“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”― Steve Maraboli
After two years of pandemics and virtual encounters, it was a regular technical event. People were cautious, they had their masks on and the sanitisers were available at regular halts. The event began with 500 people socially distanced inside an air-conditioned hall. Our guests of honour are usually people from the industry, but today we saw a young officer in Khaki. He appeared energetic and represented the Maharashtra Police. In the program’s course, the young officer was invited to the stage to speak a few words about the occasion.
He began by saying, ‘When I was invited to this event to address you all, I asked your Principal, Sir, what would you like me to speak about since I am not associated with Engineering?’
He said, ‘Motivate the students towards doing their best in life’
I felt that to inspire and persuade another person, it was best to speak in their native language.
There was tremendous applause for the thought.
He began in Marathi saying, ‘Several years ago, I sought admission into engineering, I obtained admission into Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering Pune, but I wasn’t interested in pursuing the course. I was then admitted to the government college for Mechanical Engineering, but left the course at the end of the day. It was not my cup of tea. I wanted to contribute to society through my profession as a doctor, so I took the seat as a meritorious candidate in the government medical college.
Life was busy and I was a quick learner. After completing the course I worked as an intern but I was interested in pursuing higher education. I looked forward to a specialisation in Medicine. I tried to be meritorious in a rather competitive world but failed to obtain a scholarship. However, I got a paid seat in the MD, Doctor of Medicine and my parents supported the cause. My father was a peon in a government office with numerous financial constraints yet he funded my course.
The financial constraints and parental love were great motivators to complete the course successfully and begin working as a Doctor.
He then added, ‘All these are very easy to associate with anyone’s life but there are turbulent times that actually make one grow. Let me share a few more incidents that will perhaps help you in some corner of life’.
With the completion of the medical course, I began working enthusiastically for a local hospital. On one of those days, I found low strength in my right hand and leg. I moved them with difficulty but they were mobile. Each day thereafter, I felt a tingling sensation and lowness in my right arm and leg. At times it was difficult to button the shirt. I often wondered what kind of sickness was this.
The final straw came when I had a night duty in the Gynaecology ward where I had to stitch a patient after a caesarian operation. Despite my best efforts to poke the needle to begin stitching, the needle remained unpoked. I was very upset about my deteriorating health. I got several tests done to discover the cause, it turned out to be mercury poisoning. Considering I ate home-cooked food and had never neglected my eating habits, I wondered where the poison came from. Since my feet were gradually losing sensation, I was prescribed several steroids.
Steroids are bad for one’s health. I looked for another remedy but could not find one that could heal me soon. I could not go to work and the job that I had needed me to attend to patients. With the sickness, I had to either live alone or go back to my parents in my hometown. I did not want to do either of these as I needed some help to live on and get well.
A friend of mine and his wife invited me to stay with them. I felt that staying with them was more convenient than returning to my home. They were staunch practitioners of Ayurveda and I learned to use a few of these medicines along with the usual steroids. For months, I saw no change in my situation. Often, I would see a toddler walking and falling and wish I could walk at least as well as her. On other occasions, I would watch the old walk slowly and wish I could at least walk like the old, but there was no twitch in my feet.
I felt the first tingle in my right little toe after eight whole months. I was delighted. In those eight months, I had lost my job and the sedentary lifestyle was depressing. My friends who came to see me were preparing for the Maharashtra Public Services exam. They invited me to join them as an aspirant. As a result of the preparation, they said my mind would diverge and my intellect would grow.
Although I began my preparation with them, it wasn’t sufficient for appearing for the exam. I took the written exam and found I scored 0.25 percent less than required, but due to rounding off, I was selected to appear in the second round. My eyes were drawn to the vacancies and I began to prepare fervently but at each stage, the scores helped me to get through the exams. At last, the interview was scheduled. In the meanwhile, the twitches in my legs grew stronger and slowly I began to gain the strength to walk and move. The interview went on well but when the results were declared I was 0.25 percent less than the prescribed score. When the score was rounded, I was selected to serve as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Maharashtra. By then I was a lot more confident about myself. The job was well needed as my father was about to retire from his post in the Government Office.
At the conclusion of the story, there was pin-drop silence in the auditorium. The students applauded each achievement and regretted the setbacks. I learned that health is one of the most important aspects of being healthy, he continued.
I have never neglected my health and have been a regular participant in the International Yoga Day and others every year, breaking my own records. Accepting situations as they are is essential for resolving and enhancing our capacities, and not becoming enslaved by the debilitating aspects. Every day is a new day and each day holds something special.
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”― Joseph Campbell
***A post dedicated to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dr Prashant Amrutkar
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