The curse of ignorance
By, M. Abdullah Wani, Greater Kashmir, February 5, 2007
Middle aged Mukhtar was living happily with his wife Raja and two sons. He was working as a peon in a private office. Despite meager income the couple set their goals very high and got their children admitted in a nearby government school. The couple was enjoying the delights of their mutual understanding and adjustment to their hilt in spite of many day-to-day odds of life which a poor family is destined to face.
On a fateful day Mukhtar developed severe chest pain which followed by continuous cough and fever. He was beginning to feel tired and exhausted. His colleagues rushed him to the hospital where he was tested for several diseases. HIV infection was ruled out but not the tuberculosis. Mukhtar was retained in the hospital and anti-TB drugs prescribed. He showed recovery just within three days. Having heard about his ailment there was a continuous stream of friends and relatives in the hospital.
Among the visitors was a middle aged woman with a skeleton face, wrinkled forehead, frightening eyes and pug nose, the divorced wife of Mukhtar, Bibi Sundri. Mukhtar was stunned but preferred to remain silent. “Oh Raja! I could not sleep throughout the night after I heard about Mukhtar’s health. What is wrong with my darling Mukhtar”, Sundri addressed Raja. Raja burst into tears and revealed the whole episode of her husband’s ailment to her.
“Look Raja, I have understood your problem. Medication is not going to help. He is under evil effect. You get him discharged from the hospital. As soon as you do it, I will request Pahari Baba to visit your residence since he does not visit hospitals. He will cure him completely. On her advice poor Mukhtar and Raja decided to leave the hospital. Their ignorance, illiteracy and credulous nature reinforced their belief.
Next day morning doctors reviewed the condition of Mukhtar. He was preparing to request the doctor to discharge him but the doctor took the lead. Look Mukhtar, you are no more a threat for others. You can now go to your home and resume normal work but you must not stop taking medicines as will be prescribed. Any sudden stoppage can cause severe relapse. Thus the couple happily went back to their home where their children were eagerly waiting for them.
Sundri lost no time to inform the Pahari Baba whom she was visiting occasionally and this excuse gave her more frequent opportunities of meeting. On her request the Babaji accompanied Sundri to Mukhtar’s residence. Raja who was standing at the front side window of her house gazing at the beautiful trees and birds sighted both Sundri and Babaji from a distance. She informed Mukhtar and went out to greet them at the door. Thin lean Pahari Baba with a flowing beard entered the room majestically murmuring incantations. “Are you Mukhtar?”, asked Babaji. “Look, you have committed a number of misdeeds due to which you are under evil effect. It is your good luck that I am here and shall bring you out of this curse”. Then he addressed Raja, “You impious lady, go and get a glass of water”. Raja lost no time in complying with his order by placing a glass of water in front of Babaji. With her hands trembling, expecting a miracle to happen. Babaji sipped some water that was in the glass and passed on the remaining water to Mukhar whom he asked to drink it. The Baba with apparently false confidence on his face retrieved a vial, an injection needle and a syringe from his multi-pocketed bag which he carried along.
He injected out some liquid substance, administered a part of it in his own left arm and the remaining into the right arm of Mukhtar with the same syringe and needle. Soon Mukhtar felt relaxed and Baba left with a warning to Mukhtar that if he resorted to the medication henceforth, the evil effect will reappear.
Mukhtar had a deep sleep throughout that day. In the evening he rose to his feet, and, experiencing a slight dizziness upon rising, reminded himself of what the Babaji had said. Raja was there in the room. After taking brief account of Baba’s visit both attributed the Mukhtar’s deep sleep to Baba’s visit who cured him by relieving him from the so-called evil effect.
Going by the advice of Babaji, Mukhtar stopped taking medicines and apparently remained stable for some days. But it did not last long. After a few days, Mukhtar sustained a severe attack of chest pain for which he was again admitted to the hospital. At this time he was diagnosed as a case of Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis which was a direct result of premature discontinuation of medication.
Mukhtar was accordingly put on more strong anti-TB drugs which included Cyclosporin, Kanamycin and Ofloxicin. Surprisingly these drugs did not show the desired results. So the doctors decided to go for more investigations which included HIV Test also.
The doctors were shocked to find that Mukhtar had developed HIV infection.
Mukhtar was asked to recollect whether anything untoward had happened during the period. Immediately Mukhtar recollected the incident of that glass of water and injection administered by Babaji and narrated it to the doctor. The hospital administration lost no time to inform the police who launched a hunt for the Babaji. He could not be traced till date but Sundri was brought to the hospital. She too had full blown AIDS. Raja also had acquired HIV infection recently because she lived under the same roof with her husband and transmission of the virus was imminent.
Thank God the kids remained isolated and were saved but they were compelled to beg. Apprehending that the social stigma which was attached to Mukhar’s disease may cast a shadow on his business, the private office owner employed some one else in place of Mukhtar. The two ladies and Mukhtar have been quarantined and the Pahari Baba is still at large. God knows who will be his next victim.
Source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/Home/Newsdetails.asp?newsid=3624&Issueid=138&Arch=
Middle aged Mukhtar was living happily with his wife Raja and two sons. He was working as a peon in a private office. Despite meager income the couple set their goals very high and got their children admitted in a nearby government school. The couple was enjoying the delights of their mutual understanding and adjustment to their hilt in spite of many day-to-day odds of life which a poor family is destined to face.
On a fateful day Mukhtar developed severe chest pain which followed by continuous cough and fever. He was beginning to feel tired and exhausted. His colleagues rushed him to the hospital where he was tested for several diseases. HIV infection was ruled out but not the tuberculosis. Mukhtar was retained in the hospital and anti-TB drugs prescribed. He showed recovery just within three days. Having heard about his ailment there was a continuous stream of friends and relatives in the hospital.
Among the visitors was a middle aged woman with a skeleton face, wrinkled forehead, frightening eyes and pug nose, the divorced wife of Mukhtar, Bibi Sundri. Mukhtar was stunned but preferred to remain silent. “Oh Raja! I could not sleep throughout the night after I heard about Mukhtar’s health. What is wrong with my darling Mukhtar”, Sundri addressed Raja. Raja burst into tears and revealed the whole episode of her husband’s ailment to her.
“Look Raja, I have understood your problem. Medication is not going to help. He is under evil effect. You get him discharged from the hospital. As soon as you do it, I will request Pahari Baba to visit your residence since he does not visit hospitals. He will cure him completely. On her advice poor Mukhtar and Raja decided to leave the hospital. Their ignorance, illiteracy and credulous nature reinforced their belief.
Next day morning doctors reviewed the condition of Mukhtar. He was preparing to request the doctor to discharge him but the doctor took the lead. Look Mukhtar, you are no more a threat for others. You can now go to your home and resume normal work but you must not stop taking medicines as will be prescribed. Any sudden stoppage can cause severe relapse. Thus the couple happily went back to their home where their children were eagerly waiting for them.
Sundri lost no time to inform the Pahari Baba whom she was visiting occasionally and this excuse gave her more frequent opportunities of meeting. On her request the Babaji accompanied Sundri to Mukhtar’s residence. Raja who was standing at the front side window of her house gazing at the beautiful trees and birds sighted both Sundri and Babaji from a distance. She informed Mukhtar and went out to greet them at the door. Thin lean Pahari Baba with a flowing beard entered the room majestically murmuring incantations. “Are you Mukhtar?”, asked Babaji. “Look, you have committed a number of misdeeds due to which you are under evil effect. It is your good luck that I am here and shall bring you out of this curse”. Then he addressed Raja, “You impious lady, go and get a glass of water”. Raja lost no time in complying with his order by placing a glass of water in front of Babaji. With her hands trembling, expecting a miracle to happen. Babaji sipped some water that was in the glass and passed on the remaining water to Mukhar whom he asked to drink it. The Baba with apparently false confidence on his face retrieved a vial, an injection needle and a syringe from his multi-pocketed bag which he carried along.
He injected out some liquid substance, administered a part of it in his own left arm and the remaining into the right arm of Mukhtar with the same syringe and needle. Soon Mukhtar felt relaxed and Baba left with a warning to Mukhtar that if he resorted to the medication henceforth, the evil effect will reappear.
Mukhtar had a deep sleep throughout that day. In the evening he rose to his feet, and, experiencing a slight dizziness upon rising, reminded himself of what the Babaji had said. Raja was there in the room. After taking brief account of Baba’s visit both attributed the Mukhtar’s deep sleep to Baba’s visit who cured him by relieving him from the so-called evil effect.
Going by the advice of Babaji, Mukhtar stopped taking medicines and apparently remained stable for some days. But it did not last long. After a few days, Mukhtar sustained a severe attack of chest pain for which he was again admitted to the hospital. At this time he was diagnosed as a case of Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis which was a direct result of premature discontinuation of medication.
Mukhtar was accordingly put on more strong anti-TB drugs which included Cyclosporin, Kanamycin and Ofloxicin. Surprisingly these drugs did not show the desired results. So the doctors decided to go for more investigations which included HIV Test also.
The doctors were shocked to find that Mukhtar had developed HIV infection.
Mukhtar was asked to recollect whether anything untoward had happened during the period. Immediately Mukhtar recollected the incident of that glass of water and injection administered by Babaji and narrated it to the doctor. The hospital administration lost no time to inform the police who launched a hunt for the Babaji. He could not be traced till date but Sundri was brought to the hospital. She too had full blown AIDS. Raja also had acquired HIV infection recently because she lived under the same roof with her husband and transmission of the virus was imminent.
Thank God the kids remained isolated and were saved but they were compelled to beg. Apprehending that the social stigma which was attached to Mukhar’s disease may cast a shadow on his business, the private office owner employed some one else in place of Mukhtar. The two ladies and Mukhtar have been quarantined and the Pahari Baba is still at large. God knows who will be his next victim.
Source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com/Home/Newsdetails.asp?newsid=3624&Issueid=138&Arch=
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 10:54 am
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