Smile that you are in Lucknow but DO NOT SMILE IF YOU ARE IN KGMC

Muskurae ki aap Lucknow me hain... (Smile that you are in Lucknow...) - Anyone, who has lived in Lucknow or has ever visited this city of Nawabs (Muslim Royal Families), must have seen these words scribbled on boards at various places. Conforming to the laidback character of the city these words simply ask people to feel happy since they are in this city, which boasts of a rich and colourful history.

In the same city there is a place where a bright smile can become a cause of a fight and a patient can be denied treatment. Yes, this godforsaken place is KGMC (King George's Medical College) - now known as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University.

I could never imagine that a name can have so much influence on one's character. But, it seems with a change of the name, this premier institution has certainly changed its character and personality - no more refined manners and ettiquate underlining King George's legacy but unfortunately the institute now displays a panaromic view of uncouth and unruly behaviour.

Its doctors now find places in headlines more for their unruly behaviour, than for their achievements and laurels. Roughing up patients' families or speaking rudely to patients is accepted behaviour of KGMC doctors.

Today, I happened to witness the height of misbehaviour and misdemeanor when a senior doctor refused to see a patient. Why? Because the patient made a blunder - she smiled while the doctor was shouting at the top of her voice at a guard. Displaying her insecurity, Dr Vinita Agarwal, the Professor in Skin Department, took this smile (which was an innocent gesture of exchanging pleasantries between the patient and an intern who was sitting in front of the doctor) as a personal insult.

She not only picked up a fight with the patient she also refused to see her. The patient (Alka Pande - myself) had waited for more than an hour at the OPD (Out Patient Department) to show myself as I was having skin allergy for a while. I was aghast to see such uncouth and childish behaviour from such a senior doctor! Now I could imagine what happens with common patients and how they are treated.

I wondered if these doctors, who take Hyppocratic oath to treat all patients indiscriminately and who supposedly should adopt sympathetic attitude towards their patients, are really doctors!

I thought of registering a complaint with the Vice Chancellor of the University regarding the unethical behaviour of the doctor but on second thoughts I gave up the idea - thinking if the Head of the institution was strict enough to monitor the working of its doctors - the doctors would have never dared to act in such manner - which means no one gives two hoots to the patients' sufferings.

The dirty and unhygienic conditions of the OPD also confirmed that both the doctors and the Vice Chancellor were least concerned about their institute and its up keep, how can they have a professional attitude towards the patients? The institute is functioning because it is a government institute and it has to function and the doctors here are coming to their work because they are getting good wages. There is no compassion and no sense of service to the needy - I think that is too much to expect from them.

I vowed never to come back to this institution even if I am dying and this is the only medical institute on this planet to give me some treatment.

I was disappointed - disappointed with our unprofessional system and unprofessional behaviour of our doctors.

What gave me a hope that humanity is not completely dead in the medical fraternity of this city and there are still people - who can be termed as doctors. Dental College - Bang opposite KGMC is its Dental Unit - which is not only located opposite Medical College, it is also a paradox to medical college. The doctors are polite and nice and the place is clean and patient friendly.

What amazes me is the question - what is it which makes these two units - medical and dental - both part of the same institution - so different to each other -- one fully professional and committed and the other still waiting to be taught how to be professional or even humane.

colour blind

Accidents, killing cyclists and those walking on the road, are common in India. But the Indian government has suddenly woken up to realise this fact.

Perplexed to find ways to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Surface Transport has come up with an idea to introduce a law that from now on all the bicycles would come in bright orange colour. The argument is that the colour would make the cyclists clearly visible on the road and therefore no accidents. Fair enough, the colour would definitely make the cyclists visible. But, is that all required to stop accidents and road rage which thrives on Indian roads.

In India black is the colour for all the basic bicycles, which serve as a common mode of transport, especially for those who can't afford the luxury of travelling in overcrowded public transport, like buses and trains.

I was bewildered at the wisdom of our government. Instead of ensuring stringent compliance of traffic rules and instead of educating people to strictly adopt the road safety measures, the government is planning to change the colour of the bicycle to ensure the safety of cyclists.

I am wondering....will the change of colour would actually help cyclists save themselves from the speeding MUVs and SUVs - raving on the Indian roads with vengeance. The owners of these cars (mostly the politicians or their henchmen) firmly believe that the roads belong to them - them alone and no one else (especially not to those who are either walking or who are in smaller vehicles - be it cycle or scooter or even a small car). Even the government run buses speed and every second day the newspapers report the death of either school going children or of women.

So, the question is - will this bright orange colour be powerful enough to deter the owners of these powerful big machines from their usual road rage? Or will the colour be inspiring enough to let them show a little courtesy to cyclists or even to those walking on the pavement or crossing the streets?

Personally I don't think so. I am not so hopeful. Rather, I would suggest that its high time we Indians should start `behaving' on the road. Let's start showing some courtesy and some manners while driving. What the government can do is to ensure that the extensive traffic laws/rules, which exist in India are implemented in their true letter and spirit. There should be strict punishments/penalties for those who violate these rules. The politicians and their men too should NOT be spared when they break the law.

Many would argue that it is not possible as the country is so big and there are so many vehicles and so many people on the roads, its not practical to penalise everyone. Not everyone can observe patience while driving. Also, people say such behaviour (which is in the blood of even a growing up kid in the west) is not possible in a big country like India.

Even if the argument holds any weight, does that mean we accept the rude and uncivilised behaviour and practice it in our daily lives? I don't think so. At least we can make a start to ensure road safety. Two simple steps can be taken at practically no cost to anyone - implement the law on the government part and behave our best on our part.

Let's face the fact - in India maximum death happen due to road accidents. If these two steps make a slight change on our roads and make the traffic conditions better and safer for people, we can continue walking, but stop if these two steps fail.

During my recent visit to UK I saw how the cars follow the cyclists if they are on a ``no-overtaking'' road. They wait patiently and no one honks, no one rushes the cyclists. The cars overtake the bicycle only when the road signs permit them to overtake. The cars stop if people start crossing the road, even when the pedestrian signal is red. All the vehicles give way to others trying to reverse or turn.

Instead of introducing an interesting colour for the bicycles, the need is to stop and ponder why there are two extremes of behaviour on the roads? One in the west which is sensible, courteous, polite and legal and the other which is mental, discourteous, aggressive and illegal. In my belief it is simple respect to life - which they do and we don't.

For all those who love Beatles

A day at Mathew Street in the amazing city of Liverpool (in its own peculiar sense - which I will talk about later) in England......
It was nostalgic as it took me decades back. All of us (in my age group) have grown up listening to Beatles and we all are aware that Liverpool is the city associated with this legendary group.
But standing at the place where this (then inconspicuous) group used to play and from where these boys turned from city lads to `The Bealtes', was unbelievable.

The whole street reverberates a nostalgic ambiance. The Beatles Shop - selling everything under the sun with Beatles on it or The Lennon's Bar - the whole place, full of stories of The Beatles. As I tried to soak the atmosphere, we are in front of the Cavern Club - the place from where the group started their journey from nothing to the top of the music world.










We went down the eighteen steps to reach the basement - I was instantly transported to an other world. The graffiti on the exposed brick walls of the basement - which used to be a warehouse in the 1800s, the old phone box with Beatles pictures inside, the Beatles' bigger than life size face murals on the wall - nothing was missing as young Richard Batty aptly filled the gaps.












Richard was the young star of the day - strumming his guitar with nimble fingers he was singing all Beatles songs in his mellifluous voice. The ambiance had everything to transport us to a different era. I requested him to sing Imagine... and he obliged me instantly.





The description outside the Cavern Club tells the story of the rise of The Beatles and the actual pictures of that time display the mania this group created in people fond of good music.

The visit to this place was a real treat for me and I thank Sandra and Alfie for this, who took me there. I had no clue that this small basement would open a new world for me.

As we came out to the real world, a thought emerged. Even we Indians have many legendary singers - for an example Begum Akhtar or KL Sahgal. Why havn't we ever thought of making them immortal in this way. We have never celebrated the places, which made these singers or any artiste for that matter, famous.

Why have we never tried to create cultural tourism popular in this way?