MAKING A CHOICE

Making a choice, among the few or many available to us is difficult in our lives. God provided us with a variety of resources of utility and entities of beauty around us to keep us energetic, inspired and happy. I would give you the list of choices I had once and have now and how I had and have to choose one from them in a context or situation. Many times, we don’t make a choice after careful thought for years but randomly and carelessly. This is why we are all somewhat happy now. The more we think to make a choice, the more we fail to opt for one. I believe that most of our lives are a result of our random choices.

1. I was born in a village named Gollalagunta, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, on 8 September, 1976, sometime around 2:40 pm that day. I was the third son to my parents. I did not choose the place or time of birth. I did not choose my parents. I did not choose my siblings. This birth was imposed on me.

2. I grew up in a mango farm of the Kshatriyas of village Tangedu, which is near village Ramayyapatnam in Visakhapatnam district, along with my parents and brothers. I studied my first and second standards in the primary school at Ramayyapatnam. I walked about two kilometers to reach this school. I did not choose my school. I had to accept what was there. There were no multiple options either.

3. My parents sent me to the house of my maternal grandparents in Gollalagunta for my study from the third standard onwards. I studied at the upper primary school in Gollalagunta from my third to seventh standards. My parents imposed their choice on me here. I obeyed and followed what they instructed me.

4. My uncle K V Rama Raju, who was one of the teachers for me at this school during this time, thought that I could study well if I join the Andhra Pradesh Residential School (APRS) for Boys at Bhupatipalem in East Godavari District. He kept me at his abode in Jaggampeta for about a month and got me prepare for the entrance test into this school. I did not take this entrance exam well. I did not think that I would get a place to study here. I joined the Zilla Parishad High School at village Darlapudi to pursue my eigth standard. Around October 1990, I knew that I got a place to join this school as one of the students that joined this school left soon being unable to study in that remote and isolated area. We call it ‘waiting list’. I entered it. I continued there. I got accustomed to high degree of self-discipline when studying here because every student has to conduct himself or herself systematically while in a residential school, without the help of parents or relatives, away from them. I did not make this choice but my uncle. I accepted his choice and benefitted from it. In childhood, mostly others impose their choices on us. We have to obey and benefit from it. Often, we may miss beauty of our lives, because of their choices for us.

5. After completing my standard 10 from the APRS School at Bhupatipalem, in May 1993, I was sent to the coaching centre named Tadikonda Study Circle in Guntur city for getting coaching to take the entrance test meant for polytechnic course. I was here for about 40 days. I was already poor at mathematics. So, I did not get a good rank in this entrance exam. I did not apply for admission into any Intermediate college soon after taking this entrance test, with the blind belief that I would get a place in some polytechnic college. I lost the academic year 1993-1994 due to my ignorance. Polytechnic was not my choice but that of my father or my uncle. I accepted their choice but could not benefit from it.

6. My teacher uncle K V Rama Raju, after observing my failure to get through the entrance exam for polytechnic, advised me to take an arts course in Intermediate in which I need not struggle with numbers. I liked it. It was my choice to take HEC (History, Economics and Civics) group in Intermediate. I travelled by train between Narsipatnam Road and Elamanchili stations to pursue this course. I got first class marks in it. I benefitted from my choice. I entered a stage of life where I had freedom to choose.

7. My father, being uneducated, did not spend much money for my education at Intermediate level. I did not like his attitude towards me those days because he valued money more than me. I felt disappointed during these two academic years. I believed that I could not study well with the financial assistance of my father. I thought that I should get out of this hell. I was in deep admiration with Lakshmi, the daughter of a fellow, whose house was close to our rented abode, then. I started admiring her from around 1990. It got intensified by 1996. On January 8, 1996, at night, I talked with her father for half an hour and explained him emotionally that I was in love with his daughter and that I wanted to marry her. I did this after knowing that she would get married soon with a boy chosen by her parents. He said that his daughter did not know my name also. I realized that he became a villain. On February 10, 1996, at night, I daringly went to their house again and asked her parents to call their daughter Lakshmi out, so that I could talk with her and know whether she admired/loved me or not. They refused to do it. Her mother rebuked me severely. I decided never to turn my head also towards their house after this incident of humiliation. Lakshmi got married on 20 April, 1996. This severe blow on my psyche also provoked me to join Indian Army with the assistance of my brother Srinivasa Raju (MEG and Centre, Bengaluru, bearing number 15302638^W), who was already with it. I made this choice being compelled by circumstances around me but not exclusively because I liked it. My stint with Indian Army was between December 20, 1996 and 20 April, 1997. I spent most of this time as a garden boy. I got army number 15317443^H around the end of February, 1997. I did not like that rigid and conditioned environment. I left it. It was my choice.

8. Many, including my parents, rebuked me having understood that I left army at a time when many were hopelessly struggling to get a job with the defense services, a safe, reliable and secure job with central government. I joined B.A. course at the government degree college in Elamanchili in July 1997. It was my choice based on my earlier choice. A student of HEC group can take B.A. course only. It does not mean that I could take commerce course either even if a choice was there. I developed aversion for any subject with numbers from 1993 onwards. I passed my BA course with first class marks in 2000.

9. By this time I heard that University of Hyderabad was a great one in Andhra Pradesh and had vague idea to go for the entrance test of this university. My uncle K V Rama Raju enabled me to get that application form in time when I casually went to his abode in Jaggampeta once during this time. I took this entrance test in Andhra University at Visakhapatnam but I had no hope that I would get through it. They conducted this entrance test at 12 centers in India. A Telugu medium student of 15 years’ education, from a rural background, defeating many competent students from other regions, was an ordeal for me. I wondered when I got a letter from them stating that I could join this university by so and so date. My folks, my brother Srinivas in particular, felt very happy about my achievement in this regard. I did not like to pursue this course if my father would fund it. I developed more aversion for his attitude towards me, in financial matters, during my three years as a B.A. student also. My brother Srinivas said that he would spend money for my course and gave about 20,000 rupees to enable me to join this university. Later my father repaid him that money and he bore my expenses as a student there. He spent about 50,000 rupees for me for my education here. I passed M.A. English course with 58% marks in 2002. Pursuing M.A. English course was my choice because I developed passion for English since I was in my sixth standard at Gollalagunta. I developed my English for about 12 years before taking a decision to pursue M.A. English course. So, this choice was made by me believing that I deserve it.

10. I struggled and suffered much from July 2002 to November 2003 because of my effort to go to Alaska for fish packaging job, which I thought, would enable me to earn about two lakh rupees a month. By this time, I realized that money makes many things in human life. To earn more, fast, I chose this option of employment but the consultant cheated me. My father lost about one lakh rupees due to it.

11. I admired about four girls after Lakshmi and wanted to marry them. It was my choice. I failed in these efforts and married in a traditional format. I chose this girl also to marry after discarding many options offered by my father. Being able to choose our life partner, on our own, is luck in countries like India, especially in poor and uneducated families from rural backgrounds.

12. I did jobs with five units of employment till now, with considerable gaps between one job and the other. These were all my choices from a few available to me. I enjoyed doing each of these jobs. No job completely matches our interests and expectations. Compromise is inevitable in this domain.

13. Now I am unable to choose one from many options available to make my life comfortable and happy. So, when choosing one out of helplessness, I miss or lose the remaining ones:   

a. I want to meet many persons I like and see many places I wish to visit.

b. I want to see many films and fairs regularly.

c. I want to meet my friends now and then and enjoy their presence for a while.

d. I want to go to a remote place and live peacefully in a clean and beautiful ambience.

e. I want to spend enough time with my parents and relatives.

f. I want to spend more time with my wife and children.

g. I want to write often and publish books.

h. I want to go to those places where I spent considerably earlier as a student, jobholder or person.

i. I want to go back to those days when I enjoyed my life better than now despite hardships.

j. I want such life where nobody dictates me what I should do but allows me what I like to do always.

k. I want to kill everybody that is torturing others severely, directly or indirectly, often or regularly.

l. I want to know more about God, meeting great saints in India.

m. I want to see India in such a state, where all are living based on virtues and devotion towards God.

n. I want to do exercise regularly and burn excessive fat stored around my abdomen.

o. I want my health to be better than what I have now.

p. I want to sleep peacefully every night without any dream.

q. I wish to look young, energetic and handsome always, so that society may find me interesting.

r. I want such job where there are no restrictions of any kind at all.

s. I want to explore more in India to understand its diversity and feel its beauty.

t. I want that much money with which I can build a good house in my favourite place.

u. I should be able to run any vehicle so that I can buy them and move anywhere at will.

v. I want hygienic and healthy foods everywhere so that I can buy and consume them happily.

w. I want to live honestly and ideally always but I should not face difficulties on this journey.

x. I want state and central governments to establish such rule where all can live happily and comfortably.

y. I want all private and government employees to work based on the ideals of honesty, toil and loyalty.

z. I want all to live with a sense of mutual respect and love but not jealousy, hatred and cruelty.

I am unable to live happily now because I cannot create a world around me which I like the most. There are many choices around me but I cannot choose the best one for me as I cannot afford them. I have many desires but cannot fulfil all of them. I have limitations and restrictions as a civilized human being. When I try to get something, struggling hard, something else attracts me and gets me astray. I should be able to delete unwanted thoughts from my mind but I cannot do it. My subconscious area has a storehouse of haunting memories and sad experiences which often disturb and disappoint me. Others are not happy if I do what I like only. I am compromising a lot to satisfy others, doing what I personally do not like much.

Insights

1. Nobody can make the best choices in life or profession because what looks extraordinary today might turn out to be unwanted and detestable tomorrow due to change in your perception or in others.

2. Thinking too much about anything or struggling restlessly for something or somebody is avoidable. Many things are not in your control. You can imagine a lot but in reality it may never happen.

3. You can never utilize all the available options in your life. When you are with somebody, doing something, you are missing many incidents, experiences and persons. You cannot be everywhere.

4. Many things happen in your life before you reach an age of maturity whereby you can make choices for your satisfaction. Accepting and being happy with what happened is better than worrying about them.

5. We are not living in this world exclusively for ourselves but for others also. As a son, daughter, mother, father, relative, well-wisher, employer, employee …we have to play many roles attentively.

6. There is no happiness and contentment in struggling for what is inaccessible and unaffordable but being balanced and ideal with people, places and circumstances set around us by God with a purpose.

7. More than your intelligence, meticulous planning and perfect execution of something, your destiny configures most of where you should be born, how you should live and where you should die.

8. People and things around you play a destined role in your life. Never expect everything to happen to your advantage or happiness. You are just a particle in a world of unbelievable wonders and secrets.

9. Do not love or hate anybody or anything deeply. Nothing is permanent here. Nobody is completely reliable in this world. Just ensure that you are playing your role sensibly and sensitively.

10. Hardships and pains are inevitable parts of human life. You took this birth to clear those debts and burdens of your previous births only. Your soul has that history. Never try to explore that mystery.

11. Be good and open-minded at your level. Don’t compare your personality and achievements with those of others around you. You are a unique creature of God. Respect and love yourself. Feel it always.

12. Instead of struggling to know about quite mysterious and incredible truths around you, bring comfort and happiness into the lives of creatures around you utilizing what is available and affordable to you.  

13. Life is a mysterious but exciting journey. Nobody knows whom you meet and where you go on this track of wonders. Keep going. It needs much patience on your part. Be ready to face anything on the way.

14. Never expect too much from others. Like you, they have also many problems, tensions and fears in their lives and professions. Practice unconditional love with people and things around you always.

15. God planned for you more than what you can for yourself. Do not plan excessively for you or others. Very few things are in your control. Don’t toil to make impossible possible. It never happens.

16. Understand things from the perspectives of those to whom you want to help. Avoid excessive selfishness or goodness. You have an inevitable role to play. You should live to play that role completely. 

MAGGI NOODLES

I am disturbed reading the news on the issue of low quality Maggi Noodles, for which many states are banning its use for a specific time. I regret it and express my sense of guilt to the management of Nestle India. Just consuming these noodles, Indians do not get diseases or die earlier than expected. It is shame to know that often such shallow things happen in democratically ruined India.

Compared to noodles, majority of Indians consume more harmful products like tobacco and alcohol. Every year millions of Indians are suffering out of many diseases caused by these fatal products and many are dying desperately. The Government of India is getting taxes from the sale of these deadly products and spending that money for the welfare of good people like me in India. This is like collecting money from patients and dead bodies and offering that money to brides and bridegrooms as gifts. What a culture in India? Narendra Modi cannot ban tobacco and alcohol from India because he is a hypocrite. He can allow his regulatory bodies to ban Maggi Noodles in many parts of India because it is a fresh and superficial issue for him and his government. Unless the idiots and rogues and bastards of our regulatory bodies (drug control units of centre and states in particular) do something or the other now and then, to make their presence felt by us, we don’t get fresh news of controversy in our newspapers. I believe that 90% of food and drug inspectors in India must be hanged publicly for their negligence in carrying out their responsibilities honestly. Narendra Modi cannot do it in his lifetime.

Indian hotels are known for uncleanliness. Thousands of hawkers sell foods on pavements.

Nobody checks medical stores frequently. Any idiot can start a medical store and sell rubbish.

You can bribe the traffic police and move away. They are authorized to do anything they like on roads.

Police can torture you like anything anywhere. Nobody can change their attitudes and culture in India.

Government teachers may or may not provide quality education to the students at those schools.

60% of the fast foods and packaged foods we are consuming now in India are harmful to all of us.

There is unlimited corruption in defense services. We are spending billions of rupees for their welfare.

Politicians can talk anything and get into corruption to any extent, in any party, in any state.

Hospitals and nursing homes can throw harmful trash in our streets carelessly.

In India, what you can discuss happily always is “burning issues”. They have been burning since independence. We have no moral values to solve them from their roots. Creating and discussing a fresh issue is our habit as Indians. The issue of Maggi Noodles is not a bigger one compared to the unlimited number of burning issues in India, which we have been facing for decades. If Coca Cola and Pepsi drinks are not harmful, why Maggi Noodles? The other day, they talked a lot about banning Amway products in some regions because it is against the dead and worthless policies of India. I have been using Amway products for long. They are better than hundreds of products made in India.

In India, all are concerned about ‘making money’ but not ‘how to earn that money’. Those running the central and state governments, are the first rate criminals in India. If we hang them first, we can change India. They talk about patriotism and Indian values on stages for impressive speeches but what is happening at ground level. They are running fraudulent businesses; they are encouraging unscrupulous entrepreneurs in every part of India; they are ruining the lives of people of India offering them low quality foods and services. Governments and bureaucracy are the bodies of criminals and sinners in India. In such highly polluted and corrupt state of affairs in India, Maggi is not an issue at all. Indians have been accustomed to deadly products, ineffective and corrupt administration of state and central governments and so many other drawbacks and demerits of culture in India, promoted by our dirty rulers for decades. Indians do not die because of consuming these few noodles. Nestle India is just a helpless victim in this scenario. No Indian politician or minister is expecting the best foods only to be made and sold in India. This is a plain truth. Then why should we blame one company against the other, now and then. In India, anybody can make anything and sell to anybody. Governments want tax income.

Can we ever see the kind of standards of governments in nations like the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Norway? 

I often console myself for being an Indian because criminals and sinners of international standards are ruling us everywhere and ruining our lives every day and night. They are in all political parties.   

LETTER TO A DOCTOR

29 October, 2014.

Payakaraopeta.

Dear Sri I N Murthy,

I often bring my children to your clinic when they are sick. I believe you are an adequately qualified and talented doctor to help children grow in a healthy and happy manner, advising them the best medicines available and possible and offering reliable treatment whenever necessary. It is difficult to assess the qualities and efficiency of any professional just after a few informal interactions. It is easy to believe in somebody just like that. India is a land of beliefs and loyalty. Indians take much time to believe in somebody and once they repose trust in somebody, they continue that relationship of trust and gratitude forever. Indians are being cheated and misguided by various businessmen now. Doctors are not an exception to this either.

Ordinary Indians are scared to enter a clinic or hospital because they are unable to afford the costs of diagnostic investigations, medicines and surgeries needed for them or for their children. In this context, you came to India to be a children’s doctor, leaving your comfortable zone in the UK. It is true that there is a great need of qualified and talented doctors in Indian towns like Tuni and Payakaraopeta. We cannot rush to Visakhapatnam, Kakinada or Rajahmundry for critical health problems. It demands time and costs of travel. Ordinary people cannot afford it. So, your idea of starting a children’s clinic at Payakaraopeta is not a wrong one. Your present pursuit of starting a hospital is also very appreciable. If you can bring a few qualified and talented specialist doctors to this hospital and earn a reputation for quality service, really the people of this region must be considered lucky. I feel as one of them often because I have easy access to healthcare facilities here.

I like to offer a few pieces of advice to you in this connection, which might help you a little.

Treating Children  

Children are the future of any nation. When we are moving towards old age and resultant departure from this material world, children are the hope of a nation. They grow into adults and turn as the proud human resources and beauty of a land. So, offering service to children means building a nation indirectly. You are playing that great role as a doctor. You must treat children in the following way, whenever they come to your hospital:

1. Find out the accurate health problem of kids and prescribe highly reliable medicines only to them. Ask if some of those children are averse to taking injections. Then suggest alternative tablets, capsules or tonics, if possible. Children are very sensitive. You should advise any medicine thinking from their varied perspectives and status of sensitivities. The moment you love children to this extent, their parents and relatives too feel very happy about you. They are their valuable assets. You must treat them with love, care and sympathy always.

2. Speed is the guiding force of this age. One has to do a lot of things, utilizing limited time available to one. So, you should not waste the time of any of your visitors and their children. You should test them as early as possible, prescribe medicines early, treat them early and send them out early. If you save their time, they feel happy. You should ask them specific questions related to their children only and offer advice or treatment fast. If you expect any of your visitors to wait for long, they develop a wrong impression about you as a doctor and your hospital as a whole. Offer additional advice to any of them only if they ask you out of their interest or curiosity. If you offer advice proactively to somebody, when many are waiting for your time outside, you are actually misusing your time and energy. Most of Indians do not value anything if it is ‘free’.

3. Most of Indians are interested in spending their money for gold, lands and such other assets only but not for their children. They spend and borrow lakhs of rupees to buy gold or a house but never for the health of their children unless it is a medical emergency. So, you must prescribe medicines and treatments to their children considering them as hard-core misers. If an RMP can cure the fever of a child with 100 rupees only in their native village, they prefer him only always instead of a qualified and talented doctor out there in their nearby town or city. They have no time, interest or money to invest for the health of their children. This is why most of Indians are still depending on RMPs in remote areas and villages. So, you must be able to keep their medical and treatment expenses to the least possible. They must be able to cure the health problems of their children with the lowest amount of investment possible. However, educated and rich parents are an exception to this. They spend much money for the health of their children. Before prescribing medicines or treatments, you must consider the financial status and psychological growth of their parents. Make them spend money accordingly.

4. Don’t tell them to go to any particular diagnostic centre for tests. They think you have a business relation with them. Just tell them the types of test reports you need. They get it done somewhere and come back to you soon.

Professional Look

Whether we like it or not, how we look or talk with others certainly does have an impact on our image as a person or professional. Some points to be considered in this regard:

1. You must have a very professional look and outlook. You must look as handsome and impressive as possible. Half of the health problems of children and their parents must be cured just looking at or talking with you in your room. The clothes you wear, the words you use to communicate with them …everything must be with extraordinary standards. You should never sit or behave casually before a visitor to your seat. Behave with them like an influential and disciplined celebrity does. How you look and behave before them in your room deeply impresses their attitude about you. Your manners must be so impressive that they should come to you repeatedly. There should be dignity, empathy and reliability in how you look and what you talk with them. Satisfy them answering all their questions patiently, if you are somewhat free during that time. They must feel that you are a world-class doctor after talking with you for a few seconds. Share your extraordinary knowledge with them when talking with them about their children. People get attracted towards those that have more knowledge than those that have more money. Sharing that hidden knowledge with others is also necessary.

2. Your chair, table and room must be of international standards. The children and their parents should enjoy that ambience. It is not enough if a God is great, the temple in which He is must also be amazing always.

Valuable Information

Most of us face a lot of problems in our lives and professions just because we don’t have the right information about somebody or something when we want it very badly. So, it is good to provide them with valuable information on different aspects of health and preventive care related to children.

1. Make an attractive and quality pamphlet/booklet containing information regarding the various vaccines to be administered to children at various stages of their growth. Inform them the kind of care and precautions they need to take to keep their children healthy and strong always. They feel very happy and grateful to you if you can provide such information to them when they come to your hospital. When you are collecting consultation fee, prescribing medicines, advising medical tests and treatments…they feel you are looting their money. They don’t think that they are doing so for the health and happiness of their children. They feel grateful to you only when they get something very valuable freely in your hospital. An information booklet is one of such facilities you can provide to your visitors. It should have a classic look and represent your high standards as a doctor.

2. You can think if you can offer anything of great value at affordable prices in your hospital. They take it very happily. You must give them a lot, expecting very little money only from them. They must feel that they are getting a treasure from you, spending very little. Think what you can do in this direction for them.

Timings  

Everybody, seeking the services of a doctor, certainly expects reliability of availability of him or her in the suggested clinic or hospital. Consider the following points.

1. Specify the timings and days of your availability at the specified hospital. You must collect consultation fee alike on any day. You should attend emergencies at any point of time, on any day, if you are in town. You should not look money-minded during emergencies expecting them to pay all the charges or costs of surgeries immediately. Try to be as humane, ideal, sympathetic and liberal as possible. Give them a little time to be ready financially to face the situation. Rich ones can pay money in time but poor ones fail in this regard. You should be kind towards them. If you save the health or life of a child, with least possible investment of their time and money, they spread that news to many within days. They do value our sense of standards and values. If you are kind and generous towards them whenever possible, they treat you like God and tell the same to anybody that consults them about such matters. Your ultimate standards as a doctor are, in fact, your publicity material.

2. You should have your breakfast, lunch and supper based on your timings of presence as a doctor at hospital. If you don’t follow timings perfectly, your visitors develop a wrong impression about you. Imagine general public talk about doctors, “Nobody knows when he/she comes or goes!” You should not have such image.

Reception

Just like the value of a family or their house is assessed based on how that homemaker or arrangement of goods looks, the value of a hospital or doctor also is largely influenced by the look of reception and receptionists present there. So, you should take ultimate care about these arrangements in your hospital.

1. The receptionist should look very pleasing and kind to all visitors and children that come to your hospital. They should look and feel healthy, receptive, sympathetic, empathetic, sensitive and educated.

2. He/she should be able to communicate efficiently in Telugu, English and Hindi over phone or face-to-face.

3. He/she should be able to use computer well and store all data online and offline.

4. The ambience in reception should look very beautiful, standard and impressive.

5. Receptionist should never use vulgar and offensive language addressing anybody in the premises of hospital. Even if a drunkard is making nonsense at her place, she/he should be able to speak something like ‘please take that gentleman out peacefully and carefully’. Others may be indecent but we should be able to be decent even towards them in testing conditions also. Receptionist should have a lot of patience, kindness and decency.

6. Receptionist should have a lot of knowledge about medicines, injections, vaccines, children, hospital and present trends in the medical world. Receptionist is like a priest at a temple. If doctor is like God in a hospital, a patient reaches that God through the medium of receptionist. How she/he looks, talks and works does have a lot of influence on the image of the doctor working there. She should be able to advise visitors on many aspects related to health and preventive care related to children. Visitors ask him/her various questions on how to take medicines and other things related to children. She must be able to answer them intelligently, professionally and patiently. So, it’s good if you can take one with extensive medical knowledge and communicative skills for this position. She must update her knowledge regularly about medical care and advancements in this field.

Hospital/Clinic

In Indian hospitals/clinics/nursing homes, what we find is uncleanliness and disorder everywhere, even in corporate hospitals at times. They throw rubbish somewhere and keep things in a disorderly manner. You must take the following measures to keep your hospital very good as far as sanitation and discipline are concerned.

1. Chairs meant for visitors and children must be very beautiful, hygienic and orderly.

2. Silence must be maintained as much as possible throughout the hospital except inevitable sounds of children.

3. Classical music might be played inside the hospital where visitors and other staff move. All those that are coming to this hospital must feel a divine sensation listening to that inspiring instrumental music. Music has power of healing. If the music being played in your hospital heals and soothes the psyches of those creatures for a few moments at least, they remember that ambience for long, even after going out of your hospital. The memories of the staff and ambience in your hospital should chase them, wherever they are. Think how you can make your hospital heavenly from this perspective. Everybody likes to be entertained and respected by others. Why should not you think on how to please all your visitors differently in your hospital?

4. Hygienic drinking water, toilets and medical store facilities earn a lot of reputation for any hospital. Ensure that you maintain them to the highest degree of perfection and order. Your visitors, patients and children might be innocent and ignorant creatures of God. You are a qualified, talented and intelligent doctor. If you add kindness and idealism also to these traits of you, you can win the hearts of Indians fast. Do the best possible to make them feel happy, satisfied and honoured in your hospital and in your presence. They should feel that they are in a world-class hospital as long as they are in your abode of healing. Even the doctors in your facility should have such high standards and values as professionals. You should guide them in that perfect path always.  

Ownership of Hospital  

Others do not think and act like you when you delegate the responsibility of your hospital to them because they did not invest their money in it. They work like selfish business partners only but not as an owner of that entity. So, it is better if you own and run this hospital. It’s your unit. Make it beautiful and dependable for all those that come to and talk about it. You must spend considerable time, money and thoughts on improving its standards.

UK/India

Since you served in the UK once, you need to decide whether to stay back in India or to move to that place again. The following points help you in taking a good decision in this regard.

1. Service to humanity is service to God. In Tuni and Payakaraopeta, there is more need of doctors like you than in that country. If ultimate service to children is your motto, you must stay back in India. It takes time to earn reputation for yourself and your hospital. You must wait and acquire that status slowly.

2. When you think that comfort in life and earning in an easy manner are your goals, the UK would be the best option. You need not struggle much to do anything differently there. It is enough if you deliver your services as any doctor does there. But, after 10 years, if you question yourself about what you did for others substantially, the answer would be disappointing. You appear as a commercially oriented doctor if you work in the UK. If you work in India, despite problems and stress in educating and serving Indians slowly, you feel satisfied in future also because your services are highly needed here. Your stay in India has a noble purpose unlike in the UK.

Publicity

You can/should promote awareness about the uniqueness of your hospital until it earns a reputation of its own through word-of-mouth of your satisfied service recipients. You can consider the following:

1. Print and distribution of pamphlets through paperboys specifying the attractions of your hospital.

2. Local radio and television media.

3. Ads in newspapers occasionally.

4. A classic website showing what you do and kinds of services/facilities available in your hospital.

Conclusion

Your hospital might be a successful venture if you meet the following requirements.

1. You offer extraordinary services to all of your service seekers through your hospital.

2. Your hospital and the doctors working there are of high standards and values.

3. You have patience, hard-working nature and vision in developing your hospital.

4. You treat all with due respect, professional outlook, sympathetic attitude and affection.

5. Service is your primary goal and profits and commercial success are your secondary goals.

6. You are ready to serve others, at any point of time, on any day, if you are in town.

7. You educate parents and children that come to you, out of your kindness for them.

8. You like your profession and offer the best as a doctor, not minding the status of your service seekers.

9. Other doctors and hospitals in this region must find you and your hospital unique in many ways.

10. You regularly collect feedback from your service seekers and improve your standards accordingly.

11. There are considerable facilities in your hospital to meet emergency cases also, which cannot be handled in other clinics/hospitals in Tuni or Payakaraopeta.

12. You are able to attract educated and rich service seekers also letting them know that you and your hospital are different from those available here.

13. Visiting your hospital and talking with the doctors there is a divine experience to visitors.

Hope these points of discussion help you a little in understanding Indians and the kind of service you need to offer them in course of time to win their love and respect.

Sincerely,

Datla Chiranjeevi Raju.