Defying Disability

“Disability is not a Limitation….
                                 It is just a Mindset”
                                                         _Chaitanya Mukund

In the third installment of #SALUTINGTHESUPERHEROES, lets meet Dr.Rupinder Kaur, an Ayurvedic medical officer, who has defied her disability for serving the humanity.

Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself?

 Ans: Hailing from Ludhiana, Punjab. I am working as Ayurvedic medical officer under national health mission from the last 10 years, currently posted in PHC Jodhan. I got diagnosed with Polio, when I was just 6 months old. But despite that, today I am as independent as anybody else, and my only motto in life is to serve the humanity, help others and fulfill my duties as a doctor.

Q: What are your responsibilities and challenges as a COVID fighter?

Ans: These days due to COVID, my duties are assigned in general OPDs and flu corner, which is a separate section within the hospital.  Here we examine people with ILI (Influenza like illness). We inquire about their travel history, especially international travel, possible contact with a COVID patient etc. We guide them regarding precautions to be taken, and go for a COVID test in case the symptoms flare up.

I am also a part of Rapid Response Team (RRT), which is carried out at block level. So if someone enters our block, be it the contacts of a COVID patient or anyone returning from national or international travel, it’s our foremost task to quarantine them immediately, following obtaining of their travel history, bio data and other relevant information. 

During the field visits, people look at our caravan of vehicles with so much wariness and alarm. To convince them that these are here for their own wellbeing is quiet a big challenge.

 

Q: So are there any challenges which you face as a specially-abled while doing your job as a COVID fighter?

Ans: There are certainly challenges when it comes to field work  as there many places in rural areas which are completely inaccessible for persons with disabilities, due to uneven surfaces, under constructed roads, steep tracks  etc, that even able bodied  have a hard time to walk upon more often than not .

But having said that, our team is very supportive and cooperative and they help me at each step.

Q: What inspires you to work so hard and with such perseverance?

Ans: My biggest strengths are: my friend circle, my office mates and my family. They have always believed in my ability. Not even for a second, I feel my disability. With them around, I can be myself.  Also keeping one’s willpower intact is very important, along with a positive approach for better decision making.  It all enhances the essence of life.

Q: Your message to other COVID fighters?

Ans: First of all, my heartfelt thanks goes to all the corona fighters including sweepers, garbage collectors etc, who are doing their duties diligently despite all odds. People have realized their importance. 

I just want to say that, they are doing a great job and continue to do the same. Because at the end of the day, it is our collective contribution, which will make way for a better tomorrow.  

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Fighting The COVID Fire

Contribution of Fire and Rescue Services, MC, Chandigarh during COVID-19.

1. All leaves and weekly rests were restricted in wake of COVID-19, and the Fire Service was deployed round the clock to handle Fire and Rescue operations in the City and nearby vicinity.

2. Sanitization of public places was carried out by the Fire and Rescue Services, MCC to disinfect the City.

3. Fire Service officials were deployed on CTU buses to supervise the adequate supply of Fruits and Vegetables in various sectors of the city during lockdown.

4. The daredevil officials of Fire Service are engaged to carry out the Home Quarantine of the Contacts of Positive Corona Cases, Negative Cases and those who are arriving at Chandigarh from other states.

Yes...they not only give fire a ferocious fight, but now they are also combating COVID with all their might!

In the second interview of the series #SALUTINGTHESUPERHEROES, let us meet Mr. Anil Kumar Garg, Additional Commissioner-cum-Chief Fire Officer, PCS (Nodal Officer Contact Tracing and Quarantine COVID-19). A man who is at the helm of all these efforts, leading from the forefront in fighting this fire of despair.

Q: What was the biggest challenge you came across as a COVID19 Frontline Warrior?

Ans: Nowadays, I am primarily looking after areas of contact tracing and quarantine. People with both higher and lower risk rate are getting quarantined. But the latter are the ones, who besides being positive have Primary, Secondary and Social contacting. Primary contacts are a great threat to the people within their vicinity. Therefore, in order to undertake the task of contact tracing and quarantining effectively, it became imperative that the workforce on board was highly motivated and willing, which was quite a challenge. 

Q: How does this contact tracing really works?  What are the key factors you keep in mind while undertaking it?

Ans: The first thing we do in contact tracing is to have a telephonic conversation with the positive patient, providing them moral support and counseling. After obtaining information like; where did they go? Whom they came in contact with? What all they did during that time period? etc, our ground team simultaneously visits the friends and family members of the patients in order to verify their versions. Then we quarantine all those who came in contact. Even after the verifications, if we feel that there is still something more to it and the patient is not co-operating  properly, we trace their calls, locate the mobile tower, get the call log and talk to people he or she contacts frequently. But during the whole process, we ensure full secrecy of the patients, as people regard it as defamation which is not true. It is just an illness and not a stigma.

Q: Your fire department has a taken this unique initiative of bringing smile on the face of kids as well as homeless  people who cannot celebrate their birthdays due to this outbreak. Tell us something about it.

Ans: Since lockdown was going on and there was nobody to cheer them up on their special day, we decided to take up this initiative. So whenever we got to know about these birthdays through newspapers, social media, friends and relatives of the person, we made sure to make the day special and once in a lifetime event for them.  Our team used to go around singing ‘Happy Birthday’ on PA (Public Announcement) System, making the birthday a well known fact for the whole locality, and wishing that person with a homemade cake.

Q: How was the response?

Ans: The initiative got a lot of appreciation from everyone. People felt thankful and cared for during these testing times. After all, even a small moment of happiness can make a big difference.

Q: Your message for other COVID fighters?

Ans: My only message would be that one should keep serving the humanity and our respective nations. If we continue to work with utmost passion and perseverance, we will definitely win over corona. 

Moments of Joy

Spreading Happiness

Celebrating Life :)

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SALUTING THE SUPERHEROES

Do you know, what is common between fictional superheroes and real life superheroes???

Well they both are ever-ready to save the day, no matter what....keeping their personal as well as family lives on tenterhooks 24×7.

In present times, when the world is combating with COVID19, our real life superheroes, the frontline warriors are giving their all to keep us safe by risking one's own life , taking every turmoil head-on.

In an effort to pay my gratitude for their selfless service I, Chaitanya Mukund, in association with Art Infinitii brings you some incredible interviews of such amazing personalities.

Starting this special spree of #SALUTINGTHESUPERHEROES with Mrs. Nilambari Jagedale, IPS, SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police) U.T CHANDIGARH, get ready to unveil the challenges....the struggles and the inspirations behind being a COVID19 frontline warrior. 

 

Q: What are the challenges you come across as COVID19 Frontline Warrior?       

Ans: First of all, it’s our obligation as well as a responsibility to ensure that everyone is safe, including our own force, because if and when we are safe, we can keep others safe.  Making the people aware of rules of the current times and motivating them to adhere, is a big challenge. It took some time for the public to understand the seriousness of the pandemic at first.  It was getting exhausting for people to stay at home. So to convince them was a humongous task. In case of an emergency, the timely providence of essential services like groceries, medicines, etc to the senior citizens and weaker section of the society by our team was another big challenge. Apart from this, to convince migrants to stay back for their own safety and providing daily wage labourers with adequate food were some the major challenges.

Q: How your family is supporting you during this?

Such things are possible only due to support of the family. My husband is also a frontline warrior who is in army and is doing his duty at the borders. My little daughter too is handling the situation very wisely. She knows that her mother needs a proper cleanup before she can hug or play with her after coming back from duty. Besides wherever you are the moral support of friends and family is always there.

Q: We all are witnessing how the police force is working day and night, tirelessly in order to keep us safe. As a team leader, how are you keeping them motivated and on the go?

Ans: I send time to time messages to my team to keep them motivated. Once I recorded an audio message, telling, how much I am proud of them, of their contribution towards curbing the crisis, prioritizing the wellbeing of the masses over their own family needs. Some of them have even arranged Langer (a free meal service for the community) for poor people from their own pocket, provided medicines and medical facilities to the needy.
 I also visit their check posts individually on a regular basis and provide them with bottle of juices, water, masks, sanitizers etc.

 

Q: What inspires you for such a selfless service towards the society?

Ans: In the current scenario, the ground reality is that , many people are struggling to get even a  day’s meal,  So to fulfill their needs , while  working towards  the welfare of the society, is what inspires us the most. Also media has played quite a positive role by showcasing the good aspects and various wonderful initiatives, taken in India and around the world during this time of crisis. Watching people help each other like this, serves as a huge inspiration for all of us.

Q: As we all know, the number of cases will increase exponentially in coming times. What are the foreseeable challenges according to you?

Ans: The biggest challenge will be to restrict the entry-exit of the containment zones in our area to avoid further contractions. To facilitate the movement of migrants smoothly, without violating the norms of social distancing, is yet another major challenge. In the wake of rising cases, to ensure proper security of increasing quarantine centers, hospitals and medical staff is also one of the greatest responsibility

Q: What is your message for other warriors of COVID19?

Ans: They should continue working with as much passion, motivation and zeal as they are working now. One must always remember that no difficult situation is everlasting and this too will get over pretty soon with our action-oriented efforts.

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The Healing Effect

Following his daily routine, he woke up sharp at 4:45 am . After getting fresh, he sat down for meditation. The words of his guru were doing rounds in his mind:"Anything done at a stretch of 90 days, becomes a habit" . It was the 90th day and Rahul has given it all to achieve the ultimate victory of his life; to defy the doctors...to prove them wrong, who had declared his physical condition Cerebral Palsy as permanent, which is a congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture. It occurs due to abnormal brain development, often before birth.

Rahul never accepted his condition because he always believed that he can overcome it. And now through rigorous 90 days meditation practice, he was able reach such a spiritual level that he could bend and control time and space with his sheer will, as well as power of mind….In short he had mastered the art of time travel...

After sometime of being in deep meditative state, he embarked on a journey of time and space as a celestial being, leaving his physical body behind still in the meditative state...

Using his yogic powers he went back into the year of 1995, at the time of his birth.

At the hospital he saw the doctors arguing with his mother about not going for a delivery, despite being told a thousand times that the moment of the baby in womb is slowing down, with every passing second...

He also saw them freaking out in panic and finally opting for an emergency cesarean when the baby stopped moving once and for all...

His saw his birth and the first reaction that his mother gave after watching him for the first time...

He saw himself in the nicu(Neonatal Intensive Care) where premature babies are kept for a recovery period after birth.

Watching all this from a higher perspective and being invisible from everyone was a feeling beyond expression. It was just like; You are there but you're still not there....

He wanted to stay there and watch his entire childhood unfold again in front of him. He wanted to relive those sweet memories. But he knew it was not possible...he has to go back and live in the present rather than dwelling in the past. He has to go back to complete the circle of life and finish what he has started.

He went near the incubator where the baby Rahul was still recovering. He kept his hands onto the incubator and transferred the divine energy to the sleeping baby. The energy penetrated deep inside the baby's body and healed all neurological damage done to the brain.

As the present day Rahul was passing on the energy to the baby, he could also feel the healing effect simultaneously...

At last he got fully healed, and the baby in the incubator also gave a smile of accomplishment while still sleeping  his meditative sleep...

After having a last glance at his young mother... Rahul came back to the present...all healed from deep within...ready to take on the world...

My First Date...

It was a Sunday morning; I was sitting in the balcony with newspaper in one hand, and sipping my all time favorite cappuccino from the other. You hardly get such kind of ‘me time’ when you are working in a BPO. Round the clock working, night shifts with hardly any breaks, prolonged sitting hours and continuous callings leaves no room for a me-time or to even  have the slightest desire for the same. Thankfully it was my week off today. No, the reason was not it being a Sunday, but because I got a double week off, based on my ‘par excellence’ performance in the previous week’s ‘pressure test’, where you had to take maximum number of calls, while maintaining a 8 out of 10  ratio of satisfied customers throughout the week . I broke my own record of 200 calls a week with a power packed 250 calls this time along with 30 appreciation mails from satisfied customers. I could have asked for anything else from my team leader who was boasting around about my performance with other team leaders and how he got best team players in his team on the entire floor. He was a bit reluctant on giving me a double week off at first, but finally agreed as he didn’t  want to lose the  ‘ace performer’ of his team.

So here I was enjoying my ‘Sunday’ and making full use of my ‘me-time’.

Suddenly my phone beeped and I saw messages from my bff  Rahul

“Hey power packed performer… how are you doing?”

“Enjoying your week off huh?….Oh sorry I mean week offs ;P”

“Just wanted to let you know that Ms Riya Khelkar wants to meet you in CCD sharp at 10:30am”

“Good luck buddy… have fun ;)”

Riya was an office friend. We shared a great rapport with each other. We often hang out together, pulled each other’s leg and enjoy spending time together. People often thought we were a couple. Although, Riya didn’t mention or showed any such inclination towards me, but I had feelings for her, and only my close friends like Rahul knew about it

I looked at my watch. It was already 10:15 am, and I only have 15 mins left for my first date . I didn’t want to get late, so without a second thought, I grabbed my jacket and car keys and zoomed out of the apartment.

CCD was a 10mis ride from where I lived. I reached just in time. . I didn’t want to look like a jerk that haven’t brought anything for his lover on their first date. So with a bouquet in one hand and a chocolate case in the other , I reserved a sitting place for ourselves near the window.

It was 10:45 and still there was no sign of Riya.

“Its our first date, maybe she is finding  it hard to choose a gift for me, which is why it is taking her a long time to come. But somebody should tell her that my biggest gift is her only. I don’t want any materialistic gift” I mumbled to myself .

Just then the waiter came and asked for my order.

“I am expecting someone….we will order in a while”

He nobbed and went away

It was almost 11:00am and Ms late laatif Riya was nowhere in sight.

Exasperated I dialed Riya’s number…but it was coming out of reach. I tried 2-3 times but all went in vain.

Then I called Rahul

“ Kyun bhai, mil liya bhabhi se..?” he said in a teasing tone

“Kahan yaar…. woh to abhi tak aayi hi nahi…kab se wait kar rahan hoon” I grumbled

“Beta woh aayegi bhi nahi” , he smirked

“But why???  Tune hi toh bola tha ki woh  mujhse milna chahti hai?” I said shocked

“Aaj Kya date hai Bhai?”

“1^st April” I said puzzled

Toh phir Happy April Fool’s Day. He chuckled and cut the phone.

I went into a coma like state for a few seconds. I didn’t know how to react.

After sometime, I laughed at my own stupidity and realized that I stood up on my first date :D

THE CURE

I still remember the day I buried my dog Bosco a golden furred Labrador. We were together since I was 4. Mom and dad had brought him as a birthday present. We grew up together...

We played together. I taught him many games and tricks, but his most loved game was ‘bring bring’ in which he we would bring the ball back thrown afar. Everything was going great. We were happy in our lives, enjoying ourselves, until suddenly he started acting weird. He started howling and growling for no reason. He just kept sitting in a corner all day long staring, being clueless. Didn't eat much or made eye contact with anyone. We all got worried and took him to the doctor where he was diagnosed with an incurable tumor in the brain. Devoid of any hope he was put to sleep.

I was shattered, my world went upside down. He was not just a dog...he was a family member...he was my younger brother. After he passed away, I started hallucinating him everywhere, developed psychiatric symptoms because of which I was taken to doctor. But even medicines didn't work. I found relief in sleeping all day because I didn’t want to open my eyes just to find out that he isn't there. I didn't want to face the reality.

But one day he came...and talked to me in human voice, he said; “Brother what have you done to yourself...you are not the one whom I have known from the day one, he was strong...he was caring....he was empathetic. I know you are disturbed with my death. But brother life must go on.... you have so many responsibilities on your shoulders...so much to accomplish in life. I will not allow you to morn my death anymore. Stay strong and take good care of mom and dad. I am always with you right there in your heart. Now leave all the worries aside and get up ...GET UP!”

I woke up with a jerk, soaked in sweat.

It was a dream... he came to cure me...to reinforce the sense of responsibility...to let me know that it's time to get okay, because he's okay. After that day I became alright. But the void he left in my life is still there. I miss him a lot...a lot!

THE MYTH GODDESS

I was sitting in my room surrounded by crenellation of paper clutter scribbling down some ideas illegibly onto my notebook when suddenly the doorbell disrupted my thought process. I dashed towards the door praying that it should not be the same cunning cable waale bhaiya , who comes every second day with his huffy  ‘aaj ka best offer ‘ and tries to coax me into buying his cable connection , despite being told a thousand times that there is no need for  a cable connection  as I don’t watch TV and like being accompanied by my pen and paper most of the time while watching some infotainment content online itself.

If boomerang could be person, it would be him only, because ; Chaahe jitna zor laga lo…yeh wapas zarroor ayega ( Do whatsoever…..but this man will return)

Dandling with deliberation I opened the door, and to my pleasant surprise, thankfully it was not him.

He was the postman, who usually doesn’t have much to offer me, apart from subscription letters from various scholarly magazines and journals  about which I keep inquiring through mails.

He scanned my shabby appearance from top to bottom and gave an understanding and sympathizing look. He handed over an envelope. I took the envelope and put it in my pocket without a glance. I thanked him and went inside back to my crenellation of papers and opened laptop .

Due to constantly working upon my ideas for weeks now, I hardly got any time check mail box . The inbox was filled with junk mails from various social media platforms and websites which just keep on bombarding your dashboard with latest offers and end of reason sales . I was scrolling, being clueless... unsure of what I am looking for. But just then something caught my eyes. It was a mail from the representatives of Booker awards. I was flabbergasted.... you don't witness such mails every day. I opened the mail while earnestly praying to my favorite deity...

In the mail it was written:

Dear Mr. Chaitanya

We are pleased to inform you that your book 'THE MYTH GODDESS' has been longlisted for the booker award.

Regards

Booker Awards Association

Further in the post script it was written; a hard copy of this mail will be sent to you at the given address within a week.

The post script of the mail really gave me goosebumps because today was the 7th day since the mail  has been sent and I should be receiving the hard copy today itself.

Just then,  something struck my mind and I went for my pocket with shaking hands. I somehow managed to pull the envelope out. And after actually looking at it  for the first time...I was about to faint not because of a psychogenic shock but because of the shock of disbelief and excitement. It was that hard copy from booker Awards Association. I got escalated with joy. It was hard to believe my luck. I phoned my agent to confirm the news, he said: Yes!

I thought of replying the mail to express my gratitude.... but just when I sat down to write...

Somebody tapped on my shoulder.

I turned around to see who it was…

My mother was standing there... she said to me. ...” beta it's good to right down your affirmations but it's more important to act upon them...plus whenever you sit to write down, you don't keep track of time, come and have dinner it's already getting late”

All of sudden I realized that I got so immersed in my affirmations that I actually started visualizing them....and The Myth goddess was still in its first draft.

Image Source: https://www.britannica.com/