Let us welcome New Year 2018 and remember Health prone observances in January. When a year comes to an end, and a new year is on our threshold, a personal film flashes in front of our eyes. It includes the anxiety- tension, death – pain , pressure – relaxation, famine – flood experience in the whole previous year and expectations from the new year Everyone wish a very happy, lovely, healthy new year. If we look behind, about our health promises taken, at the end of 2016 and go through our oaths, what is to be seen and heard? “I promise to wake up at 4 a.m and will walk enjoying nature before and during sunrise”. “I will walk, run, do exercises daily”. “I won’t consider my stomach a waste box, and not eat wanted -unwanted, to fill the stomach”. “I will never wound the feelings of others”. “At any condition I will control my love – hatred feelings”. “I will look at and treat equal all happiness- sorrows, victory – loosing, success –failures”. “Always I promise to respect and treat equally women and elders and sincerely try to fulfill minimum demands of children”. “We remember always that, economically and emotionally myself and my wife are equal”. When I compare promises of previous year and fulfillments, it is an open secret that, there is a big gap between the promises and fulfillments. That is why on the eve of New Year 2018, Let me not take new oaths and commit to fulfill pending old oaths of 2017. My only new commitment is, to culminate my positive life style, to give inspiration and motivate positive energy around me. Old Kannada poet Pampa and new Kannada poet Kuvempu have declared world humanitarian message that ALL ARE ONE.
With this back ground on January 1st, we celebrate World Family Day. We have moved from traditional joint family concept to single nuclear family. We have to understand the importance of sharing and sacrifice. Let all of us respect elders in the family and give scope to women and children in the family. Based on love, sympathy, mutual help, we have to develop total family personality, including individual respect and development. Clan, Village, Town, City, District, State, Nation and world are the extensions of family. If all members are healthy, active and happy, family is happy. Through health and happiness from family to world, is depending on everyone’s efforts. If our society is to be happy, healthy and peaceful, we have to give food to poor, weak, and downtrodden. Let us participate in community and cultural activities. Let us think of solving local problems ourselves, instead of expecting everything from government. Should we wait for somebody and dump waste, instead of helping to dispose off our home and road waste? We have to respect and support, public sanitation workers. Is not sanitation first step towards health?.
Along with body, our mind is very sensitive and if and only if it is strong, healthy, without continuous pressure, anxiety, tension, our body will be healthy. Many of our friends undergo such mental confusions and diseases. Either from weakness of body or from the outside influences, these arise, amalgate and disturb our normal life. A few, especially women, dance as if some ghost has embraced them, a few tear their sarees and dress, a few more bang, curse, cry, scratch and beat others. I have seen people not being able to sleep. A few experience terrific dreams and get shocked even for smaller sorrows. Mental patients feel and experience the turmoil of vision of things and persons, hear the sounds which can’t be seen or heard by others. Still in this 21st century, there are people who believe in witchcrafts, Special Pooja, Banamati, putting some kind of poisonous item in food, think that it is the carried over curse of previous birth. Many such patients will not be having control over their feelings. They are being criticized, banged, beaten, and kept in a separate room binding them with chains. Some people give electric shocks to them. Such treatment to our own family members and friends is cruel and uncivilized. As explained by psychologists and psychiatrists, as diseases come to body through infection, mind can also get diseases. At that time we have to take these mentally unwell to expert psychiatrists. Many times during diagnosis and treatment expert use hypnotism.
4th January is World Hypnotism Day. As a part of treatment, patient is given medicine, and He / She will be taken from His / Her awareness / consciousness to subconsciouseness and then to unconscious levels. They try to find out replies to the mental problems and reasons behind them. I have seen many mental patients in mental hospital Dharwad and Nimhans Bangalore, who are called as fools by others. Through the positive energy 
of hypnotism, British hypnotist Jonathan Royale used to treat patients. At the end of 19th century, Sigmund Freud and Pierre Janet forwarded the theory that, origin of ideas in consciousness, have deep roots in the inner mind, (subconsciouseness – Swapna) origin of unconscious mind is deep-rooted in, still inner mind (sushoopti).
Swamy Vivekananda’s Birth day:- To synchronize our body, mind, and action, we must be active, hail healthy always. That is why Swamy Vivekananda called Indian youth, to Arise, Awake, Stop not till the goal is reached. We celebrate National youth day on 12th January which is the birthday of Swamy Vivekananda. The goal of this day is to motivate, and awaken inner energy of youth, to be utilized for the development of this nation. On this day all schools and colleges conduct physical exercise, yoga, sports, to give impetus to physical, mental and emotional development of youth. Activities to boost up patriotism, total personality development, blend with the vision of Vivekananda. According to him, whoever visualize God in poor, weaker, downtrodden and patients, are the real devotees of God Shiva. Talk to yourself daily at least once. Otherwise you will miss meeting the best human being in the world. Work – work. Let this be your goal. As long as you have belief in you, you will not approach God. when an idea spreads in mind in totality, that is converted in to the physical and mental activity really.
Makara Sankranti:- There is a very close relation between our Life Cycle and Different Seasons of year. From age long, Indians believe in Graha (planet) Nakshatra (Star) Tithi (time ) Vaara (week day) and based on available crops flowers, fruits and vegetables, according to respective season, they celebrate vivid festivals, celebrations and observances. Through these, people share happiness, merriness, enjoyment and experience relaxation refreshness to body and mind. When 14th January comes, depending upon movement of sun Uttarayana commences. During Makara Sankramana, (movement) we celebrate Makara Sankranti. During winter through shievering, our hands and legs get cracked. Then body requires oiling. Hence we put oil on our entire body including head, and take oil bath with hot weather. This is the period hot water. This is the period of harvest. By mixing new
rice, jagery from sugar cane, moong dal, ghee, and milk, we prepare Pongal or Huggi. Eating this creates hunger. Women prepare and distribute Ellu- Bella ( sesame and jaggery). For this local white sesame, roasted gram, pieces of copra, fried ground nuts are mixed. We wish everyone plenty and emancipation of Friendship, through mixing of nourishment and strength. Ayurveda And Indian Medicine System Advocates Eating of Seasonal Food, rest, relaxation rejuvenation, to get fountains of enthusiasm, by reducing pressures of sorrow and tension, and this brings peace, happiness and comfort. Through this, it is a total lifestyle, which protects physical and mental health. This is the crux of observing Indian festivals. The philosophy behind this festival is as follows. First day is called Bhogy. To reject unwanted old things and converting to new changes, is symbolically observed by, disposing off unwanted wood, burnable things, broken furnitures into fire. This action is Rudrageeta Gnana Yagna. That is devoting all unwanted old dirty habits, bad systems, too much greed and attachment to materials and relations to fire, a symbol of knowledge, Rudra, This whole action symbolizes, conversion and purification of our soul, after understanding it. To protect children Elachi (jujube) fruits are being poured on them. In front of our houses, colorful Rangoli drawings are drawn by women, to protect our physical and mental health. Next day remembering animal world, girls give food to cows, birds and fishes. On the 3rd day, farmers respect, decorate their ox and cow, and sends them through fire, to make them afraid free. On the 4th day farmers acknowledge the help of mud, rain, fire and dedicate them gifts.
Let us turn from farmers towards Soldiers. Army Day:- Every year Army Day is being celebrated on 15th January. This was the day in 1949, when Lieutenant General K.M.Kariyappa Chief of Indian army took the responsibility of Indian army, from British commander in chief Sir Francis Bucher. Hence on this day parades, sports and an environment of discipline attract us. We have to salute and offer tributes to brave soldiers, who have sacrificed their lives, to protect this country. Soldiers protect country and people, during both war and peace time. We have to respect, and support them. More and more youth have to come forward, to join army and save motherland. For this, all youth have to be very strong with body fitness, mental strength, courage to rush forward without any fear or favour. For the protection of motherland, youth can better utilize good employment opportunities in Indian army, Navy and Airforce .In this back ground Subash Chandra Bose opened a new bloodshed chapter, in the Indian freedom struggle. He exclaimed “Get me Youth of Iron Arms. I will get you freedom”. This kind of force, courage, adventure, mental power, foresightedness, is a model to our youth.
National Girl Child Day:- similarly if we want both boys and girls to flourish in this country, we have to balance the sex ratio in the population. We have to protect girl foetus, to live, grow and become women, we have to care more for a girl child. On 24th we celebrate National Girl Child Day. Due to priority for male child, gender inequality, carelessness towards girl child, backwardness in getting education to her, there is disparity and GENDER inequality in our country, and for marriage girls are not available. Child marriage is another problem. Though there is a law against atrocities on women, still men consider women as week and exploiting them with inequality. Male dominated society treats her lower, even if there is equality in society, education and employment. Women are experts and serving as doctors, scientists, engineers, officers and experts in different fields, in house and in foreign countries, before husband and brothers, they are helpless. In the name of Dowery we observe robbery, motivation for suicide and murder. Though there are many government facilities and plans for providing nutrition, health care, medical treatment, they are not easily accessible to women and girls. Women Literacy rate is 53.87%. Girls are 1/3 of women population. Women in reproductive group are suffering from anemia. A better and healthy picture can only be seen, when all men treat women equally. A physiological difference need not give scope to emotional, social and health difference.
Anti Leprosy day on 30th:- Gandhiji’s death anniversary day, is Anti Leprosy Day. Leprosy is an old disease, through infection of nervous system and certain types are contagious. Bapuji had a leprosy patient Parachur Shastri in his ashram. Bapuji is a model for us. Bapu used to wash himself, leprosy boils and wounds everyday of Parachuri Sasthri. He used to put medicine and tie bandages. That was a time, when leprosy patients were not allowed near, and were kept outside the village. Gandhi took care of a leprosy patient like a close relative physically, and he used to give mental support. When I was at A.I.R Raichur, on 30-1-2002, during National Leprosy Eradication Week, I staged a play BELAGU (morning) on leprosy for 5 hours in Matamari villege of Raichur taluk. It was specially written, and directed by me for that occasion. Later several shows of the same play were
held in different places. It was a story of Rani, a village innocent, illiterate girl, which was enacted by Annapoorna Hoogar. I had performed the role of Raja, an ideal youth, who was in love with Rani and about to marry her. Accidentally, when raja touches Rani’s hand, he observes that, Rani had lost sense in that part of her body. She can’t feel the sense of pinching. He observes a small copper color sign on her hand. He takes her to primary health centre, from there to laboratory of Health Department. There they meet District Health officer, and district mental officer. Rani is shocked and cries when she comes to know that, she is having leprosy. Her old aged father, friends, and relatives get scared of and cry. Only raja faces the situation with courage, boldness and timely action. Due to timely check up, diagnosis and proper scientific medical treatment Rani gets relief. During this period, raja goes to primary and high schools of that village, primary health centre and village Panchayat, for spreading the scientific knowledge about leprosy, and try to clear off various misconceptions there. With the help of Medical Officer Leprosy Officer, he works hard for eradication of leprosy. During this process, he fights against fake doctor, local priest, who were exploiting village folk, through creating terror by spreading ugly and dark picture of various diseases. Finally Rani’s leprosy is cleared, as she took immediate treatment and as the disease was in the primary stage. The end of that play was BELAGU. The very speciality of this stage show was that only roles of raja, Rani, her father and a few relatives were imaginary. But all other characters were real. Students-teachers, Village Panchayat President and Members, Medical Officers And Staff Of Primary Health Centre, Dr. S.C.Dharwad Raichur district health and family welfare officer, Dr. S.R.Jamadagni Raichur district leprosy officer, folk artists, rural leaders, local villages, participated in this, a big canvass event. The whole show was like a live cinema and the whole audience appreciated only after they got convinced about the story and enactment. This stage play had educated more than 5000 villagers amidst entertainment. In the name of local Deity Veerabhadra, folk songs and bhajans were song by local artists, specially written by me on the theme of leprosy.
31st is the day of Destitute Children. These children on road are those who have missed their house and family, those who have run away from their homes or who have been brought here by child thieves. Some of them are having wounds. A few are begging. A few are sex workers; some have been illegally inherited. Few are child labourers. Few more are misused sexually, physically and emotionally. Do you know, a few such children have been thrown away from their families, as these have H.I.V. infection?. Story of a few are very pathetic, as they lost their family in accidents. In Karnataka Childline is Operating at Bangalore, with the support of Bangalore city police. Ashraya Karnataka, central rehabilitation association, have been offering health care services. Basco youth centre, sahay helpline counselling Guidance centries for suicide prevention, emotional shocks have been giving counselling. A foreign lady Trasy is running operation shanti institution, at the outskirts of Mysore for such children. In the beginning these children were hostile, violent, quarreling and argueing, as they did not know social and community life rules. Now through love, affection and patience, these children are being taught skills of conduct, communication and life skills, and they are being sent to schools. In Delhi till today about 50,000 children work and stay on roads. Their basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, entertainment and health care, are being looked after by N.G.O Chetana.
N.V Ramesh
Mob:- 98455-65238
