ovulating).
• Symptoms of too much insulin (hyperinsulinemia) and insulin resistance, which can include upper body weight gain and skin changes, such as skin tags or dark, velvety skin patches under the arm, on the neck, or in the groin and genital area.
• Breathing problems while sleeping (obstructive sleep apnea). This is linked to both obesity and insulin resistance.

High blood pressure may be more common in women who have PCOS, especially if they are very overweight. Your doctor will check your blood pressure.

The most common reasons that first bring women with PCOS to a doctor include:

• Menstrual problems.
• Male-type hair growth (hirsutism) on the face and body.
• Infertility.
• Weight gain or upper body obesity.

Treatment Overview
The first step in managing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking. This is a medical treatment for PCOS, not just a lifestyle choice. Additional treatments depend on your symptoms and whether you are planning a pregnancy. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, not smoking, and weight control are all important parts of treatment for PCOS. Sometimes, also using a medicine to balance hormones is helpful.

There is no cure for PCOS, but controlling it lowers your PCOS risks of infertility, miscarriages, diabetes, heart disease, and uterine cancer.

Initial treatment

• If you are overweight, a small amount of weight loss is likely to help balance your hormones and start up your menstrual cycle and ovulation. Use regular exercise and a healthy weight-loss diet as your first big treatment step. This is especially important if you're planning a pregnancy.
• If you smoke, consider quitting. Women who smoke have higher levels of androgens than women who don't smoke. Smoking also increases your risk of heart disease.
• If you are planning a pregnancy and weight loss doesn't improve your fertility, your doctor may suggest a medicine that helps lower insulin. With weight loss, this can improve your chances of ovulation and pregnancy. Fertility drug treatment may also help start ovulation.
• If you are not planning a pregnancy, you can also use hormone therapy to help control your ovary hormones. To correct menstrual cycle problems, birth control hormones keep your endometrial lining from building up for too long. This is what prevents uterine cancer. Hormone therapy can also help with male-type hair growth and acne. Birth control pills, patches, or vaginal rings are prescribed for hormone therapy. Androgen-lowering spironolactone (Aldactone) is often used with estrogen-progestin birth control pills. This helps with hair loss, acne, and male-pattern hair growth on the face and body (hirsutism).

Taking hormones does not help with heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes risks. This is why exercise and a healthy diet are a key part of your treatment.