Whr ru, Mr. Politician and Party??

If you are a regular driver in Bangalore, am sure by now you are made 'Christopher Columbus' - for exploring all possible shortcuts to commute across; being born & brought up here in Bangalore, am no different. To save a few minutes while driving every morning to College, I take this street connecting Srinigar to Gavipuram (area where the well-known Sri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple is located). Gavipuram is also called as Kempegowda Nagar and the street am talking about ends in front of the Kempegowda Swimming Pool entrance.

On 31st May 2013, Friday morning, it was yet another drive-away for me in this congested-yet-convenient street on my way to College. Usually no thing off-the-road succeeds to drag my attention while driving; it was an unusual thing that caught my sight instantly at the end of the street - a blocked manhole, which had no other go than overflowing its content along the street walk path. I slowed down a bit to see where it ended up flowing - after a course of about 20-25 meters, the gushing filth found its way into a nearby road-side channel - thanks to Newton & Gravity!

(click image to enlarge)

The scene got no better the next day - 01st Jun; a day after - 02nd Jun; later on 03rd Jun. Today being day five since this was happening, I stopped by. As there was a huge building coming up adjacent and a pretty high compound wall of a well-built apartment on the other side, none other than few pedestrians were found around to talk to. Just because of the fact that the residents are a few handsome yards away, it was totally unfair to leave this blocked manhole unattended even after five days. It would be a shock if the residents haven't reported this to BWSSB yet and wouldn't be a surprise if the driver of BWSSB Kambi Truck (which cleans the clogged manhole) retired from his service on 31st May 2013.

Just a month ago almost all political leaders contesting for the then Karnataka Assembly Elections, 2013 & party were busy moving along this very street, literally 'begging' for votes from the residents of Ward No. 155, Hanumanthanagar. Many a times, election canvass was a major threat to the regular commuters on-road. Every contestant promised of making our 'dwelling' a 'fancy heaven on earth', which practically could be a day-dream for many years to come by. Youth, getting involved in active politics was the highlight of this assembly elections in the Constituency. THE ANSWER TO BAD POLITICS IS GOOD POLITICS, NOT NO POLITICS - agreed; agreed. But, good politics should definitely not end with elections, right? When leaders can successfully mobilize their volunteers for canvassing during elections, why not actively mobilize them to periodically patrol around the constituency to address the grievances of general public even after elections??

Dengue, this season, has slowly been able to penalize many of their invaluable lives; Hon'ble Chief Minister is in serious search of ways to supply cheap liquor to the poor; the elected MLAs are too busy demolishing some interior walls of Vidhanasoudha to make their stay a comfortable & memorable one and officials have a lot of other social services to 'deal' with (like the recent KPSC recruitment racket). In midst of all these - pity the public, please..

days with Dengue..

"Excluding the fact that you have been tested positive for Dengue, do you have any other health issues?"

This question from Dr. Gopala Swamy H. C., to me, was a very tough one to take up. I think this is one thing that makes some people great - 'handling extremely serious things literally lighter'. At that moment, it really took a lot from me just to think about anything other than Dengue, for which I was declared positive.

"As you know, there is no treatment for any Viral infection; so is with Dengue Fever. Only way is to treat it symptomatically and avoid any further complications. It is a self-limiting disease" he continued, after picking the glimpse that I was taking a while to get tuned to his tempo.

"aaammmm.." following a gush of fresh oxygenated blood to my gray matter, I replied "Am unable to digest anything I eat.. everything just gets vomited".

"Do you have a history of Gastritis?".

"Yes, I do; a severe form of it though" - while I said this, it made me remember 'All Good Things Come With A Price'; a couple of years ago, Marriage came to me with Gastritis.

"Fine, lets stop your Antibiotics; will put you on Acera-D, which will act to reduce instances of Gastritis; Immunace Forte, which is just a vitalizer; and if you continue to record temperature, take Febrex 650mg tid. Drop by the Lab to let them draw your blood sample again and see you tomorrow morning along with the Report" - he handed over the prescription to me with a smile, which made me realize that every minute of his does count.

"Okay; Thank you Sir.." I slowly made my way towards the Lab.

It was a fortnight ago, on a lovely Sunday in a birthday party, I started feeling all the 206 bones and over 650 muscles in my body aching together; which wasn't very usual, I knew. A dose of Paracetamol and Diclofenac only could give temporary relief; but later that night I was all feverish with severe head-body aches, which made me almost shiver to death. Next day morning, I struggled to hold my balance and gait, walking to the Doctor next door; who straightaway put me on Cipro, which never gained me independence from illness while the Country witnessed yet another Independence Day. With constant fever ranging between 102 to 103^oF with unbearable aches all over, I had no other go than paying a visit to a nearby Multispecialty Hospital.

When it all just ended with another prescription for a higher Antibiotic, I couldn't keep any mum - "Sir.. could we go in and have the complete blood picture looked at?". "It might be too early to look into it but anyways, we shall.." said the Doctor. My suspicion proved true; the Platelet and Total Count were deep down the normal range! Without my consent, they immediately drew my blood sample for the Dengue NS1 Antigen Test; the assay ran positive. "You need to get hospitalized without any delay, we got to start off with Platelet Transfusion" Doctor said. It was then my Dad and Sister went to the Family Physician for a second opinion, who referred me to Dr. Gopala Swamy.

Next day morning, soon as I received the report from Lab, wound was seared with hot iron; the Platelet count had gone further down.

I knew Dr. Swamy was playing a mind game while he said "No worries, we shall somehow bring up the Platelet count".

"Sir, is it this the right time for Platelet Transfusion?", I was sounding all worried.

"Don't think so. I have seen patients recovering gradually with a Platelet count as low as 50 thousand; yours is in the 1 lakh range. Hospitalization and Platelet Transfusion is recommended only if your count drops down to 30 thousand and below. Until then be happy at home, take complete rest and try to eat well. Will put you on few shots of Steroid, which I have seen to improve Platelets; If someone asks you if Steroids are the treatment for Dengue Fever? NO. But, it works; how?  don't know", his confidence was backed up by huge experience.

Soon I was in the Emergency Ward for the first Steroid shot and rest of them were in queue to be shot into me by my Sister at home; this is why I feel one shouldn't have a Doctor sib.

I went on to find out what possibly would have gifted me this viral infection; the culprit was none other than the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. It was a relief to know that Dengue could spread only by the bite of a vector Aedes; pretty sure I wouldn't be spreading infection to others since hundreds of mosquitoes were clapped to death during my 'NO AEDES' campaign and it was well over seven initial days of infection, during which period one can possibly be a potential source of infection to fellow humans through bite of an Aedes. But there always was the danger of internal hemorrhage due to low Platelet count, leading to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock, which could possibly be lethal.

Following appropriate medical attention by Sister, continuous prayers of my Parents and unconditional care from my Wife, I started improving and my Platelet count was ticking up in the next five days. It was only then I gained some confidence and strength within to fight out Dengue. I was somehow lucky enough not to end up with severe complications of Dengue Fever. Today’s blood picture showed my Platelet count well up in the normal range, a good sign for sure.

"My next post would definitely be about 1947 - The Vegetarian Restaurant" was what I told my friends while having lunch there during our last meet. Am sure Raju & Vivek, who were expecting something from me about '1947' in this Blog would be taken by surprise on reading what really followed. It's been a month I went on leave at work, huge responsibility resting on me in that front as well. While many of my contacts are wondering into which Shell I managed to creep in lately, I slowly and steadily am fighting and counting off my days with Dengue..

Pick ur Partner - the scientific way!

Don't marry the person you think you can live with;

marry only the person you think you can't live without. 

~ James C. Dobson

'Greatest challenge in life is to pick a (nearly) perfect life partner' - My personal opinion. I do not expect everyone to accept this statement of mine! However, one's partner will be most influential in shaping up the post-marital life of an individual. Again, it's my personal thinking 'only'.

Now, let me not get into all the details as to how our parents and elders try and find a match to be our partner for life. Sometimes, individuals happen to face (rather, are forced to face?) huge difficulties in getting their (astrological) profile match with someone, just because they were born on some inauspicious day or time; if this happens with a girl.. God bless her! Such will be the torture imposed on her by our well-educated, modern society in the process of she getting married. Well, for being not responsible to be born on the presumably inauspicious day and time, how fair is it on our part to make him/her the victim of social prejudice? - is another debatable topic altogether.

While we try to match two individuals for compatibility, along with the age-old traditional custom of asking for the horoscope, how if we also request for a recent blood screening report? Did I sound nuts? Hmmm.. I strongly recommend that an would-be partner's blood should be tested, at least for:

1. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): We ain't getting married to make life a hell, right? It doesn't mean that we are suspecting someone by insisting their blood report for HIV as there are a lot many ways other than unprotected MPS (Multi-Partner Sex) through which one can get infected with HIV. Our intention is only to ensure that an would-be spouse is free from AIDS and not to correlate it for assessment of one's personality the other way round. It is proven that sex is one of the most important factors responsible for a successful married life, which would be impossible without a healthy partner.

2. Blood Group: In recent days, one of the most unpredictable things frequently happening in life is Medical Emergency. We can never say what happens to one, when! Along with the intensive technological development in the health care industry, there seems to be an equivalent increase of risk to life. Blood transfusion might be mandatory in certain emergencies, which cannot be catered to unless we know the blood group of an individual as blood group system in humans is highly convoluted. If we know the blood group of our spouse, we can act wise (anticipatory donor or recipient) in case of any future medical emergencies.

3. Rh Factor: Other important blood group system in humans, which is of utmost importance during blood transfusion and pregnancy. When mother is Rh-negative and father is Rh-positive, the chances of the baby being Rh-positive cannot be ruled out. There are every chances that an Rh-negative mother produce antibodies to destroy the RBCs of an Rh-positive fetus she is carrying in her womb at pregnancy, leading to abortion at worse. Key-factor is the husband to be Rh-negative; so, then, where should all the Rh-positive boys go?! Again, thanks to the advancement in medical technology - we can successfully monitor such pregnancy complications to birth, though the risks are quite high. Knowing mutual blood Rh Factors, it is more comfortable to plan for children after marriage.

Said that, lets see who can make one's ideal partner?

1. Who is free from HIV. Obviously.
2. A girl with blood group AB and a boy with blood group O (AB is universal recipient and O is universal donor and ours is a male-dominant society, so let males play the donor and females, recipient).
3. An Rh-positive girl and Rh-negative boy.

Before our marriage, when asked for compatibility, matching our horoscopes an astrologer predicted that me and my wife would have complications in second and subsequent pregnancies. Though his prediction can be substantiated based on the Rh-compatibility grounds, he had utterly failed in our case since my wife is Rh-positive and me Rh-negative. The astrologer had no time to study the Rh Factor and pregnancy complications, leave him alone please.

If you are yet to get married, be dare enough to ask for a blood report of your would-be partner. Do pick an Rh-negative boy if you are a girl and pick an Rh-positive girl if you are a boy. Happy married life, in advance!

Right to PPP

Image © Prashanth

Image © Mayank

Image © Mayank

Image © Mayank

Image © Mayank

Image © Rachel

right to PEE in PUBLIC PLACES

Should it be a Fundamental Right?

ಕತ್ತಲೆಗೆ ದೂಡಿತು ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಹಬ್ಬ

ಹಬ್ಬಗಳೆಂದರೆ ನಮಗೆಲ್ಲಾ ಎಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ; ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಬಂತೆಂದರೆ, ನಮ್ಮ ಸಡಗರ ಹೇಳತೀರದು. ಅಮ್ಮ ತಯಾರಿಸುವ ರುಚಿಕರ ಬಿಸಿ-ಬಿಸಿ ಕಜ್ಜಾಯದ ಸವಿ ಒಂದೆಡೆಯಾದರೆ, ಅಪ್ಪ ತಂದ ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳ ಅಬ್ಬರ ಮತ್ತೊಂದೆಡೆ; ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಗೂ ಆನಂದ, ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೂ ಉಲ್ಲಾಸ. ಹಬ್ಬವೆಂದರೆ ಇದಲ್ಲವೇ..!

ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳು ಹಿರಿಯರು-ಕಿರಿಯರು ಎಂಬ ಭೇದವಿಲ್ಲದೆ, ಎಲ್ಲರಲ್ಲೂ ಸಂತಸ-ಹರುಷ ತರುವಂಥವು. ಪಟಾಕಿ ಸಿಡಿಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮುವ Sulphur dioxide ಅನಿಲವು ವರ್ಷದ ಈ ಋತುವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಸರದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸಾಂಕ್ರಾಮಿಕ ರೋಗಗಳನ್ನು ಹರಡಬಹುದಾದ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆಗಳಂಥಹ ಅಪಾಯಕಾರಿ ಕೀಟಗಳನ್ನು ನಾಶಪದಿಸುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿದ ವಿಷಯ. ಆದರೆ, ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಅಗತ್ಯಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾದಲ್ಲಿ, Sulphur dioxide ಅನಿಲವು ಮಾನವರಾದ ನಮಗೂ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಅಪಾಯಕಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ಪರಿಣಮಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಸುದ್ದಿ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳು ಈ ವರ್ಷ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಪ್ರಯುಕ್ತದ ವಾಯು ಹಾಗೂ ಶಬ್ಧ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯಗಳು ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಎಂದು ಅಂಕಿ-ಅಂಶಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸಿದವು. ಇದು ಮೇಲ್ನೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸರಿಯೆನಿಸಿದರೂ ಸಹ, ಎಡೆಬಿಡದೆ ಸುರಿದ ಮಳೆಯಿಂದಾಗಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪಟಾಕಿ ಸಿಡಿಸುವವರ ಸಡಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಕಡಿವಾಣ ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದಂತೂ ಸತ್ಯ.

ಇವೆಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ, ಈ ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳು ತಂದೊಡ್ಡುವ ಗಂಡಾಂತರಗಳು ಅಷ್ಟಿಷ್ಟಲ್ಲ. ಕಳೆದ ವಾರ ಪಟಾಕಿ ಸಿಡಿತದಿಂದ ಕಣ್ಣಿಗೆ ಗಾಯಗಳಾಗಿ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಪಡೆದವರ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ 40 ಎಂದು ಮಿಂಟೋ ಕಣ್ಣಾಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಮೂಲಗಳು ತಿಳಿಸಿವೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ, ಮೂವರು ಪುಟ್ಟ ಬಾಲಕರ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಿದ್ದು, ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಗಳೂ ಇವೆ ಎಂದು ವೈದ್ಯರು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ದುರಾದೃಷ್ಟವೆಂದರೆ, ಈ ಮೂರೂ ಬಾಲಕರ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಊನಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದು  ಇತರರು ಸಿಡಿಸಿದ ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳು. ನಾವು ಎಷ್ಟೇ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಪಟಾಕಿ ಸಿಡಿಸಿದರೂ ಸಹ, ಅವುಗಳಿಂದ ಆಗಬಹುದಾದ ಅನಾಹುತಗಳು ಊಹಿಸಲಸಾಥ್ಯ. ಈ ಬಾಲಕರು ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡಲ್ಲಿ ಬೃ.ಬೆಂ.ಮ.ಪಾ. ಮೇಯರ್ ನಿಧಿಯಿಂದ ತಲಾ 50 ಸಾವಿರ ರುಪಾಯಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪರಿಹಾರ ಧನವಾಗಿ ನಿಡಲಾಗುವುದೆಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಿದ್ದರೂ ಸಹ, ಅದು ಕಮರಿಹೋದ ಬಾಳಿನ ಬೆಳಕನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಬೆಳಗಿಸಲಾರದೆಂಬುದು ವಾಸ್ತವ.

ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳಿಂದ ಇಂಥಹ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಅಮಾಯಕ ಜೀವಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು, ಕತ್ತಲೆಯನ್ನೇ ದಿಟ್ಟಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಜೀವನ ಸಾಗಿಸುವಂತಾಗಿರುವುದು ದುಃಖದ ಸಂಗತಿ. ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಈ ಹಬ್ಬವು ಹಲವರ ಬದುಕನ್ನು ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾಗಿ ಕತ್ತಲೆಗೆ ದೂಡಿರುವುದು ದುರಂತ. ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಹಬ್ಬಾಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಟಾಕಿಗಳು ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯವೇ? ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಂಡವರ ಬಾಳಿನ ಶೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಂತ್ವಾನ ಹೇಳುವವರ್ಯಾರು? ಕತ್ತಲಾವರಿಸಿದ ಬದುಕಿಗೆ ಬೆಳಕು ನೀಡುವವರ್ಯಾರು? ನಯನವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಕಳೆಗುಂದಿದ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ನಗುವಿನ ರೇಖೆ ಮೂಡಿಸುವವರ್ಯಾರು?

Madras Eye in Bengaluru

Conjunctivitis (Madras Eye)

If your eyes are itching a bit more than usual or if your eyes have turned a bit more red than usual or if there is more watery discharge from your eyes than usual or if your eyes look a little more swollen than usual - get alert; Madras Eye is now in Bengaluru!

Lately in the City, I have seen a few of them amongst the general public having typical signs of Madras Eye infection - redness, itchy & swollen eyes with quite a bit of discharge. A friend of mine has also managed to pick the infection from sources unknown and recovered.

Conjunctivitis, commonly called as 'Madras Eye' or 'Bangladesh Eye' or 'Pink Eye' or 'Red Eye' is actually an acute inflammatory condition of the thin outermost layer of the eye, involving the inner surface of the eyelids too. Causes being Viral, Bacterial and Allergic, Conjunctivitis is said to be milder with Bacterial origin - which seems to be prevalent in Bengaluru since the infection seems to be not so severe.

Infection spreads by air and by coming in direct contact with the discharge from an infected eye. If bound to travel in public transport vehicles, you never know in which corner the infection exists. Best way to avoid picking infection is to wash hands often and keep a fair distance away from an already infected eye. With symptoms of Conjunctivitis, do make some time to get an immediate appointment and visit your Family Physician without fail.

Belladonna, a Homeopathy Medicine, when taken 4 pills a day for 3 days is said to develop an immune response sufficient to protect us from getting infected. Belladonna (200 Potency, 30 size Globules) is available in HomeoWorld (Sampige Road, Malleshwaram, 100 meters ahead of Mantri Square towards your right) and 2 Drams pills would be sufficient for say a family of 5 members. Euphrasia (30 Potency, 30 size Globules) is said to be the treatment for Madras Eye in Homeopathy - consulting a Homeopath is, however, highly recommended.

Prevention is always better than Cure. Eyes are the most beautiful part of a Girl's face; Boys do need them to see the beauty! So, beware and protect your valuable Eyes; no matter you donate them or not, later.

Gobi Manchurian, love it?

Be it a posh 5-Star hotel or a road-side eatery, Gobi Manchurian - basically a Chinese preparation finds it's existence everywhere in Bengaluru. The weather is so chill, been raining all day yesterday; I just am planning to hang out to eat something hot, tasty and spicy - Gobi Manchurian, so very yummy!

Gobi Manchurian

Errrrr.. the sun (looking at the sky) hasn't yet sunk, the real pleasure of eating Gobi Manchurian is at its best during night (no idea, why?!). Let me share something with you while the sun slowly finds his way to the other side of the world.

A couple of weeks ago, on my way back from office, stuck in the City's usual congested traffic, I happen to see a bunch of fresh, delicious, clean, healthy-looking Cauliflower piled up in a vegetable shop. They were so clean and fresh-looking; I don't ever remember even Mom managing to clean them so good at kitchen! I was all tempted to buy a couple of them; but the (really) slow moving traffic kept me off.

Fresh Cauliflower

Very recently (may be a couple of days ago), when having dinner (that's the time I usually manage to watch Television), TV-9 anchored a program in which the secret of the 'freshness' of Cauliflower was unveiled - ENDOSULFAN.

Callisulfan

Endosulfan is a colorless organochloride compound, widely used as a pesticide (insecticide & acaricide) against whiteflys, aphids, leafhoppers, potato beetles and cabbage worms. Use of this poisonous compound is banned in most of the Countries across the world; but, India still remains the world's largest producer & largest user of Endosulfan. Manufactured by Hindustan Insecticides Ltd. (a Govt. of India Enterprise - www.hil.gov.in), the product is marketed with a statutory note to be sparingly used. Practically, farmers are reported to be using the pesticide enough to make sure that abundant residues are stuffed-in to the Cauliflower before harvesting. Adding to this, farmers are taking all the pain to dip each and every single harvested Cauliflower in a bucket-full of Endosulfan solution (huhhh!) and make it look absolutely clean before dumping them to the Market to get a HANDsome money in return.

Endosulfan is reported to be acutely neurotoxic to insects and mammals, including humans. It adversely affects the Central Nervous System (CNS), Cardiovascular, Respiratory systems and also impairs Hepatic functions. Its severity of action during Pregnancy is shocking, resulting in major physical abnormalities in the new born. It is powerful enough to affect even the animals, substantiating evidences speak the truth. Googling a bit about Endosulfan, I found its extensive use in Kasaragod district of Kerala from the late 70s to 2001 has resulted in a tragedy, that continues to exist even today.

Endosulfan Victims in Kasaragod (Kerala)

Before Govt. of India takes any crucial & firm decision, how many dumb animals are to be disabled? How many more of us should fall victims to this deadly poison?? How many innocent children are to be born disabled for life??? How far the residues of Endosulfan are to be added to the Environment in alarming quantities????

Well, forget all these debate. Now, its time for me to order a plate full of 'Endosulfan Gobi Munchurian'. Are you game for it as well?