The Three Mask-a-tears

Another Indian summer, ushered in by Assembly elections, reigns supreme in the sub-continent. The common man has again proved his mettle. The high and mighty masks have been torn. The shrieks are still loud and clear in the air.

The chosen heir, M.K. Stalin led DMK to a spectacular defeat and lost in his own constituency. Very conveniently, this has opened the doors for his son to be the lead face of DMK.

In Kerala, CPM was routed and the CM Pinarayi Vijayan barely scraped through while party villages around him washed away the blood flowing on the streets. However, the highly literate Keralites refused to opt for BJP as even the principal opposition. Still, the three BJP MLAs in the current assembly will be the de facto opposition. This has already been proven by the response to Vande Mataram controversy during the Governor's address in the assembly. While CPM chose to align with the ruling Congress led front on this issues, only the BJP MLAs questioned the protocol breach.

The loudest thud when the highest and mightiest was pulled down came from West Bengal. The BJP dethroned Mamata Banerjee and she was defeated by Suvendu Adhikari in her own bastion. This was not only a much needed show down to exhibit the power of Indian democracy, forget what the hostile media tells you. At last, the Indians living in West Bengal can have, chain ki neend. For non-Indians who used to live there, the exodus has already started.  

But the real theater isn't local; it's global. Even the delusive Trump congratulated Modi ji on winning state elections—not the first one that Modi Ji has won. Why did he do it? The sitting resident of the West Wing has long lost the crown of "leader of the free world" through constant policy flip-flops, crumbling under the realization that the elephant in the room refused to blink in the face of aggressive tariffs and deadlocked trade talks. So the script took a turn. Marco Rubio’s high-profile visit to India strangely—or perhaps dubiously—began not in New Delhi, but with a sudden, unprecedented stop in West Bengal.

We are watching the teaser of a high-stakes thriller series playing out right in front of our eyes.

Donald Trump Congratulates PM Modi on BJP’s West Bengal Victory

Why did he do it? 

Three Masks torn with utter contempt of the people, by the people and for the people.

But then, a new one is on, a much more dangerous and pretentious. But, I do trust my fellow citizens. They speak the oldest spoken language which survived over centuries. Given time, this mask will inevitably be torn away, for the people will definitely see through.. 

The surgery and beyond...

 I had to undergo a minor surgery on my right lower leg to remove an infection caused by a burn injury induced by motor-bike silencer more than 3 years ago. It used to act up every now and then. But, off late, it had worsened a lot. Even though the pain was acute, I had ignored it or learned to live with it. Either way, things became too bad. 

I was referred to Anantapur for a scan. But, the hospital which I approached suggested an immediate surgery to remove the worms which has infested the wound. To be frank, I would never have gone anywhere if I knew that a surgery was required. However, having went there and having seen the condition of my own leg, I decided to follow the advice given by our correspondent, Dr. Alekhya, who is working abroad and who checked my scan report and other test reports.

The hospital, Kumar Hospital, Anantapur, was reluctant to admit a single person without any bystander for surgery. But, one of my student's father, an ambulance driver vouched for me and the surgery was done. It took approximately 30 minutes.

I stayed in the hospital for one week. The staff was really nice to me. I am not fluent in Telugu and without a full-time bystander, needed more care and attention from the nurses. 

Dr. Karun Kumar Reddy  did a great job and was ready to discharge me on Friday. But I got it delayed till Sunday so that I would be in a better position. I wanted to be able to walk a few steps at least. By that time, I got a small ground floor room near to the school for rent as I couldn't climb steps. 

The management and staff of my school gave all possible assistance. My school staff took turns to bring check on me at Anantapur and to give me food even after I returned to Kalyandurg. One Anantapur lad was assigned duty to stay with me in the hospital during night time at the behest of one of my colleagues who was his teacher. 

This was my first hospitalization after I started my career way back in 2002. Grateful to all who made it as easy as it could be.

Back in school by mid-February and now the summer vacations started. I am more active physically and mentally than I have ever been in the last quarter of a century.  The whole experience has changed me to a great extent. 

Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. Audre Lorde