Politics of Science in a Pandemic

In 2020, Covid virus— a black swan— wreaked havoc across the globe, killing more than 1.5 million people, infecting many more and causing economic devastation. And although research developments progressed very fast in 2020, the pandemic set the course of science afire. The coronavirus spread. And as fast did the scientists, researchers and public health activists move.  No … Read the essay

Aruna bhabhi and Om

Aruna Born to Shri Kisangopalji and Vasanti devi Ruthia on April 11, 1954 in Nagpur, Aruna was the middle sibling— Chandrashekhar (1948-2017) and Anand (1956-2010) were her brothers. She used to live in Kirana Oli, Itwari, then a relatively sparsely populated area. She went to the Nityanand Kanya Vidyalaya, near Balaji Mandir on Dharaskar Road. … Read the essay

Badibai and Jijaji

I call her Badibai—the elder mother! Ever since I was born, she treated me with so much love that she richly deserves this name. Badibai was born in Barsi, a town in Solapur district in Western Maharashtra, on 26 February 1942. As was the custom those days, she was delivered at her nani’s home. The … Read the essay

Jiji

Pushpa, my elder sister, was born on 17 May 1946, fifteen months before India became independent. I always called her Jiji, and never by first name. She was the third of the six siblings, and like all of them; she too was delivered at home that my father rented in Marwari Mohalla, Wardha. Education Class … Read the essay

Snake bites and deaths: can we predict?

Snake bite is common in our area. Every year, we admit about 200 people with venomous snakebites to MGIMS, our teaching hospital, 10% of who die. Is it possible to distinguish survivors from non-survivors? Can we use simple signs and symptoms and labs to do so? Here is my Powerpoint presentation: I spoke on this … Read the essay