the other side of the story

The other side of the story

Do we listen? Do we hear? Do we see? Have we become like Gandhi’s three famous monkeys?  The society is ready to believe the worst, rather than investigate or give benefit of doubt to the other party. The media hype, or sensationalism created sways us in believing the worst without proper investigation or detailed analysis of the matter at hand. This is being highlighted in numerous cases where newly married girls take advantage of the cover of the strict laws in the country and victimize men. The purview of the law states that women get the right and have the cover to be saved but when it is mis-used to exploit and to twist to one’s own connivances, then that is illegal. The misinterpretation to suit one’s monetary benefits and to use the guise of the weaker sex to make money or gain undue advantage all comes when we take the girl’s side, rather than listening to two sides of the story.

Life is adjustment in both partners and it is mutually beneficial to iron out difficulties rather than fight, instigate and then subject mental cruelty on the fact that the law is on one’s side merely as you are of the right sex, i.e. female.

There are stark differences cropping up in the behavior all because of this.

In another glaring example, the media created a hype when a young baby who had been born premature and was denied phototherapy facility in the civil hospital. The news went viral when it started running in the news channel further taken up with the chief minister office that the nurse was negligent, inhuman in asking for a mere Rs 200 rather than letting her live. The nurse was suspended, all benefits taken away.

The doctor on duty was away to Chandigarh on official duty. In fact, the treatment of giving phototherapy is not to save life, it is to cure jaundice (a myth); but the practice still continues. The hospital charges Rs 50 / day and the parents had to deposit Rs 200 for the last four days. The doctor who does not want to be named came out vehemently saying that the situation in the civil and general hospital is pathetic and dismal. There is one specialized doctor in the gynecology department. That doctor has to work 24 hours with no other doctor to replace her, plus deal with emergency and the specialized service via 108-ambulance service. How is a human supposed to work without replacement? If one does not have the right conditions to work, paint peeling off the walls cracked doorways, in sufficient nurses, lack of working equipment.

The Punjab Government had taken out an advertisement for 300 specialist doctors for which; only 40 doctors applied for and 13 came on duty. There is a huge shortfall. The media will lambast the hospital, the doctor with out investigating fully the scenario. PreetKamal , a housewife from Model Town actually thought that the inhumane act of not letting a baby be in the photo-therapy unit led her to being killed for a mere rs200; but after speaking to the suspended nurse who told her side of the story, she reiterated. It seemed that the father played the sob story of the chit to the hilt.

As a society we always are ready to condemn, being judgmental without giving one the benefit of doubt.  As, a retired Colonel  Avtar Singh remarked,’ in the army we were always told to check both sides of the situation and then attack and defend. Nowadays, people just rush in, a sign of the times.”

This is so true, of the times. We all need to tread cautiously and not pass judgment so quickly. In this case, we collectively condemned the health officials and tried and passed a sentence whereas they were making the best of the situation where there hands are tied with an old tired handicapped system.  Be gentle to the caretakers other wise they will also not step in to save us fearing recrimination, reprimands and court cases.

Ravneet Sangha