Mukesh Bhatnagar, A saplings takes years to grow into a tree. And a grown up tree is a boon to many. Each of its part is useful to many creatures including the man. The foremost being a source of oxygen. The world will never forget its life sustenance quality in the current corona pandemic tsunami, particularly the Indians who got caught in its monstrous 2nd wave. There is clamour for beds in hospitals, oxygen for dying patients and life saving drugs as well.
It is no secret, that corona affected people are found gasping for manufactured oxygen. Individuals and their near and dear ones were seen running for a bed to get treatment. As per BBC news on India, one Neha Sharma said money, status, contacts all failed to secure a bed. Under the situation one 85 year old Narayan Rao Dabhadkar was lucky to secure a bed in Indira Gandhi Hospital in Nagpur.
Narayan Rao showed symptoms of corona on 16th April and got tested on same day and was found Covid Positive on 19th April. By then his oxygen dipped to alarming level. His daughter and closeones ran to get a bed in Covid Hospital. And luckily he got the bed on 22nd April. But as he was being attended by doctors, a woman came begging for a bed of her 45 year old husband. There being no bed she was politely to go elsewhere. Her crying made Narayan Rao change his mind. He suo moto thought to offer his bed to man more in need. He told the doctors – “I am 85 years old, have seen my life, but if that woman’s husband dies then her children will orphaned, so I feel it is my duty to give a chance that person’s life”. The doctors and nursing staff and the crying woman got stunned by this gesture of Narayan Rao. A letter was then reluctantly got signed by Narayan called Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) and allowed to leave. Naryana Rao wrote- ‘I am voluntarily emptying my bed for another patient more in need than me’.
Narayan Rao Dabhadkar died while taking a morsel from his daughter Aasawari Kothiwal, three days after returning from the hospital on 26th April. In his death Narayan Rao left a indelible lesson to humanity. Though himself in critical position he left a legacy by setting an example of sacrifice for a greater cause. Elders are living God on Earth.
There is one life – Make it count.
By Mukesh Bhatnagar
