Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A FRIEND IN RAINY DAYS
A FRIEND IN RAINY DAYS
Anjum Naim
Asghar, my youngest son is the most precious stone in the treasure-trove of my memory. He was quite handsome, well behaved and studious. He passed the examination in flying colors and was promoted to fifth standard. One day, on his way back to home he brought a very feeble black colored kitten with two white stripes on her neck. Though I reserved any expressions of sentiments or comments but the whole household gave a red-carpet welcome to Asghar’s cat. My wife named it as Muezza, after the name of Prophet Muhammad’s beloved cat. She used to narrate that once Prophet’s beloved cat slept over his turban. It was time to go far prayer. He did not want to disturb the sleeping cat. So he cut his turban, apart and with the rest of it, he went out for the prayer. To Asghar, the cat was his sweetheart. A wild thought of disunion with it could disturb him. On the other hand, Muezza too could not brook his absence. Whenever Asghar was a bit late from school, she would become all eyes for her chum. She used to roll down at his feet. Asghar took here to his room, where he used to roll down at his feet. Asghar took her to his room, where he used to have a tête-à-tête with her. During his stay at home, family members would hear either Asghar’s burst of laughter or Muezza mews.
1999 was the most horrible year in my life, which brought tears and cries for me throughout. Asghar started experiencing pain in his knees in July, which aggravated quickly before the doctors could diagnose the disease. By August, he lost his voice and ability to swallow usual foods. However, he kept trying to smile so that I still cherish hopes. Muezza used to accompany him day in and day out. Her presence, in fact could reduce his agony and pain. After long and painful period of medical tests and diagnosis , doctors declared him a patient of Wilson Disease, which was curable only at its initial stages.
Now we were completely disappointed. He was inching towards his sad end. My wife, Shahnaz nursed him the whole day and it was my duty to look after him right from the evening up to late night. We had fixed our duty hours. The one and only which did not share her time was Muezza. Perhaps she loved her friend more than us. During complete four months of tension and heart rendering situations, we never saw Muezza left Asghar except for brief intervals spanning few minutes. She would sit silently, gazing Asghar’s face. She, perhaps, was in the know that her presence consoles him.
In the month of holy Ramadhan, on December 17, 1999, when we were about to break our fast, he left for the heavenly abode. During funeral rites, Muezza kept sitting beside the dead body. Whenever we looked each other, she mewed once or twice. Her voice seemed to be full of melancholy. I saw her moving with the funeral procession up to a distance. It might be the traditional 40 steps. The right of burial was the most horrible night for me. It was a night similar to all nights during the last four months, wit the exception that though Shahnaz, I and Muezza were there as usual but the crying and sobbing friend of Muezza was no more at his bed.”
Anjum Naim
Asghar, my youngest son is the most precious stone in the treasure-trove of my memory. He was quite handsome, well behaved and studious. He passed the examination in flying colors and was promoted to fifth standard. One day, on his way back to home he brought a very feeble black colored kitten with two white stripes on her neck. Though I reserved any expressions of sentiments or comments but the whole household gave a red-carpet welcome to Asghar’s cat. My wife named it as Muezza, after the name of Prophet Muhammad’s beloved cat. She used to narrate that once Prophet’s beloved cat slept over his turban. It was time to go far prayer. He did not want to disturb the sleeping cat. So he cut his turban, apart and with the rest of it, he went out for the prayer. To Asghar, the cat was his sweetheart. A wild thought of disunion with it could disturb him. On the other hand, Muezza too could not brook his absence. Whenever Asghar was a bit late from school, she would become all eyes for her chum. She used to roll down at his feet. Asghar took here to his room, where he used to roll down at his feet. Asghar took her to his room, where he used to have a tête-à-tête with her. During his stay at home, family members would hear either Asghar’s burst of laughter or Muezza mews.
1999 was the most horrible year in my life, which brought tears and cries for me throughout. Asghar started experiencing pain in his knees in July, which aggravated quickly before the doctors could diagnose the disease. By August, he lost his voice and ability to swallow usual foods. However, he kept trying to smile so that I still cherish hopes. Muezza used to accompany him day in and day out. Her presence, in fact could reduce his agony and pain. After long and painful period of medical tests and diagnosis , doctors declared him a patient of Wilson Disease, which was curable only at its initial stages.
Now we were completely disappointed. He was inching towards his sad end. My wife, Shahnaz nursed him the whole day and it was my duty to look after him right from the evening up to late night. We had fixed our duty hours. The one and only which did not share her time was Muezza. Perhaps she loved her friend more than us. During complete four months of tension and heart rendering situations, we never saw Muezza left Asghar except for brief intervals spanning few minutes. She would sit silently, gazing Asghar’s face. She, perhaps, was in the know that her presence consoles him.
In the month of holy Ramadhan, on December 17, 1999, when we were about to break our fast, he left for the heavenly abode. During funeral rites, Muezza kept sitting beside the dead body. Whenever we looked each other, she mewed once or twice. Her voice seemed to be full of melancholy. I saw her moving with the funeral procession up to a distance. It might be the traditional 40 steps. The right of burial was the most horrible night for me. It was a night similar to all nights during the last four months, wit the exception that though Shahnaz, I and Muezza were there as usual but the crying and sobbing friend of Muezza was no more at his bed.”
Thursday, November 20, 2008
POLIO: MY STORY
CURSE OF IGNORANCE
By Anjum Naim
The first country to be chosen by the then U.S. President Eisenhower to receive the formula of the Salk Vaccine, first ever vaccine against polio, was India, and the presentation was made on May 5’1955 to the then Indian Health Minister, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, by the US Ambassador Mr. Shermon Cooper.
The same evening, I was born. Is this coincidence not an irony of fate?
Exactly three years since my birth, my parents were suddenly overtaken by misfortunes. My mother narrates that on fourth day of fever, I started faltering down. The right leg started limping. We thought it might be due to some injury or sprain. A number of oils and ointments were, thus, applied to the limping and lifeless leg. The doctor, who used to visit our village, Astipur every morning by his cycle, also treated and plastered the affected leg for one month but all of these efforts, cut no ice. A Moulvi Sahib from nearby mosque, who came every evening, to blow over me after incantation, declared with complete confidence and conviction that it was an attack of “evil spirit”, which could be cured except with the blessings of saints. My paralyzed existence kept hanging in the feeble arms of my mother while her tears kept rolling down her face to drench my embroidered brocade clothes. I could only watch her helplessness and disappointment but was not able to gauge its intensity.
Amma (the mother) says: “We left no shrine or mausoleum where we did not pay our homage. We contacted every saint to obtain his supplications in the form of Imam Zamin to be tied to arm as an offering to guardian-saint. And left no Friday night, when we did not light a candle of hope in the niche of the mosque. But it seemed as the evil spirit was determined to put out every flame of hope and desire.” My parents, at last, submitted to the will of Almighty after three years of continuous pain and agony. My father consoled Amma saying, “Irrespective of his disability, he is the light of our home. It is he, who would kindle a lamp at our door-step.” His patience spoke volumes of his fiasco and failure, which I could understand.
In early 1962, my father came to know about a missionary Health Clinic near his paper shop at Kolkata, where paralyzed limbs of disabled children were treated through physical exercises. He immediately, called me from the village for the Physiotherapy, which continued for months together. Suddenly, Sino India war broke up and the people departed Kolkata enmasse. We also left for the village abandoning the treatment. However, due to exercises I became able to walk without any support. My physiotherapist Miss Thomas was an extremely caring, loving and sincere nun. She told us that any further improvement was not possible. She also convinced my father that the ailment was due to a disease called POLIO and not because of curse of any evil spirit. Even its injection was available in the global market.
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) had already hit the Indian Pharmaceutical markets before the sad demise of my father. Whenever he heard about the birth of any child, he used to reach there, immediately, only to convince the family to get the new-born vaccinated against Polio and other deadly diseases. It became one and only mission of his life. I also do hope to continue his mission until my last breath.
(An excerpt from the “Tale of an Ordinary Man”)
By Anjum Naim
The first country to be chosen by the then U.S. President Eisenhower to receive the formula of the Salk Vaccine, first ever vaccine against polio, was India, and the presentation was made on May 5’1955 to the then Indian Health Minister, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, by the US Ambassador Mr. Shermon Cooper.
The same evening, I was born. Is this coincidence not an irony of fate?
Exactly three years since my birth, my parents were suddenly overtaken by misfortunes. My mother narrates that on fourth day of fever, I started faltering down. The right leg started limping. We thought it might be due to some injury or sprain. A number of oils and ointments were, thus, applied to the limping and lifeless leg. The doctor, who used to visit our village, Astipur every morning by his cycle, also treated and plastered the affected leg for one month but all of these efforts, cut no ice. A Moulvi Sahib from nearby mosque, who came every evening, to blow over me after incantation, declared with complete confidence and conviction that it was an attack of “evil spirit”, which could be cured except with the blessings of saints. My paralyzed existence kept hanging in the feeble arms of my mother while her tears kept rolling down her face to drench my embroidered brocade clothes. I could only watch her helplessness and disappointment but was not able to gauge its intensity.
Amma (the mother) says: “We left no shrine or mausoleum where we did not pay our homage. We contacted every saint to obtain his supplications in the form of Imam Zamin to be tied to arm as an offering to guardian-saint. And left no Friday night, when we did not light a candle of hope in the niche of the mosque. But it seemed as the evil spirit was determined to put out every flame of hope and desire.” My parents, at last, submitted to the will of Almighty after three years of continuous pain and agony. My father consoled Amma saying, “Irrespective of his disability, he is the light of our home. It is he, who would kindle a lamp at our door-step.” His patience spoke volumes of his fiasco and failure, which I could understand.
In early 1962, my father came to know about a missionary Health Clinic near his paper shop at Kolkata, where paralyzed limbs of disabled children were treated through physical exercises. He immediately, called me from the village for the Physiotherapy, which continued for months together. Suddenly, Sino India war broke up and the people departed Kolkata enmasse. We also left for the village abandoning the treatment. However, due to exercises I became able to walk without any support. My physiotherapist Miss Thomas was an extremely caring, loving and sincere nun. She told us that any further improvement was not possible. She also convinced my father that the ailment was due to a disease called POLIO and not because of curse of any evil spirit. Even its injection was available in the global market.
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) had already hit the Indian Pharmaceutical markets before the sad demise of my father. Whenever he heard about the birth of any child, he used to reach there, immediately, only to convince the family to get the new-born vaccinated against Polio and other deadly diseases. It became one and only mission of his life. I also do hope to continue his mission until my last breath.
(An excerpt from the “Tale of an Ordinary Man”)
MOBILE THEATRE
A Mobile Theatre
Anjum Naim
The scorching sun is still overhead, but evening hullabaloos and hustle bustle at capacious Gandhi Maidan, situated in the heart of Patna, the capital of Bihar (India) have already started. Worn and played outs, political activists, entertainment lovers, jugglers and hawkers have settled in their choicest places. In a corner, there is a group comprising 15-20 children. It is a corner-play troupe, which is performing a play on the theme “Girls are not burden.” Two senior members of the troupe are supplementing the overall effect with their musical instruments like tom-tom and harmonium. The banner hanging behind is identifying them as: “MOBILE THEATRE – Children with their own voice.” The presentation gets completed within 45 minutes. The spectators applauded giving them a big hand and in a few moments, the crowd vanished. The troupe is busy rolling up their goods and chattels. “There is a programme in Rajendra Nagar, too. Sometimes we perform many a times throughout a single day”, says Ashok Aditya, general secretary of an NGO, “Mobile Theatre” which was established in 1993 with the objectives to ensure that backwards, lesser privileged and victims of sexual abuse get respected places in the society. He says, “Corner-play is the most efficacious medium to bring a change in the society.” Perhaps it is his life-long real experience.
How far these corner-plays have been successful in bringing a positive change in the society, is altogether a different subject of study. But in a country like India, where almost one third of the total population comprises teenagers, a greater chunk of them belong to families below the poverty line. They are compelled by none other than their parents themselves to earn two square meals a day for them and their family. And they, under the compulsions of time and circumstances, become a rotten part of the society. Those who earn less or spend their earnings are beaten mercilessly. That is why; they often return to their homes and stay back at pavements or platforms. Ashok Aditya says, “Passing their nights at pavements and platforms, these children, both boys and girls – often become the victims of sexual violence.” Such street children can be seen in slum clusters in every city and metropolitans. A recent survey by Mobile Theatre shows that more than 5000 slum-dweller street children are residing in Patna alone. Sheer poverty pushed them to road-side motels, dhabas and tea-stalls or they are working as child labours. There is a lot of rag picker children who work hard even in extreme temperatures and earn hardly 40-50 rupees per day. Since they have money,they often become drug addicts.
First of all, the Mobile Theatre focused on rag picker children. According to a full-time worker of the Mobile Theatre, “Hundred such rag picker children were brought together. They were brought round to assemble at Mobile Theatre Centre in the evening after getting their rubbish sold in the noon. At the centre, they will not only be given music, dance and drama training, they will also learn reading and writing. The experiment stood successful and the number of participant children augmented.” But the work was not easy and smooth. Many parents used to raise a hue and cry at the centre that their bread-earners were being exploited. But when they realized that their children are being trained to earn their livelihood in a better way, the ice melted and they started cooperating. Bridge-course were arranged to send the drop-outs and those interested in getting education, to schools. A few intelligent children were admitted to Bimla Vidyalaya, a missionary residential school situated at Bakhtiarpur, 40 km away from Patna. Ashok Aditya says, “Father Sibistein, the school Principal helped very much. He promised that only 50% of the expenses will be charged from the children sent up by the centre, with free accommodation facilities.” Many children have returned back after completing their school-level education and still a group of five children is studying there.” Pointing out to a Dalit girl, Reena who was working earlier as a maid help, he says very confidently, “Today when I see this girl, who used to earn her livelihood as a domestic help, working on computers, it seems the prevalent conditions will change for sure.” In 1995, Ashok Aditya alongwith three Mus’har children Anjana Prakash, Mamta and Pramod, the toppers of first batch at Missionary School, participated in an international conference held at Lux de fank in Switzerland, on the invitation of Terre des hommes, an organisation working for abandoned and abused children. The traveling expenses were borne by the organization itself. The 4-member troupe presented a number of shows in different cities and received training, working with other NGOs, on child issues. One of the participants, Pramod, who is, presently, working in a screen-printing press and provides training in screen printing to children at the Mobile Theatre Centre, in his spare time, says, “ This global exposure not only instill in me a sense of severity of children’s issues but also gave me a goal of life which I consider my identity.”
Switzerland’s visit was beneficial both in terms of experience and facilities to work smoothly. Mobile Theatre, hitherto survived with the local support and cooperation. Now, for the first time, Terre des hommes granted a fund for the project, “Education through cultural and recreational activity among street and slum children”. Thereafter, UNICEF in 2000 and Literacy Centre of the Rotary Club of Arizona, Pioria, in 2002, approved a grant of $15000 for ‘Back to School’ project. In the beginning of 2002, Anjana Bhanti, President of Mobile Theatre had been to America where she presented her project before the authorities of Rotary Club. President of Pioria Rotary Club, Martha Herm along with her 3-member delegation visited India the same year. Appreciating the functions and modus-operandi of Mobile Theatre, she approved the aforesaid grant for the project. According to Ashok Aditya, the vocational training and educational activities currently in vogue at the centre receive grant from the Public Relations Section of the American Embassy and this support has promoted the Center’s activities considerably.
According to a recent study conducted by the Ministry for Women and Child Development, every two of three children are physically abused. These children include girls too in a large proportion. Ashok Aditya says, “A large number of sexually abused children live on platforms and pavements. Their sexual exploitation created a dreadful problem – “An all-embracing situation for AIDS.” The children, both boys and girls, who earn their livelihood by sweeping rail –compartments or singing and playing musical instruments, have neither any place to keep their earnings nor do they have any purpose to save for. Thus, they concentrate on delicious foods, drugs and mutual cohabitation. Sooner or later they fall prey to traffickers in women and children. They are transferred from one place to another. Many of them develop AIDS and start transferring HIV infections to others continuously. Ashok Aditya says, “Keeping in view the dreadful situation, we ought to infuse our entire energy to look after such children who are not only destroying themselves but aiding AIDS to spread.”
Fifteen children out of these 100, who were picked up, initially from platforms of different railway stations of Patna, were provided with formal vocational training at the centre and now many of them are engaged in screen-printing and fabric painting. Most encouraging aspect is, these rootless siplings want nothing but a bit of love, affection, sympathy and your generous attitude,” says Aditya.
Anjum Naim
The scorching sun is still overhead, but evening hullabaloos and hustle bustle at capacious Gandhi Maidan, situated in the heart of Patna, the capital of Bihar (India) have already started. Worn and played outs, political activists, entertainment lovers, jugglers and hawkers have settled in their choicest places. In a corner, there is a group comprising 15-20 children. It is a corner-play troupe, which is performing a play on the theme “Girls are not burden.” Two senior members of the troupe are supplementing the overall effect with their musical instruments like tom-tom and harmonium. The banner hanging behind is identifying them as: “MOBILE THEATRE – Children with their own voice.” The presentation gets completed within 45 minutes. The spectators applauded giving them a big hand and in a few moments, the crowd vanished. The troupe is busy rolling up their goods and chattels. “There is a programme in Rajendra Nagar, too. Sometimes we perform many a times throughout a single day”, says Ashok Aditya, general secretary of an NGO, “Mobile Theatre” which was established in 1993 with the objectives to ensure that backwards, lesser privileged and victims of sexual abuse get respected places in the society. He says, “Corner-play is the most efficacious medium to bring a change in the society.” Perhaps it is his life-long real experience.
How far these corner-plays have been successful in bringing a positive change in the society, is altogether a different subject of study. But in a country like India, where almost one third of the total population comprises teenagers, a greater chunk of them belong to families below the poverty line. They are compelled by none other than their parents themselves to earn two square meals a day for them and their family. And they, under the compulsions of time and circumstances, become a rotten part of the society. Those who earn less or spend their earnings are beaten mercilessly. That is why; they often return to their homes and stay back at pavements or platforms. Ashok Aditya says, “Passing their nights at pavements and platforms, these children, both boys and girls – often become the victims of sexual violence.” Such street children can be seen in slum clusters in every city and metropolitans. A recent survey by Mobile Theatre shows that more than 5000 slum-dweller street children are residing in Patna alone. Sheer poverty pushed them to road-side motels, dhabas and tea-stalls or they are working as child labours. There is a lot of rag picker children who work hard even in extreme temperatures and earn hardly 40-50 rupees per day. Since they have money,they often become drug addicts.
First of all, the Mobile Theatre focused on rag picker children. According to a full-time worker of the Mobile Theatre, “Hundred such rag picker children were brought together. They were brought round to assemble at Mobile Theatre Centre in the evening after getting their rubbish sold in the noon. At the centre, they will not only be given music, dance and drama training, they will also learn reading and writing. The experiment stood successful and the number of participant children augmented.” But the work was not easy and smooth. Many parents used to raise a hue and cry at the centre that their bread-earners were being exploited. But when they realized that their children are being trained to earn their livelihood in a better way, the ice melted and they started cooperating. Bridge-course were arranged to send the drop-outs and those interested in getting education, to schools. A few intelligent children were admitted to Bimla Vidyalaya, a missionary residential school situated at Bakhtiarpur, 40 km away from Patna. Ashok Aditya says, “Father Sibistein, the school Principal helped very much. He promised that only 50% of the expenses will be charged from the children sent up by the centre, with free accommodation facilities.” Many children have returned back after completing their school-level education and still a group of five children is studying there.” Pointing out to a Dalit girl, Reena who was working earlier as a maid help, he says very confidently, “Today when I see this girl, who used to earn her livelihood as a domestic help, working on computers, it seems the prevalent conditions will change for sure.” In 1995, Ashok Aditya alongwith three Mus’har children Anjana Prakash, Mamta and Pramod, the toppers of first batch at Missionary School, participated in an international conference held at Lux de fank in Switzerland, on the invitation of Terre des hommes, an organisation working for abandoned and abused children. The traveling expenses were borne by the organization itself. The 4-member troupe presented a number of shows in different cities and received training, working with other NGOs, on child issues. One of the participants, Pramod, who is, presently, working in a screen-printing press and provides training in screen printing to children at the Mobile Theatre Centre, in his spare time, says, “ This global exposure not only instill in me a sense of severity of children’s issues but also gave me a goal of life which I consider my identity.”
Switzerland’s visit was beneficial both in terms of experience and facilities to work smoothly. Mobile Theatre, hitherto survived with the local support and cooperation. Now, for the first time, Terre des hommes granted a fund for the project, “Education through cultural and recreational activity among street and slum children”. Thereafter, UNICEF in 2000 and Literacy Centre of the Rotary Club of Arizona, Pioria, in 2002, approved a grant of $15000 for ‘Back to School’ project. In the beginning of 2002, Anjana Bhanti, President of Mobile Theatre had been to America where she presented her project before the authorities of Rotary Club. President of Pioria Rotary Club, Martha Herm along with her 3-member delegation visited India the same year. Appreciating the functions and modus-operandi of Mobile Theatre, she approved the aforesaid grant for the project. According to Ashok Aditya, the vocational training and educational activities currently in vogue at the centre receive grant from the Public Relations Section of the American Embassy and this support has promoted the Center’s activities considerably.
According to a recent study conducted by the Ministry for Women and Child Development, every two of three children are physically abused. These children include girls too in a large proportion. Ashok Aditya says, “A large number of sexually abused children live on platforms and pavements. Their sexual exploitation created a dreadful problem – “An all-embracing situation for AIDS.” The children, both boys and girls, who earn their livelihood by sweeping rail –compartments or singing and playing musical instruments, have neither any place to keep their earnings nor do they have any purpose to save for. Thus, they concentrate on delicious foods, drugs and mutual cohabitation. Sooner or later they fall prey to traffickers in women and children. They are transferred from one place to another. Many of them develop AIDS and start transferring HIV infections to others continuously. Ashok Aditya says, “Keeping in view the dreadful situation, we ought to infuse our entire energy to look after such children who are not only destroying themselves but aiding AIDS to spread.”
Fifteen children out of these 100, who were picked up, initially from platforms of different railway stations of Patna, were provided with formal vocational training at the centre and now many of them are engaged in screen-printing and fabric painting. Most encouraging aspect is, these rootless siplings want nothing but a bit of love, affection, sympathy and your generous attitude,” says Aditya.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Azhar Usman in India
American Muslim commedian Azhar Usman performing in Jamia Hamdard , Delhi , India.
KALA AZAR
THE SCOURGE OF KALA AZAR
ANJUM NAIM
Not far from Hajipur city, adjacent to Patna, the capital city of Bihar in India, is situated a Musahari hamlet about five miles away, resembling almost like an island where even people from nearby areas dread to tread. Completely immersed in intoxicants, sitting a few yards away from his dilapidated shanty, Sinesar Manjhi is desperately trying to shut his eyes from the unfolding reality. Just outside his hutment subjected to the vagaries of nature, his two ailing sons and a daughter sit blank-faced staring blindly at the people passing by. Gita Devi from a neighboring village, who goes around with her husband and social activist, Sudheer Kumar Akela Ji, assisting the people of the village in medical treatments and funeral services says: “Sinesar Manjhi’s wife, two daughters, a sister, brother-in-law, nephew, niece, brother, sister-in-law and two more nieces have already been devoured by the deadly Kala Azar. There is scant hope of the other three children surviving for more days.” “Who all can get treated for the ailment?” she questions. “Twenty people have succumbed to death and another fifty have been taken seriously ill in this hamlet alone.”
Another villager, Jalandhar Ram got his wife treated in whatever best way he could but all in vain. As if destiny had more in store for him, he is now counting the breath of his two children, who hang precariously between life and death. Dante’s words, “I did not die, but nothing much of life remains”, stand so glaringly true here. “Whatever I had was spent on the treatment of my wife. What more do I have to put at stake on my adult children and who knows whether they’ll live to see the next dawn?” he laments. Jalandhar Ram has related his entire ordeal in a single breath even as his moist eyes remain despondently affixed at his son, Bhutto Kumar and daughter, Pinkoo lying on broken wooden cots. He has already got two vials of the expensive drug Fungizone purchased from open market and administered to both of his children; however, the complete course of medicine runs over ten vials of the drug, for which he needs another six thousand rupees, a figure which is astronomical to him whatsoever. “Why don’t you visit a government hospital?” Akelaji replies, “The condition there in the hospital is pathetic. On going to the hospital, the compounder there escorts the patients to a private doctor, warning that only your dead body would come out of the hospital, if you go there. People in distress tend to run towards even the dimmest ray of hope. Also, not everyone has access to district hospital.”
Former Health Minister and a renowned expert on Kala Azar, Dr. C.P. Thakker confirms, “The prevailing situation is not restricted to Jamalpur Musahari alone. It is present in 31 out of the 38 districts in Bihar, with the deadly disease assuming alarming proportions especially in the Terai belt stretching from Hajipur to Nepal border. Lakhs of people are affected by Kala Azar as of new. The official or non-official statistics available with us is only confined to the patients registering in government hospitals and this number exceeds 50,000.” “Those visiting private clinics for treatment and fail to afford the expensive medical treatment and ultimately succumb to the monstrous ailment, remain hitherto uncounted”, avers Dr. Thakkar. “Most of the deaths are due to failure in administering drugs on time or lack of affordability.”
Kala Azar, also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis in technical terms, is an ailment which has received scant attention over the years, according to heath experts. The disease affects over 5 lakh lives each year, out of which about 40 percent succumb to the disease. Therefore, the disease turns out to be the third most fatal disease after heart diseases and cancer. However, since it is confined to rural and most backward areas of developing countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan, Brazil, appropriate measures and concerted actions were not initiated to stem the menace. The same story goes for all other tropical diseases besides Kala Azar, which normally plague the most downtrodden people of the world. The response has been mostly disheartening. As per the data of World Health Organization, nearly 1400 drugs made their way into global markets during the period between 1975 and 1999, however merely 13 of them were meant for the treatment of tropical diseases. The biggest issues concerning Kala Azar have been that of availability, affordability and accessibility of drugs. Dr. Thakker adds, “Although the early instances of Kala Azar in Bihar date back to about a century back, however because of the continuous spray of DDT until 1964 as a part of program to eradicate Malaria, the sand fly mosquitoes have not been able to breed much. However, since the spray program has been stopped in 1964, the decade of 70s saw a sharp spurt in Kala Azar cases. By 1977, Kala Azar had assumed alarming epidemic proportions in four districts of Bihar- Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Samastipur. Nearly 1.25 lakh cases were registered, out of which 4700 people succumbed to death. In those days, no other drug was available besides Sodium Antimony Glauconate and this too did not turn out much effective. Thereafter, the DDT spray program was initiated once again and there were visible improvements in the 80s. Not to be cowed down, Kala Azar resurfaced assuming demonic proportions in 1991-1992 and the number of patients rose to a staggering 2.5 lakhs, while over 10,000 deaths were reported. Dr. Thakker says, ‘it seemed as if the situation prevailing in 1976-1977 had resurfaced’. Perceiving the gravity of situation, the state government this times around has constituted a task force on Kala Azar under the Chairmanship of Dr. Thakker, whose mandate is to make available drugs at low cost and bring about large-scale reforms in the health sector, in order to prevent attacks of the sand fly mosquitoes. Dr. Thakker further adds, “The situation has improved significantly since then and we do have certain effective medicines. Amphoterein-B despite being a little costly is an effective medicine with lesser side effects. The American pharmaceutical company One World Health has also come up with its own drug Paromomycin, which is presently undergoing Phase IV of clinical trials. So far, the results have been fairly positive and it could turn out to be the least-cost drug”. Dr. Pradeep Das of the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences for research on Kala Azar in Patna, feels, ‘if the entire course of Paromomycin could become available in just 10 dollars as the company claims, it will be a revolutionary step towards the treatment of Kala Azar’. Mireille Cromin Mather, the Director (Communications and Outreach) at the San Francisco based non-profit pharmaceutical company, institute of One World Health says with pride, “If all goes planned, paromomycin will soon be available for $ 10 a cure-Just one twentieth of what treatment now costs in Bihar.
It is worthy of mention that the founder director of the Institute, Victoria Hail had a visit to Bihar in 2000 and then in her words, ‘she dedicated herself to Kala Azar’. The Institute for One World Health is working closely with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the clinical trial was established with the funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gland Pharma limited, the Hyderabad, India based drug manufacturer, working with One World Health and other collaborators, received regulatory approval from the Drug-Controller General-India (DCGI) for Paromomycin IM injections a treatment for Kala Azar and Grand Pharma has agreed to act as the global manufacturer to ensure access to all those that need it and as Mireille Mather said “at a markedly reduced cost-approximately $ 10 USD per 21-day course of therapy.’’
Dr. Pradeep Das, the Director of Rajendra Institute, the government institute where the clinical trials of Paromomycin are currently underway admits that, ‘at present, about 50 patients are under treatment at the institute. Our main focus is on analyzing the efficacy of the drug and minimization of its side effects. So far, there have been no major side effects nor has there been any question mark over its efficacy. Its effective rate has been 93.4; therefore this drug may be considered most safe, effective, and affordable. Albeit, now the focus should be on making it accessible as well, to maximize reach. Mierielle Mather avers, ‘these issues have been at the top of our priorities and that is why, we are working alongside the local NGOs and medical experts. On the one hand, where the institute for One World Health has established its branch office in Patna and is involved in gathering patient data from various regions after conducting surveys in the affected areas, it is also contempting training programs for physicians practicing in small, remote areas, because these local doctors play an extremely crucial role. Together with this, efforts are also being made to spread basic awareness amongst the common folk about this disease, since it is vital to be in the know about the alarming impacts of the disease, how it spreads and how can one protect himself from the menace.
People are prematurely succumbing to this monstrous disease in dozens. With no help from any quarter, no money for treatment, no accessibility and no proper government support, people seem to be fast losing the one thing that they possessed – HOPE. Or in the words of Victorial Hail, the founder of One World Health, ‘I had never seen such hopelessness on the faces of people, until I saw Kala Azar!’
ANJUM NAIM
Not far from Hajipur city, adjacent to Patna, the capital city of Bihar in India, is situated a Musahari hamlet about five miles away, resembling almost like an island where even people from nearby areas dread to tread. Completely immersed in intoxicants, sitting a few yards away from his dilapidated shanty, Sinesar Manjhi is desperately trying to shut his eyes from the unfolding reality. Just outside his hutment subjected to the vagaries of nature, his two ailing sons and a daughter sit blank-faced staring blindly at the people passing by. Gita Devi from a neighboring village, who goes around with her husband and social activist, Sudheer Kumar Akela Ji, assisting the people of the village in medical treatments and funeral services says: “Sinesar Manjhi’s wife, two daughters, a sister, brother-in-law, nephew, niece, brother, sister-in-law and two more nieces have already been devoured by the deadly Kala Azar. There is scant hope of the other three children surviving for more days.” “Who all can get treated for the ailment?” she questions. “Twenty people have succumbed to death and another fifty have been taken seriously ill in this hamlet alone.”
Another villager, Jalandhar Ram got his wife treated in whatever best way he could but all in vain. As if destiny had more in store for him, he is now counting the breath of his two children, who hang precariously between life and death. Dante’s words, “I did not die, but nothing much of life remains”, stand so glaringly true here. “Whatever I had was spent on the treatment of my wife. What more do I have to put at stake on my adult children and who knows whether they’ll live to see the next dawn?” he laments. Jalandhar Ram has related his entire ordeal in a single breath even as his moist eyes remain despondently affixed at his son, Bhutto Kumar and daughter, Pinkoo lying on broken wooden cots. He has already got two vials of the expensive drug Fungizone purchased from open market and administered to both of his children; however, the complete course of medicine runs over ten vials of the drug, for which he needs another six thousand rupees, a figure which is astronomical to him whatsoever. “Why don’t you visit a government hospital?” Akelaji replies, “The condition there in the hospital is pathetic. On going to the hospital, the compounder there escorts the patients to a private doctor, warning that only your dead body would come out of the hospital, if you go there. People in distress tend to run towards even the dimmest ray of hope. Also, not everyone has access to district hospital.”
Former Health Minister and a renowned expert on Kala Azar, Dr. C.P. Thakker confirms, “The prevailing situation is not restricted to Jamalpur Musahari alone. It is present in 31 out of the 38 districts in Bihar, with the deadly disease assuming alarming proportions especially in the Terai belt stretching from Hajipur to Nepal border. Lakhs of people are affected by Kala Azar as of new. The official or non-official statistics available with us is only confined to the patients registering in government hospitals and this number exceeds 50,000.” “Those visiting private clinics for treatment and fail to afford the expensive medical treatment and ultimately succumb to the monstrous ailment, remain hitherto uncounted”, avers Dr. Thakkar. “Most of the deaths are due to failure in administering drugs on time or lack of affordability.”
Kala Azar, also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis in technical terms, is an ailment which has received scant attention over the years, according to heath experts. The disease affects over 5 lakh lives each year, out of which about 40 percent succumb to the disease. Therefore, the disease turns out to be the third most fatal disease after heart diseases and cancer. However, since it is confined to rural and most backward areas of developing countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan, Brazil, appropriate measures and concerted actions were not initiated to stem the menace. The same story goes for all other tropical diseases besides Kala Azar, which normally plague the most downtrodden people of the world. The response has been mostly disheartening. As per the data of World Health Organization, nearly 1400 drugs made their way into global markets during the period between 1975 and 1999, however merely 13 of them were meant for the treatment of tropical diseases. The biggest issues concerning Kala Azar have been that of availability, affordability and accessibility of drugs. Dr. Thakker adds, “Although the early instances of Kala Azar in Bihar date back to about a century back, however because of the continuous spray of DDT until 1964 as a part of program to eradicate Malaria, the sand fly mosquitoes have not been able to breed much. However, since the spray program has been stopped in 1964, the decade of 70s saw a sharp spurt in Kala Azar cases. By 1977, Kala Azar had assumed alarming epidemic proportions in four districts of Bihar- Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Samastipur. Nearly 1.25 lakh cases were registered, out of which 4700 people succumbed to death. In those days, no other drug was available besides Sodium Antimony Glauconate and this too did not turn out much effective. Thereafter, the DDT spray program was initiated once again and there were visible improvements in the 80s. Not to be cowed down, Kala Azar resurfaced assuming demonic proportions in 1991-1992 and the number of patients rose to a staggering 2.5 lakhs, while over 10,000 deaths were reported. Dr. Thakker says, ‘it seemed as if the situation prevailing in 1976-1977 had resurfaced’. Perceiving the gravity of situation, the state government this times around has constituted a task force on Kala Azar under the Chairmanship of Dr. Thakker, whose mandate is to make available drugs at low cost and bring about large-scale reforms in the health sector, in order to prevent attacks of the sand fly mosquitoes. Dr. Thakker further adds, “The situation has improved significantly since then and we do have certain effective medicines. Amphoterein-B despite being a little costly is an effective medicine with lesser side effects. The American pharmaceutical company One World Health has also come up with its own drug Paromomycin, which is presently undergoing Phase IV of clinical trials. So far, the results have been fairly positive and it could turn out to be the least-cost drug”. Dr. Pradeep Das of the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences for research on Kala Azar in Patna, feels, ‘if the entire course of Paromomycin could become available in just 10 dollars as the company claims, it will be a revolutionary step towards the treatment of Kala Azar’. Mireille Cromin Mather, the Director (Communications and Outreach) at the San Francisco based non-profit pharmaceutical company, institute of One World Health says with pride, “If all goes planned, paromomycin will soon be available for $ 10 a cure-Just one twentieth of what treatment now costs in Bihar.
It is worthy of mention that the founder director of the Institute, Victoria Hail had a visit to Bihar in 2000 and then in her words, ‘she dedicated herself to Kala Azar’. The Institute for One World Health is working closely with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the clinical trial was established with the funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gland Pharma limited, the Hyderabad, India based drug manufacturer, working with One World Health and other collaborators, received regulatory approval from the Drug-Controller General-India (DCGI) for Paromomycin IM injections a treatment for Kala Azar and Grand Pharma has agreed to act as the global manufacturer to ensure access to all those that need it and as Mireille Mather said “at a markedly reduced cost-approximately $ 10 USD per 21-day course of therapy.’’
Dr. Pradeep Das, the Director of Rajendra Institute, the government institute where the clinical trials of Paromomycin are currently underway admits that, ‘at present, about 50 patients are under treatment at the institute. Our main focus is on analyzing the efficacy of the drug and minimization of its side effects. So far, there have been no major side effects nor has there been any question mark over its efficacy. Its effective rate has been 93.4; therefore this drug may be considered most safe, effective, and affordable. Albeit, now the focus should be on making it accessible as well, to maximize reach. Mierielle Mather avers, ‘these issues have been at the top of our priorities and that is why, we are working alongside the local NGOs and medical experts. On the one hand, where the institute for One World Health has established its branch office in Patna and is involved in gathering patient data from various regions after conducting surveys in the affected areas, it is also contempting training programs for physicians practicing in small, remote areas, because these local doctors play an extremely crucial role. Together with this, efforts are also being made to spread basic awareness amongst the common folk about this disease, since it is vital to be in the know about the alarming impacts of the disease, how it spreads and how can one protect himself from the menace.
People are prematurely succumbing to this monstrous disease in dozens. With no help from any quarter, no money for treatment, no accessibility and no proper government support, people seem to be fast losing the one thing that they possessed – HOPE. Or in the words of Victorial Hail, the founder of One World Health, ‘I had never seen such hopelessness on the faces of people, until I saw Kala Azar!’
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
SAMINA ALI
By Anjum Naim
Scaling the heights of popularity through her first-of-its-kind novel “Madras on Rainy Days”, California based, Indian born American author, Samina Ali is busy, these day, in giving final touch to her another work. Written on “Women Empowerment”, it has the perspective of women’s rights in Islam. Being asked whether the forthcoming work is a non-fictional expression of her novel, Samina Ali says that she is neither a mere writer nor she writes only for creative expression. Instead she uses writing as a tool to achieve her goal, which is “My quest for women’s rights”
It is not uncommon to discuss women’s rights in American society, but when an Indian American Muslim women presented her life experiences in a multi-cultural perspective, in the form of a fiction, a sort of ideological freshness was perceived. And this was the factor behind novel’s popularity. Born at Hyderabad, a city in south India, a hub of Muslim culture and grown up in America, Samina Ali whose parents make a conscious representation of Indo-Islamic culture, feels the pain of dilapidated lives in multi-cultural upbringings. Moreover, it is not a tragic aspect of life exclusive to Samina Ali, which has been depicted by Laila, the main character in her novel. Rather, it is heartache of all those Lailas who observe helplessly, their rights being trampled by self-proclaimed values. “How the rights given by Allah, the Almighty, and his prophet have been sacrificed in the name of self-proclaimed values?” Samina Ali raises a question. It is why; Samina Ali considers her aforesaid novel, as “ a young women’s journey from possession to self-possession”.
Completing her graduation in English from the university of Menosota and M.F.A from the University of Oregon, Samina Ali migrated to America along with her parents when she was only 6 months though her parents settled in America, they maintained their relations with Hyderabad by visiting India every year for at least five or six months. Six months in Menosota and six months in Hyderabad- for the parents, it was nothing to bother about but his split identity always perturbed her. Samina Ali expresses this agony in the novel-through its main character laila;
“Growing up, it was always so confusing to be in both places.
I would go to school there and all the kids would point and say,
‘Hey, look, the Indian girl is back. Then I’d suddenly be dropped in to school here,
and the girls would say,‘The American is back, I never fit in.”
She was married, at 19, to a young man hailing from an affluent Muslim family in Hyderabad. Next two years were rightmerish for Samina Ali. Marital life was no less than a wrath. Such was the constraints of circumstances that Samina Ali, grew up in America, could not tell her parents, for two years altogether, that the man she was married with, involuntarily, is a homosexual and that her marriage had never been consummated. After desertion from her first husband, she remarried in America. It was also proved fragile and she was divorced after a year. “Madras on rainy days” is a life – sketch of Samina Ali wherein her role id depicted by laila. Samina Ali presented her life-experiences in details through Laila. Samina Ali says, “ My writing is an individual’s search for independence particularly that of a Muslim woman.” She wants to prove that Islam has given all those rights to women, which have always been acceptable to any civilized society irrespective of time and space. Explaining the rights, she says , “Rights over their bodies, right over their marriages, rights over their futures.”
She believes that many have no access to these rights only because they do not opportunity to avail them.
Samina Ali seems to be highly impressed by the writings of Tony Morrison and Paule Marshall. The former is a noble laureate, American author who presented anguish and agony of womenfolk in an artistic way while the latter is a Brooklyn based, representative author of Black Literature who authored her famous novel (1959) “Brown Girl, Brown stones.’ She says,“Their work left a deep imprint on me because it was the first time I read novels not written by white authors, so the first time I identified with characters and their experiences.”
Paule Marshall’s deep influence on her writings can be assessed by her novel “Madras on rainy days” wherein not only the ideas but characters and story-back-ground too seem to be borrowed from, “Brown Girl, Brown stones,” to a large extent. In both of them the key character is a young woman who is a victim of multi-cultural issues and social afflictions, mainly because she is a woman.
Samina Ali when advocates women’s rights, she talks not only about individuals but include all those social and moral traditions which influence individual’s life in every society. Not to say of the sub-continent, even in countries like America, women’s entry into mosques is not approved under culture traditions and a secluded balcony is arranged for womenfolk. When some educated women, under the banner if an organization, Daughter of Hjar, raised their voices against this male chauvinism and demonstrated infornt of the mosque of Morgan Town, Samina Ali registered her active participation in the demonstration.
Her novel “Madras on Rainy Days” published in 2004 by an extremely reputed New york based printing house, Farrar, straus, Giroux, was awarded the Rona Jaffe Foundation fiction award , which is given annually to women writers who demonstrate excellence and promise in the early stages of their careers., then PEN/Hemingway award and then again California Book Reviewer Award. The novel’s rapid popularity was, perhaps, due to its being a novel by an original new voice in international fiction which portrays a young Muslim woman’s Journey from possession to self-possession.
It is an autobiography, which mirrors the wounds of a moaning and groaning society. In the words of Samia Ali, herself ;
“This is not just something imagined. This is something I endured”.
Scaling the heights of popularity through her first-of-its-kind novel “Madras on Rainy Days”, California based, Indian born American author, Samina Ali is busy, these day, in giving final touch to her another work. Written on “Women Empowerment”, it has the perspective of women’s rights in Islam. Being asked whether the forthcoming work is a non-fictional expression of her novel, Samina Ali says that she is neither a mere writer nor she writes only for creative expression. Instead she uses writing as a tool to achieve her goal, which is “My quest for women’s rights”
It is not uncommon to discuss women’s rights in American society, but when an Indian American Muslim women presented her life experiences in a multi-cultural perspective, in the form of a fiction, a sort of ideological freshness was perceived. And this was the factor behind novel’s popularity. Born at Hyderabad, a city in south India, a hub of Muslim culture and grown up in America, Samina Ali whose parents make a conscious representation of Indo-Islamic culture, feels the pain of dilapidated lives in multi-cultural upbringings. Moreover, it is not a tragic aspect of life exclusive to Samina Ali, which has been depicted by Laila, the main character in her novel. Rather, it is heartache of all those Lailas who observe helplessly, their rights being trampled by self-proclaimed values. “How the rights given by Allah, the Almighty, and his prophet have been sacrificed in the name of self-proclaimed values?” Samina Ali raises a question. It is why; Samina Ali considers her aforesaid novel, as “ a young women’s journey from possession to self-possession”.
Completing her graduation in English from the university of Menosota and M.F.A from the University of Oregon, Samina Ali migrated to America along with her parents when she was only 6 months though her parents settled in America, they maintained their relations with Hyderabad by visiting India every year for at least five or six months. Six months in Menosota and six months in Hyderabad- for the parents, it was nothing to bother about but his split identity always perturbed her. Samina Ali expresses this agony in the novel-through its main character laila;
“Growing up, it was always so confusing to be in both places.
I would go to school there and all the kids would point and say,
‘Hey, look, the Indian girl is back. Then I’d suddenly be dropped in to school here,
and the girls would say,‘The American is back, I never fit in.”
She was married, at 19, to a young man hailing from an affluent Muslim family in Hyderabad. Next two years were rightmerish for Samina Ali. Marital life was no less than a wrath. Such was the constraints of circumstances that Samina Ali, grew up in America, could not tell her parents, for two years altogether, that the man she was married with, involuntarily, is a homosexual and that her marriage had never been consummated. After desertion from her first husband, she remarried in America. It was also proved fragile and she was divorced after a year. “Madras on rainy days” is a life – sketch of Samina Ali wherein her role id depicted by laila. Samina Ali presented her life-experiences in details through Laila. Samina Ali says, “ My writing is an individual’s search for independence particularly that of a Muslim woman.” She wants to prove that Islam has given all those rights to women, which have always been acceptable to any civilized society irrespective of time and space. Explaining the rights, she says , “Rights over their bodies, right over their marriages, rights over their futures.”
She believes that many have no access to these rights only because they do not opportunity to avail them.
Samina Ali seems to be highly impressed by the writings of Tony Morrison and Paule Marshall. The former is a noble laureate, American author who presented anguish and agony of womenfolk in an artistic way while the latter is a Brooklyn based, representative author of Black Literature who authored her famous novel (1959) “Brown Girl, Brown stones.’ She says,“Their work left a deep imprint on me because it was the first time I read novels not written by white authors, so the first time I identified with characters and their experiences.”
Paule Marshall’s deep influence on her writings can be assessed by her novel “Madras on rainy days” wherein not only the ideas but characters and story-back-ground too seem to be borrowed from, “Brown Girl, Brown stones,” to a large extent. In both of them the key character is a young woman who is a victim of multi-cultural issues and social afflictions, mainly because she is a woman.
Samina Ali when advocates women’s rights, she talks not only about individuals but include all those social and moral traditions which influence individual’s life in every society. Not to say of the sub-continent, even in countries like America, women’s entry into mosques is not approved under culture traditions and a secluded balcony is arranged for womenfolk. When some educated women, under the banner if an organization, Daughter of Hjar, raised their voices against this male chauvinism and demonstrated infornt of the mosque of Morgan Town, Samina Ali registered her active participation in the demonstration.
Her novel “Madras on Rainy Days” published in 2004 by an extremely reputed New york based printing house, Farrar, straus, Giroux, was awarded the Rona Jaffe Foundation fiction award , which is given annually to women writers who demonstrate excellence and promise in the early stages of their careers., then PEN/Hemingway award and then again California Book Reviewer Award. The novel’s rapid popularity was, perhaps, due to its being a novel by an original new voice in international fiction which portrays a young Muslim woman’s Journey from possession to self-possession.
It is an autobiography, which mirrors the wounds of a moaning and groaning society. In the words of Samia Ali, herself ;
“This is not just something imagined. This is something I endured”.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
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