Week in Hospital
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 3 Apr 2023
Dr. Ravi P. Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service
29 Mar 2023 – I spent a tortuous week in hospital with multiple maladies–sore throat, breathing, from 13 Mar (Holi) to 17 Mar, then again on following week.
When I was leaving, I saw an Indian Flag flying outside. I saluted the Flag from my bed. When in pain and deep distress, I invoked blessings of Hare Krishna and Hare Ram. I thought of you (Editor TMS) many times and wondered about your health. Hope you are in good health.
There was pain due to chest condition, mouth secretion, etc. All sisters (nurses) came to me with mouth mask. They were helpful and gracious. Since I was in bed all the time, they took me out on mini walks of ten meters or so. I felt gratitude to them. They came several times but I could not speak to them. I have lost my voice, even now I cannot speak.
I can now understand the acute suffering of people who cannot speak. One person we admire is Helen Keller (1880-1968), an American political activist who became blind and deaf at a young age as a result of some acute illness. She developed the Braille system for writing for the blind. I don’t know anyone who has lost his/her voice, like me, but I feel this loss is temporary. Even without it I can still communicate, like I am doing right now.
Portrait of a beaming Helen on her 80th birthday, Jun 1960
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com
Tags: Braille, Helen Keller, Pain Suffering
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 3 Apr 2023.
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