Editor,
As the author of the letter “NEIGRIHMS: The inside story,” (Nov 2, 2019) which elicited several responses, I feel obliged to reply to the rejoinders published by two main player in the present affair of NEIGRIHMS especially when proof is sought to be produced in the public domain because if I keep silent, more damage will be done to this Institution. The letter was supposed to provide information to the public at a time when many unpleasant reports on the affairs of the Institute were appearing lmost every day in the media but it does seem I have stirred the hornet’s nest!.
The rebuttal by (1) the Head of Department (HoD) Anesthesiology, Prof P Bhattacharya in the same newspaper (ST Nov 9, 2019) and (2) the Director on (ST Nov 11, 2019) needs to be corrected with facts and evidence as desired by the concerned individual. The HoD it seems has not read the letter properly before rebutting to what has been published. Or is he missing the point intentionally? It was clearly mentioned that being the senior most faculty in the Institute, he was appointed by default as a care taker/in-charge Director before a new Director joined. The appointment By the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) is purely temporary and not in any way based on merit. A pertinent fact worth mentioned here is, the HoD was also a candidate to the post of the Director of which he is himself holding charge but never got selected. It is learned that his colleague a very junior doctor compared to him, had done much better in the interview. But one thing is for sure. The gentleman really enjoys the chair and roars like a Bengal tiger wherever he goes.
When the present Director joined, the HoD became his confidante and adviser. With the sole hope of becoming in-charge Director again (since by merit it is very unlikely that he will be Director), the HoD tried his level best to give all such advice to the Director that would put him in a bad light. This in turn alienated all Doctors especially the super specialists who felt humiliated to the point that they left the Institute. Behind the scene the ‘fox’ is very happy to see the toxic work environment and waiting for the day for him to at least get Director in charge if the present Director is removed.
Hopefully the MoH&FW will not make the same mistake by appointing this man as in-charge Director as done earlier. With regards to the schedule of activities which he had elaborated with full vigour and enthusiasm, it is for public information that all other Departments are having the same schedules both in patient care and academics. In fact Departments like General Surgery, CTVS, Cardiology, Pediatrics and General Medicine have their own separate ICUs manned by their own staffs/doctors with no extra hands. Further, it is a fact that many a time the Administration has to checkmate both the Director and HoD because they respect no protocol or government rules and that’s what the Administration is supposed to do. Hence the word “obstructionist” has been wrongly placed by the HoD. Never before has the Institute had to deal with persons who have no respect for rules and regulations and behave like ‘KINGS” not government servants. Parking his car in the area reserved for VVIPs is what the HoD loves doing everyday because he thinks he is a VVIP. It was not an error by anyone but the HoD who projects himself as the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) instead of a Vigilance Officer (VO). Proof: The writing in the wall in front of his office and one the circular he signed as a CVO is herewith attached. The anonymous writer maybe ignorant but he’s not an imposter or manipulator to defend the indefensible arguments.
The Director requested for a proof to be placed in the media. So I am enclosing a circular signed by him on May 26, 2017 just about a month after he joined, specifying the vegetarian items to be served in the eateries at NEIGRIHMS. Surprisingly the Director is silent on the appointment made to the post of Senior Resident Doctor (Community Medicines) with a candidate who works in the same Institute as he did before joining NEIGRIHMS. She resigned on a Saturday, appeared for interviewed on Monday and got selected by the Committee where the Director had appointed himself as the Chairperson. Isn’t this a case fit for enquiry? Is the Director really serious on fighting corruption? Then take action against the VO who had tried even to blamed everyone else for his own misdeeds. Branding himself as a crusader against corruption will not help unless he acts like one.
On the other rejoinder concerning the performance of the engineering section (Civil), some enlightenment on Kaya Kalp Awards is needed. The MoH&FW) Government of India, had launched a national initiative on May 15, 2015 to promote cleanliness and enhance the quality of public health facilities. The name of this initiative is “KAYAKALP”. Let’s give credit to those who really deserve it through their sheer hard work and dedication. In this context, it is the Outsourced Staffs/ Casual Labour of the Institute who deserve to be congratulated. Unfortunately they are being paid the least. Yes the engineering section does have a role to play but a minimal one compared to the herculean task of cleaning the whole hospital wards, toilets, corridors and the surroundings which is done by the 1200 odd persons working 24×7 under the Sanitation Department making it possible for this hospital to achieve a reputation as one of the cleanest in the country. Honesty is a rare commodity nowadays but it should be appreciated when found and in this case the Executive Engineer (civil) confirms the fact that she is the only permanent staff of the section with no promotion whatsoever. This is the real picture with no haze whatsoever. It is the truth!
Name withheld on request
Teachers have no creed
Editor,
Apropos the fracas in Benaras Hindu University, where a qualified Muslim Professor is denied from teaching Sanskrit because of his religion, I strongly oppose the superstitious meanness and say that there should not be any discrimination against teachers based on religion, caste or creed. A person, whatever religion he belongs to, when qualified for teaching, rightly deserves due honour and respect from students and colleagues. It is totally wrong and biased notion that a teacher, other than Hindu should not teach Sanskrit.
Sanskrit is the oldest and original language of India, and so, the religious books, Mantras etc., were composed in Sanskrit. But it does not mean that other than Hindus, nobody should study or teach the language. Each and every person belonging to any religion or nationality has got every right to study Sanskrit as a classical language. Today Sanskrit is being researched internationally. Can anyone raise objections in the name of religion? There is no relation between religion and teaching or learning Sanskrit. Simultaneously, though the Quran Sharif is written in Arabic, but the language Arabic is not confined to the Muslims only. Whoever can learn the language can speak or teach, eg Syed Mujtaba Ali, a renowned writer, being child of a devout Muslim parent was a scholar in Sanskrit.
In the Benaras Hindu University, many Muslim scholars in the past, studied and acquired knowledge without any hesitation or hindrances. At the same time we find, that while establishing Aligarh Muslim University by Sir Syed Ahmad during 1875, Raja Sambhu Narayan of Benaras extended his financial help towards the noble venture. But today, dirty politics is polluting even the educational atmosphere of the reputed institutions in the name of religion. It should be nipped in the bud. There should not be any question of religion or caste in respect of qualified teachers, duly appointed by the proper authority and there should not be any bar to teach or to learn any language for the teachers and the taught.
Yours etc
Uma Purkayastha
Shillong – 4