PM Modi's conversational style monthly chat with the Indian public at large, this time on Coronavirus pandemic, gives interesting and useful insights on India's fight against it
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat with the Nation, March 2020 [The video was published on 29th March 2020], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nedl4B4foZ4, around 36 mins, published by Narendra Modi. The video already has over 1 million views now.
PM Modi speaks in Hindi but the video has the English translation of his words along with pics and clips giving context to PM Modi's words.
Some points of the talk:
* PM Modi seeks forgiveness from those who have suffered due to lockdown, especially from the poor. [Ravi: What humility displayed by PM Modi! That's just the right attitude for a public servant, which, ultimately, is what the Prime Minister of the country is, even if he/she is the most powerful person of the country!]
* How dangerous Coronavirus is! Great work done by nurses, doctors and others at forefront of fighting this pandemic.
* PM Modi speaks to an IT employee from Hyderabad, Ramgampa Teja, who went on work to Dubai, contracting the virus there, and on return to Hyderabad got detected as Coronavirus positive. He was subsequently treated in a govt. hospital in Hyderabad and has now been discharged. Teja was all praise for the doctors, nurses and other staff of the hospital for the good treatment he received there. PM Modi requested Teja to make a social media video sharing his experiences on this matter and said that it would (or should be made to) go viral on social media and help people to know more about Coronavirus and surviving Covid-19 disease. [In Teja's case, his family members tested negative. So he did not spread it to his family members.] Teja also talked about how quarantine is a good thing which people should not fear, nor should quarantine have a social stigma attached to it.
* PM Modi then speaks to Mr. Ashok Kapoor of Agra. Kapoor's sons and son-in-law had been to Italy in connection with the shoe business that they have. The son-in-law on his return from Italy developed health issues, and visited a hospital (Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, in Delhi I think, and which I think is a govt. hospital) where he was detected as Covid-19 positive. He was then shifted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi (govt. hospital I think). Govt. officials asked Mr. Kapoor to have his sons (who had been to Italy) tested (in Agra). They then said that the whole family should be tested. The whole family went and got tested at Agra district hospital (govt. hospital, I think). Mr. Kapoor said he is 73 years old. He, his wife, their two sons, a daughter-in-law and his 16 year old grandson all tested positive for Coronavirus! [Ravi: In the past few days, I had read about a family of 6 being positive. It must be this same family!]
Mr. Kapoor said that they did not get scared. He said that it was good to know for sure that they were infected (as against not knowing what their status was, given that their son-in-law was confirmed as infected). The Agra authorities provided an ambulance, free of charge, to go from Agra to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi. Mr. Kapoor expressed his gratitude to doctors and administration of Agra which gave them full support. They were OK while they came in the ambulance to Delhi. The doctors and the staff at the Safdarjung hospital treated them very well during their 14 days stay there, each of the family being kept separate. They gave them a lot of instructions which they followed. PM Modi complimented Mr. Kapoor on his self-confidence. Kapoor said that the family remained in touch on telephone (while they were in hospital). Kapoor expressed his gratitude to all doctors and staff at the hospital for the good treatment that he and his family got there. [Kapoor does not specifically say that they all got cured and tested negative but that I think is implied.] ... PM Modi asked Kapoor to spread awareness about their experience, and how they followed instructions and got saved which is what others in the country should also do (follow instructions at this challenging time) at which time Kapoor said that they have already made some videos and given it to channels. PM Modi specifically asked that it should be made popular on social media.
* PM Modi then speaks to Dr. Nitish Gupta of Delhi as one of the doctors at Ground Zero, right in the forefront of the nation's fight against Novel Coronavirus and Covid-19. PM Modi asks Dr. Gupta about the mood of his fellow doctors and other staff (at Ground Zero). Dr. Gupta says that the mood is upbeat and that the govt. is providing them the material they need. He said that they are dedicated to the task like the army at the nation's borders. He said that their only duty is to see that patients get well and go home. PM Modi said that he is right that it is a battle like situation and that they (Dr. Gupta and other medical staff like him) are our (the nation's) soldiers.
PM Modi said that besides treating the patient, they may have to do counselling for the patient. Dr. Gupta said that yes, counselling is a very important thing as the patient gets very scared about what is happening to him/her. They have to be told that they will get well in 14 days (usually). Dr. Gupta said that they (I think Dr. Gupta may be with Safdarjung hospital, Delhi) have sent back 16 patients home (cured of Covid-19).
On being asked about whether his team is (confident and motivated), Dr. Gupta said that they keep their team motivated and that there is nothing to fear if precautions are taken, and if patients are explained well about what precautions they need to take.
PM Modi said that he is with Dr. Gupta and his team in this fight. PM Modi then said that with efforts of committed people like Dr. Nitish Gupta, India will win the war against Corona. He requested Dr. Gupta to take care of himself, his colleagues and his & their families.
* PM Modi said that we have seen that (in some parts of the world) the number of people infected with this disease suddenly goes up (exponentially), and which has made even advanced health systems in foreign countries get (into major difficulty). That such a situation does not happen in India, is what we need to work relentlessly for.
* PM Modi then speaks to Dr. Borse from Pune. PM Modi says to Dr. Borse that he [Dr, Borse] is engaged in service in the mode of "serving people is service to God". PM Modi says that as Dr. Borse has fully engaged in this fight against Corona, he wants a message from him for the nation. PM Modi says many people want to know when to consult the doctor and when to get the test done. PM Modi says that as Dr. Borse has dedicated himself to service of Corona patients, his (Dr. Borse's) words have lot of power and so he (PM Modi) wants to hear them.
Dr. Borse says that he is a Professor at BJ Medical College, Pune, and that Pune municipal corporation has a hospital called Naidu hospital. At Naidu hospital [Ravi: Dr. Borse seems to be associated with that hospital and seems to be treating Covid-19 patients there], from January 2020, a screening centre has been functioning. There, till today, 16 positive cases of Covid-19 were found. Dr. Borse said: out of 16, after quarantine, isolation and treatment, 7 have been discharged. The remaining 9 cases are very stable and doing very well. Though they are infected with the virus, they are recovering well.
Dr. Borse said that though the sample size (in Naidu hospital) is small, (it can be seen that) young people are also getting affected. But the disease is not a serious one. The disease (as seen in Naidu hospital, Pune cases) is mild and patients are recovering. Dr. Borse expressed confidence that the remaining 9 Covid-19 patients in Pune hospital are also going to become well in the coming 4 to 5 days.
Dr. Borse said that those who come to them (in Naidu hospital) as suspects, who are international travellers, we are taking swabs (nasal swab, (esopharangyl?) swab) (and then testing them). If they turn out to be positive, then they are being admitted to positive ward. If they turn out to be negative, they are advised home quarantine with instructions about dos and donts during home quarantine.
PM Modi asks Dr. Borse what he (they) tells people who are to be in home quarantine. Dr. Borse says that while in home quarantine they should maintain 6 feet distance (from others). This is the first thing. The second is that they should use a mask (facemask). They have to repeatedly wash hands. Even if they don't have sanitizer, they can use simple soap and water to wash their hands, repeatedly. When sneezing or coughing, they should sneeze/cough into a handkerchief (or similar thing) so that the (respiratory) droplets do not go far and do not fall on the ground, which will reduce possibility of infection spread. Even though this is a period of lockdown, such persons have to be under proper home quarantine for 14 days.
PM Modi said that Dr. Borse and team are doing very good service with dedication. PM Modi said that he is confident that whatever patients we have, they will recover and go back home, and in the nation too, by the help of all, we will win the battle (against Coronavirus). Dr. Borse said that we are confident that we will win this battle. PM Modi and Dr. Borse thanked each other.
* PM Modi said that many such persons (like the doctors he spoke to) are engaged in rescuing the nation from this crisis. We have to not only listen to the words of these people but also practice it in our lives. PM Modi said, "Today when I see the sacrifice and dedication (tyaag aur tapasya) of our doctors, I recall Acharya Charak's words. Acharya Charak said a very apt thing about doctors and today we are seeing that in the lives of our doctors. Acharya Charak said, 'Na aatmaartham na api karmaartham athabhut dayam prati. Vartate yat chikitsayaam sa sarvam iti vartate', meaning, 'One who serves the patient without desire for money or any other material objective, but only for serving the ailing with compassion, he/she is the best doctor.'
* PM Modi said that he salutes every nurse today who is full of compassion (towards humanity). He talked of this year being international year of the nurse and midwife. He said this year has become a great test for the whole nursing community. He said he is confident that all of them will not only pass this test but will also save many lives. PM Modi said to the nurses: it is due to the determination and courage of people like you that we are able to fight such a big battle. Companions (co-workers) like you, whether doctor, nurse, paramedic, ASHA and (A)NM workers, sanitation workers - the nation is very concerned about your health. Seeing this, for such 20 lakh companions/co-workers, health insurance of Rs.50 lakh (Rs.5 million) has been announced by the government, so that in this fight you can lead the nation with more confidence.
* Many daily-life heroes in India's battle against Coronavirus, PM Modi says. He says, just imagine if water dries up in your taps, or electricity is cut, then it is these daily-life heroes who solve our problems. Think about the small general store in your area. In this difficult time, that shopkeeper too is taking risks to provide you essential things. Similarly, think about drivers, workers who without stopping, are engaged in their work so that in the entire country there is no break in the supply chain of essential items. You may have seen that banking services are kept open by the govt. And the people in the banking services are working with determination and are leading in the front by providing you banking services. However much we thank these bank services people, it is less (than what it should be). In many numbers, e-commerce delivery workers are delivering groceries even in this difficult time [ - we must be thankful to them]. ... [We must be thankful to] people who keep TV stations and programs running, Internet websites accessed on phone (and PC) running, digital payment facilities running. During lockdown it is these people who are managing the work of the country. PM Modi says that on behalf of all countrymen, he (PM Modi) expresses gratitude towards all these people, and he requests them to take all safety precautions for themselves, and take care of themselves and their families.
* PM Modi says that he had intense sorrow on hearing about misbehaviour of (some) people (in India) towards those who are infected with Coronavirus or have been told to be in home quarantine. PM Modi says in these circumstances, we should only maintain social distancing between each other but not emotional or human distance. These people (infected or suspected of possibly being infected with Covid-19) are not criminals. These persons have put themselves in quarantine to protect others from possibility of getting infected. We must be sympathetic to them.
...
PM Modi speaks in Hindi but the video has the English translation of his words along with pics and clips giving context to PM Modi's words.
Some points of the talk:
* PM Modi seeks forgiveness from those who have suffered due to lockdown, especially from the poor. [Ravi: What humility displayed by PM Modi! That's just the right attitude for a public servant, which, ultimately, is what the Prime Minister of the country is, even if he/she is the most powerful person of the country!]
* How dangerous Coronavirus is! Great work done by nurses, doctors and others at forefront of fighting this pandemic.
* PM Modi speaks to an IT employee from Hyderabad, Ramgampa Teja, who went on work to Dubai, contracting the virus there, and on return to Hyderabad got detected as Coronavirus positive. He was subsequently treated in a govt. hospital in Hyderabad and has now been discharged. Teja was all praise for the doctors, nurses and other staff of the hospital for the good treatment he received there. PM Modi requested Teja to make a social media video sharing his experiences on this matter and said that it would (or should be made to) go viral on social media and help people to know more about Coronavirus and surviving Covid-19 disease. [In Teja's case, his family members tested negative. So he did not spread it to his family members.] Teja also talked about how quarantine is a good thing which people should not fear, nor should quarantine have a social stigma attached to it.
* PM Modi then speaks to Mr. Ashok Kapoor of Agra. Kapoor's sons and son-in-law had been to Italy in connection with the shoe business that they have. The son-in-law on his return from Italy developed health issues, and visited a hospital (Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, in Delhi I think, and which I think is a govt. hospital) where he was detected as Covid-19 positive. He was then shifted to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi (govt. hospital I think). Govt. officials asked Mr. Kapoor to have his sons (who had been to Italy) tested (in Agra). They then said that the whole family should be tested. The whole family went and got tested at Agra district hospital (govt. hospital, I think). Mr. Kapoor said he is 73 years old. He, his wife, their two sons, a daughter-in-law and his 16 year old grandson all tested positive for Coronavirus! [Ravi: In the past few days, I had read about a family of 6 being positive. It must be this same family!]
Mr. Kapoor said that they did not get scared. He said that it was good to know for sure that they were infected (as against not knowing what their status was, given that their son-in-law was confirmed as infected). The Agra authorities provided an ambulance, free of charge, to go from Agra to Safdarjung hospital in Delhi. Mr. Kapoor expressed his gratitude to doctors and administration of Agra which gave them full support. They were OK while they came in the ambulance to Delhi. The doctors and the staff at the Safdarjung hospital treated them very well during their 14 days stay there, each of the family being kept separate. They gave them a lot of instructions which they followed. PM Modi complimented Mr. Kapoor on his self-confidence. Kapoor said that the family remained in touch on telephone (while they were in hospital). Kapoor expressed his gratitude to all doctors and staff at the hospital for the good treatment that he and his family got there. [Kapoor does not specifically say that they all got cured and tested negative but that I think is implied.] ... PM Modi asked Kapoor to spread awareness about their experience, and how they followed instructions and got saved which is what others in the country should also do (follow instructions at this challenging time) at which time Kapoor said that they have already made some videos and given it to channels. PM Modi specifically asked that it should be made popular on social media.
* PM Modi then speaks to Dr. Nitish Gupta of Delhi as one of the doctors at Ground Zero, right in the forefront of the nation's fight against Novel Coronavirus and Covid-19. PM Modi asks Dr. Gupta about the mood of his fellow doctors and other staff (at Ground Zero). Dr. Gupta says that the mood is upbeat and that the govt. is providing them the material they need. He said that they are dedicated to the task like the army at the nation's borders. He said that their only duty is to see that patients get well and go home. PM Modi said that he is right that it is a battle like situation and that they (Dr. Gupta and other medical staff like him) are our (the nation's) soldiers.
PM Modi said that besides treating the patient, they may have to do counselling for the patient. Dr. Gupta said that yes, counselling is a very important thing as the patient gets very scared about what is happening to him/her. They have to be told that they will get well in 14 days (usually). Dr. Gupta said that they (I think Dr. Gupta may be with Safdarjung hospital, Delhi) have sent back 16 patients home (cured of Covid-19).
On being asked about whether his team is (confident and motivated), Dr. Gupta said that they keep their team motivated and that there is nothing to fear if precautions are taken, and if patients are explained well about what precautions they need to take.
PM Modi said that he is with Dr. Gupta and his team in this fight. PM Modi then said that with efforts of committed people like Dr. Nitish Gupta, India will win the war against Corona. He requested Dr. Gupta to take care of himself, his colleagues and his & their families.
* PM Modi said that we have seen that (in some parts of the world) the number of people infected with this disease suddenly goes up (exponentially), and which has made even advanced health systems in foreign countries get (into major difficulty). That such a situation does not happen in India, is what we need to work relentlessly for.
* PM Modi then speaks to Dr. Borse from Pune. PM Modi says to Dr. Borse that he [Dr, Borse] is engaged in service in the mode of "serving people is service to God". PM Modi says that as Dr. Borse has fully engaged in this fight against Corona, he wants a message from him for the nation. PM Modi says many people want to know when to consult the doctor and when to get the test done. PM Modi says that as Dr. Borse has dedicated himself to service of Corona patients, his (Dr. Borse's) words have lot of power and so he (PM Modi) wants to hear them.
Dr. Borse says that he is a Professor at BJ Medical College, Pune, and that Pune municipal corporation has a hospital called Naidu hospital. At Naidu hospital [Ravi: Dr. Borse seems to be associated with that hospital and seems to be treating Covid-19 patients there], from January 2020, a screening centre has been functioning. There, till today, 16 positive cases of Covid-19 were found. Dr. Borse said: out of 16, after quarantine, isolation and treatment, 7 have been discharged. The remaining 9 cases are very stable and doing very well. Though they are infected with the virus, they are recovering well.
Dr. Borse said that though the sample size (in Naidu hospital) is small, (it can be seen that) young people are also getting affected. But the disease is not a serious one. The disease (as seen in Naidu hospital, Pune cases) is mild and patients are recovering. Dr. Borse expressed confidence that the remaining 9 Covid-19 patients in Pune hospital are also going to become well in the coming 4 to 5 days.
Dr. Borse said that those who come to them (in Naidu hospital) as suspects, who are international travellers, we are taking swabs (nasal swab, (esopharangyl?) swab) (and then testing them). If they turn out to be positive, then they are being admitted to positive ward. If they turn out to be negative, they are advised home quarantine with instructions about dos and donts during home quarantine.
PM Modi asks Dr. Borse what he (they) tells people who are to be in home quarantine. Dr. Borse says that while in home quarantine they should maintain 6 feet distance (from others). This is the first thing. The second is that they should use a mask (facemask). They have to repeatedly wash hands. Even if they don't have sanitizer, they can use simple soap and water to wash their hands, repeatedly. When sneezing or coughing, they should sneeze/cough into a handkerchief (or similar thing) so that the (respiratory) droplets do not go far and do not fall on the ground, which will reduce possibility of infection spread. Even though this is a period of lockdown, such persons have to be under proper home quarantine for 14 days.
PM Modi said that Dr. Borse and team are doing very good service with dedication. PM Modi said that he is confident that whatever patients we have, they will recover and go back home, and in the nation too, by the help of all, we will win the battle (against Coronavirus). Dr. Borse said that we are confident that we will win this battle. PM Modi and Dr. Borse thanked each other.
* PM Modi said that many such persons (like the doctors he spoke to) are engaged in rescuing the nation from this crisis. We have to not only listen to the words of these people but also practice it in our lives. PM Modi said, "Today when I see the sacrifice and dedication (tyaag aur tapasya) of our doctors, I recall Acharya Charak's words. Acharya Charak said a very apt thing about doctors and today we are seeing that in the lives of our doctors. Acharya Charak said, 'Na aatmaartham na api karmaartham athabhut dayam prati. Vartate yat chikitsayaam sa sarvam iti vartate', meaning, 'One who serves the patient without desire for money or any other material objective, but only for serving the ailing with compassion, he/she is the best doctor.'
* PM Modi said that he salutes every nurse today who is full of compassion (towards humanity). He talked of this year being international year of the nurse and midwife. He said this year has become a great test for the whole nursing community. He said he is confident that all of them will not only pass this test but will also save many lives. PM Modi said to the nurses: it is due to the determination and courage of people like you that we are able to fight such a big battle. Companions (co-workers) like you, whether doctor, nurse, paramedic, ASHA and (A)NM workers, sanitation workers - the nation is very concerned about your health. Seeing this, for such 20 lakh companions/co-workers, health insurance of Rs.50 lakh (Rs.5 million) has been announced by the government, so that in this fight you can lead the nation with more confidence.
* Many daily-life heroes in India's battle against Coronavirus, PM Modi says. He says, just imagine if water dries up in your taps, or electricity is cut, then it is these daily-life heroes who solve our problems. Think about the small general store in your area. In this difficult time, that shopkeeper too is taking risks to provide you essential things. Similarly, think about drivers, workers who without stopping, are engaged in their work so that in the entire country there is no break in the supply chain of essential items. You may have seen that banking services are kept open by the govt. And the people in the banking services are working with determination and are leading in the front by providing you banking services. However much we thank these bank services people, it is less (than what it should be). In many numbers, e-commerce delivery workers are delivering groceries even in this difficult time [ - we must be thankful to them]. ... [We must be thankful to] people who keep TV stations and programs running, Internet websites accessed on phone (and PC) running, digital payment facilities running. During lockdown it is these people who are managing the work of the country. PM Modi says that on behalf of all countrymen, he (PM Modi) expresses gratitude towards all these people, and he requests them to take all safety precautions for themselves, and take care of themselves and their families.
* PM Modi says that he had intense sorrow on hearing about misbehaviour of (some) people (in India) towards those who are infected with Coronavirus or have been told to be in home quarantine. PM Modi says in these circumstances, we should only maintain social distancing between each other but not emotional or human distance. These people (infected or suspected of possibly being infected with Covid-19) are not criminals. These persons have put themselves in quarantine to protect others from possibility of getting infected. We must be sympathetic to them.
...
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