INDIA SMILES YOUNG

It was close to midnight yesterday when almost an entire nation was glued to the TV sets eager to see through the INDIAN team to a win.While it indeed was a momentous occasion witnessing that nail biting finish at the Oval guided by young Robin Uthappa,on the other hand there was this bit of news in one of the news channel about two young doctors in a remote village of kashipur in Orissa who were saviours' in their own right saving hundred's of lives in the cholera hit region.

Contrasting indeed,the first instance there were millions of countrymen cheering and swaying through the night whilst on the other hand an entire village was getting back to life where the death toll had increaed to 800.In either case it was a story of an young INDIA making a difference to people's lives in different ways which makes it more appreciative.

While i was bursting away crackers in the middle of the night , little did i realise there were reasons other than the emphatic win in the form of these doctors making a huge impact on a poor persons life who had to be carried to hospitals on their relative's shoulders walking barefoot that was appealing.

It was quite a daunting task with India needing almost 8 runs per over and with not many recognised batsmen around ,21 year old Robin uthappa showed great signs of courage and mettle taking ownership in steering the team to a magnificient win.Personally i thought the celebration and the camaradrie after the win when Yuvraj singh went around dancing with Uthappa was enthralling as a viewer ,where even doordarshan would have found it hard to sneak through an advertisement!

In fact whilst the victory was sweet it was the grit and determination with which the two government doctors in Orrisa,Rajendra Mandal & Surendrarath went about doing their jobs treating hundred's of cholera patients that was special.

At a time when doctors and engineers prefer to work in Australia or UK ,it is amazing how these doctors deputed in a remote corner of the country had made a difference to people's lives.It had been 3 weeks since these doctors had a wink of sleep,having sacrificed their personal lives in the common man's welfare,working day and night on patients ,it isn't surprisng though when the villager's refer to them as "missionary" or "bhagwan". As for the villagers there was "hope amidst despair" and their dedicated efforts meant that the death toll in the village had reduced drastically.

While a win may reap bonus and perks for our cricketers,benefits such as these may be a far cry for these modest doctors who ought to be happy with the petty government income and yet working there hearts out in adverse conditions is heart breaking.In a nation like ours where real sacrifices are rather easily forgotten like the good sporting wins indicative of a lack of sporting culture,it wouldn't come as a shocker if the efforts of such doctors doesn't even get a word of appreciation in the government.

Sans the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats,even with inspiring acts such as these and many more we as an average INDIAN still are in an apprehensive state of mind unmindful of the fact that we owe something to this wonderful nation in any capacity which is at the least one can do.

For me personally it was one instance where YOUNG INDIA had stood up and emerged victorious in its own way.

Cheers,
Kutlu..