MPPEB. Medical scam. At last the truth is coming out!

Truly, at last the truth is coming out!
The credit solely goes to M.P. Chief minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan.
The year was 2006. My daughter had just completed her Bachelors course in Physiotherapy (BPT) from the prestigious MGM Medical College, Indore. Having stood 5th in the university, she also received a Merit Certificate from the Vice Chancellor of the university a few months later. In all enthusiasm, she applied for the Demonstrator's Post for which there was just one vacancy. My daughter topped the Written exam which was a mandatory requirement for being considered for the post. The list of candidates who qualified the written Exam was duly displayed on the college board and my daughter's name sure looked good on top. According to her, she also did well in the interview by answering all the questions put to her by the board. She was confident of being selected. But when the results came, somebody from Bhandari College was selected for the Demonstrator's post. My daughter was shocked -a natural reaction as the boy was not even in the first five in the written exam!
My husband & I comforted our daughter. We told her that maybe God wanted her to do PG. Inherently positive, my daughter went ahead to do her Masters in Physiotherapy (MPT) from Dehradun, Uttarakhand choosing Neurology as her specialization.  Here was a girl who made her Alma Mater proud by standing 2nd in the Entrance Test . In due course, my daughter topped there too and won a Gold Medal.She returned to Indore. The year was 2009. Once again there was a vacancy at MGM Medical College. This time for the post of Asst. Professor. Interestingly, my daughter had passed the  Indian Association of Physiotherapists examination recognized by the World Council soon after her graduation. She was thus qualified for the post in every way. It was truly strange that the ad specifically asked for MP Paramedical Association Affiliate Certificate and declared it mandatory. In retrospect, things were fishy right from the start. If the MP Paramedical Certificate was so important, why were the students of MGM never told about it by college authorities during their four & half year stint in college? Even if that were to be taken as a slip on the part of teachers at MGM, this could possibly not be overlooked that  every care was taken so as not to give time to ex-MGM students to procure the particular certificate. Despite the confusion, my daughter managed to apply for the same in Bhopal, as she was stationed there, thanks to her job. She received the receipt with assurance that she would soon get the affiliate certificate.
With this receipt in hand, together with other required certificates, my daughter went for the Written Exam. This time the selectors went a step ahead by not allowing my daughter and many like her to take the exam.
What a farce! The exam was conducted in her Alma Mater, for a job in her Alma Mater and yet my daughter and other MGMites were driven off like an unwelcome guests!  So much for the Alma Mater! Rightly so, the person selected was again from Bhandari College! Evidently, all the juggling was done by Bhandari College to have their candidate selected. And hence the stress on  MP affiliation which they well knew MGM College guys would not have. The local newspapers did report the matter, but the cries of the physiotherapists died down with time.
It is now 2014 and the truth is finally tumbling out of the cupboard.
My daughter is married with a small baby girl. The job would have definitely given her the much needed seniority & experience which in turn would have helped her secure a job in Bangalore University. Let's hope things work now.
They were truly difficult years for a young, intelligent and hardworking girl. And it's thanks to her positive nature that she didn't get bitter, cynical or cruel. Nor did she harm herself in any way. My husband, son and I are thankful to God for this. 

Aarushi Killing & Chaos

Sorry state of affairs. It was apparent right from start that Talwars were behind the double murder.
Their continuous denial only implies a psychological angle.
Whatever. If one moment I sympathize with Talwars, the next moment I feel angry at their lack of foresight. How could they sleep on first floor while their daughter slept down, where anyone could step into her bedroom?
Wonder how many more Aarushis are facing the same fate with women taking up full time careers for various reasons.
Yes, this is true that Talwars will not commit further murders, as said by the sessions judge. And most likely, they will escape punishment in the High Court due to lack of evidence. But one question will remain unanswered. Why did the U.P. police conduct an incomplete and shoddy investigation initially? Did Talwars wield a lot of influence in the area?
Now, at least Aarushi should be left in peace. The more the defendant side is going to argue, the more muck is going to come out. Earlier, the police & law had maintained a lot of decorum in this case.

Baby girl to my nephew!

26th April'13, Friday was an interesting day being my husband's birthday! We were enjoying the moments. Basically, I am also on leave awaiting the arrival of our grandchild any time. Just then, we received good news of my nephew in Mumbai being blessed with a daughter. Gosh, how happy he sounded on phone! Truly, in a matter of seconds my mischievous nephew had transformed into a responsible & doting father.
As doctors, he & his wife must have examined several pregnant women. But, holding in arms one's own flesh & blood means a different thing altogether.Wonder if that little bundle of joy realizes how much happiness she brought into the lives of her doctor parents? I am sure in that very instant, the young mother must have forgotten the labour pains she had to endure.
My family & my blessings will always be with her. May she grow up & achieve a mark in the world. Yes, let her prove that girls are a blessing in every way.

Try Mix 'N' Match!

As I said, I am in Delhi for my son's exams. Staying in a bachelor's accommodation, I often feel the need to go to the market. For all my laziness, I do enjoy once I step into the market.
Punjabi women have an excellent dress sense. And you truly find them well-dressed from head to toe. So that day, just as I stepped out of the grocer's shop, I spotted a mother-daughter duo. They picked up a 'Kurta' (Top) for just Rs.100 at a sale. Next, they stepped into another shop that was also running a sale. They purchased a pair of leggings that were equally cheap. This way, they had a set not costing more than Rs.800. That gave me an idea that I could do it too.
I needed some hand towels and so I turned towards a Handloom shop. And I spotted them there too. They were now buying material for curtains. Here too, they adopted the attitude of mix 'n' match. And frankly, the combination they chose was so good! Again, it hardly cost them much.
I ended up envying them. I think, every woman should know a bit of tailoring so as to do some quick measurements and calculations. And I am sure, such a woman could end up exuding beauty in everything. That too, without spending much!
Worth thinking I guess!

Visiting Married Daughter's Home For The First Time!

 She had come home to attend a family wedding. And now I was accompanying her back to Bangalore as her husband was away on an official tour to Turkey. This required me to stay put there for a fortnight.
I was busy rushing through various chores before rushing to the airport with her. And so there was not much thought in my mind. But it was not so with her I guess! Umpteen times she told me, "Mom, the house will be in a mess. I really didn't get time to clean it."

Each time I assured her that it was perfectly okay.
It was only after I boarded the flight with her that I began to get more and more curious and apprehensive. Mainly how was her home going to be? This was compounded by several delightful memories of the past years. There was a time when I had held her in my arms as an infant. At that time, it was not her home or my home! It was our home. Later, I would take her out, clean the house with her around, cook and what not. And all along, it was our house. Even if belonging to the middle class, we were a happy family always!
And now, I didn't know how it was going to be. After all, married to an IT husband she had gone into a higher class most undoubtedly.
After alighting from the cab, she took me up the stairs. I felt a strange sense of fear and nervousness as she opened the door of her apartment. The feeling vanished as soon as I stepped inside. A nice warm feeling ran  through me. The Bean Bags reminded me of the naval life we had once led. The flat was much like the hired houses we had lived in when my husband was in the navy. Oh yeah! My  daughter's home looked nice, warm and cozy. 

The fortnight passed by pretty fast. We talked and walked the streets of Bangalore. The tall trees as well as the lovely and healthy climate of Bangalore acted as a relaxing factor. The stray dogs and incidents of children getting bitten by them was as much a part of our conversation. And all along she was my same old daughter. The values had not changed. If at all she had changed, it was for the better. I found her more responsible now. Checking the refrigerator, cleaning the house and doing sundry jobs that invariably  fall in any married woman's lot!  Amidst all this, she had learnt to manage her freelance work too, which was creditable.

I have come back to Indore now, happy and relaxed. I gave my best to my daughter and I am glad that she has taken it all and proceeded further in life. In a way perhaps, she is a better and more refined version of me. Here, I give credit to my son-in-law too.