Namrata Damor and Victoria Kharkongor – the poignant absurdities

The Vyapam (Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal) or Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam in Madhya Pradesh (MP) is perhaps one of the most sinister scams in the history of the country, so far. With mysterious deaths being reported everyday prior to the taking over of the case by CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to be monitored by Supreme Court of India; this has rattled the state BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) which has its ramifications felt on the central leadership of the saffron party. The yearlong taintless BJP is certainly hit with multiple injuries. The only respite perhaps is nothing concerns directly the union government as most are related to the BJP run state governments. After Lalitgate, which has named the likes of Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje, we have Smriti Irani and Pankaja Munde followed by Vyapam now. The External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj is accused of extending help to the Congress call ‘fugitive’ and former IPL (Indian Premier League) Commissioner, Lalit Modi who now lives ‘safely’ in London and throws salvo back home. The Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje too is accused of extending favours to Modi – whose investment of over Rs 11 crores has benefitted her son Dushyant. The Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani is fighting hard to prove her ‘falsified’ educational qualification, which has been challenged in a Delhi Court. Then Pankaja Munde, the iniquitous Maharashtra minister who cleared an amount of Rs 206 crores spent on women and child welfare department without inviting tenders.

The Union Finance Minister said that none is tainted when he was asked to comment on Lalitgate. The BJP leadership gave an understanding that the two ladies – Sushma and Vasundhara – helped Modi in their personal capacity and it is nothing like the previous ‘a-scam-a-day’ government of the Congress led UPA (United Progressive Alliance). The rest concerns the BJP led state governments. But can the central leadership absolve its state counterparts when we have a scam like Vyapam. The Congress accuses that the Prime Minister (PM) maintains a mysterious silence on these issues. Congressman Jairam Ramesh has named the PM “Maunananda” only to earn back “Maun-Mohan” from the BJP. It is another fact, no doubt, that Dr Manmohan Singh was totally dumb during his tenure and what right does the Congress have to accuse the incumbent PM. All knows that the former PM was muted every time by the remote control lady in Sonia Gandhi. But apart from this name calling what the commoners in the country are subjected to. Most importantly the people of MP, where the evil scam started since the time of the incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were the then health minister in the state cabinet.

The absurd part of Vyapam scam is the unearthing of a post mortem report related to the death of a medical student Namrata Damor. The student who was strangled and smothered to death, the doctor who has done her post mortem has gone ahead to conclude ‘disillusionment in love’ and ‘annoyance of parents’ in the report. The doctor gave this version on the earlier pretext that the medical student committed suicide. This is a most horrible act of character assassination of an individual – who of course is not alive today. What is the competency of the said doctor who has gone beyond the definition of a post mortem? According to Wikipedia, “An autopsy – also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy, autopsia cadaverum, or obduction – is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present. It is usually performed by a specialized medical doctor called a pathologist.” A national media house while investigating into this matter observed that it has not come across a ridiculous and absurd doctor and a post mortem report than this in the country and abroad, so far. Is it not poignantly absurd that a post mortem report which is suppose to examine the dead body brazenly relates matters, which is about psychology and psychiatry. This is unbecoming of the medical profession. The said doctor however later admitted to the channel that he wrote the post mortem report without examining the body but on the basis of pictures and other documents related to the body.

There is no dearth of such absurd doctors in the country. The recent death of Shillong lady Victoria D Kharkongor inside the toilet of Dispur Police Station is another such absurd dimension being practiced by today’s doctors that has shaken people’s trust on them. The lady, who was said to be in a derange condition landed at the International Hospital in Guwahati on her way back from Hyderabad. The doctor there instead of attending the patient referred her to the police station where she ended her life as it is said to be known now though investigation is under process. Many right thinking citizens from Shillong and Guwahati are of the opinion that why she was not referred to GNRC or other mental facilities in that city instead of a police station. Victoria was the daughter of a bereaved mother, sister and the rest in her family and none knows it better than the one who has lost their near and dear ones, how painful it is. A doctor is a life giver but unfortunately in this case he has pushed the patient to the other side. Is not such doctor be stripped of their medical garb and is it not just time to recall the Hippocratic Oath that they swear-in before taking this profession.