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The name is Selvamani.R. I was born in Rangoon, Burma now known as Yangoon and Myanmar respectively. I had my schooling in I.E.S. .Khalsa School there in Rangoon and came to Tamilnadu, India, did my Pre-University in Sir Thegaraya College,Chennai and M.B.B.S., in Madurai Medical College. Later did my Diploma and Masters Degree in the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Egmore, Madras Medical College, Chennai.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

IF I WEREYOU

The “If I were you “attitude has solved many a problem for me..
When I was working in Egmore Eye Hospital, a doctor, General Practitioner, came from Andhra Pradesh for seeking opinion whether to implant Intra Ocular Lens [IOL] in his eye after Cataract extraction.
The IOL has been introduced quite recently then and opinion regarding its safety was divided even among eye doctors.
Aravind Hospital, Madurai was going great guns and a few Private Hospitals in Chennai have also taken it up.
After hearing the pros and cons the doctor came to our examination room where we were seeing our ward cases.
He appeared quite confused, exhausted and told me of the different opinions he had heard.
I listened patiently, sympathized with him and after some time said “If I were you I will go for IOL surgery.”
He just sat brooding, turning over and over what I said.
Suddenly his face lit up. He said “ That’s it ! My mind is made up. I am going in for IOL.” and asked me about the best place.
I suggested Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai to which he readily agreed.
After undergoing successful surgery there he came to the hospital to thank me before going to his home in AP.

A similar instance. One day in my clinic I was seeing a case of Cataract operated by me a week ago. She has developed a minor complication- “Iritis’ a sort of allergic reaction - causing redness and fall in vision.- which usually subsides after some time with treatment. Her son was very angry thinking the surgery was not done properly and asked why the complication occurred in an intimidating tone.
I was on the verge of replying in the same trend when I suddenly decided to tackle in a different manner.
“If I were you and not aware of the true cause, I may be even more angrier “I said.
He calmed down immediately and listened to my explanation.
The patient required treatment for about 3 weeks to regain good vision and whenever they came her son was a very quiet and always listened patiently to me.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

COMPUTER GENIUS !

COMPUTER GENIUS ?!

Though I am a novice in Computer, in my circle [doctors] I am considered as a genius. Well may be it was because I was amongst the first few who bought desk top computers in our town. The following two incidents show how naïve others are [or were !].

One day a doctor phoned and said that his computer is not starting. Whenever the computer freezes the only solution we know is cut the power off and then switch it on. Usually it works. In this case obviously it didn’t.
I knew another cause and thought to check that up.
I asked my friend to use his cordless phone and go to the computer [No mobiles then ]. I then asked him to check whether he had inserted a floppy disc. On his affirmation I asked him to remove it and try the power off and on routine.
It worked.
The next day when we met he was praising me like anything. “He diagnosed and corrected the mistake without even seeing my computer” he beamed. I politely refrained from telling that it was the only condition I knew.

In the bank I patronized they have installed computers and when I was chatting with the manager the computer maintenance man came and started talking to the manager. After the business talk was over the manager said that he needed help from him and said that he wanted his grand son’s photo as wall paper in his home computer. The manager’s home was in Chennai and the computer man promised that he will come one weekend and help him.
Hearing the conversation I couldn’t keep quiet and said to the manager that it was very easy and he could do it himself.
The computer man protested that it was not so.
As the manager was having the office desk top computer before him I asked him to select any picture in it. When he did, I asked him to open it, right click on it and in the options that opened, tick ‘select as wall paper’. Then when he closed that window and returned to desk top he found the selected photo as wall paper.
The manager was very happy and he tried it again with a different picture.
The computer man muttered some thing and went away.

I asked the manager why that man didn’t explain the simple matter himself. “Did he expect to be paid if he had come to your home and done it?” I asked.
The manager thought for while and replied. “No. I think he just wanted me to be indebted to him for possible future favors.” He grinned and said “But you thwarted his ploy. Thanks!”.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

DOCTORS PERPLEX ME

[This is actually from a college magazine I read in my Undergraduate days. Author unknown. It still remains fresh in my memory !]

One day when I went to my school after a few days absence I found that the routine medical examination was over and I was asked to go the doctor’s certificate. So I dutifully got his address from the office and called on him.
When I explained the purpose he eyed me suspiciously
“What happened to the old one?” He asked thinking I lost the certificate.
“Oh! He is all right doc! “I replied thinking he is asking about our headmaster.
The doctor shook his head and asked “How do you hear?”
Well then, honestly I thought he meant ‘How did you come here?”. After all you can’t expect high flown English from a doctor.
“By bus, doc! ‘
“Tut, tut ! Too bad! “the doctor said.
“Right doc. I have been asking my dad to buy me a cycle for a long time.”
The doctor again shook his head and proceeded to examine me.
He noticed a swelling near my knee and asked “Tell me the history!”
‘History doc ! Shall I start with the Moghul Empire? “
“Tell me how you got it?”
Oh ! So that’s what he meant. Why can’t he speak simple English?
“I fell down from my cot, doc.”
‘How long ? “
“Six foot, doc.”
To my knowledge I answered all the questions truthfully but I don’t know why the doctor wrote a bad report..
Doctors perplex me!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Mother Poem

MOTHER - a touching poem -don't know who the author is !

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms.
You thanked her by wailing like a banshee.

When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you.
You thanked her by crying all night long.

When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk.
You thanked her by running away when she called.

When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love.
You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.

When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons
You thanked her by coloring the dining room table.

When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays.
You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud

When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.
You thanked her by screaming, "I'M NOT GOING!"

When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her by throwing it through the next-door-neighbour’s
window.


When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice cream.
You thanked her by dripping it all over your lap.

When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her by never even bothering to practice.

When you were 10 years old, she drove you all day, from soccer to
gymnastics to one birthday party after another.
You thanked her by jumping out of the car and never looking back.

When you were 11 years old, she took you and your friends to the
movies.
You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.

When you were 12 years old, she warned you not to watch certain TV
shows.
You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.

Those teenage years

When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was becoming.
You thanked her by telling her she had no taste.

When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer camp.
You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter.

When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for a hug.
You thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.

When you were 16, she taught you how to driver her car.
You thanked her by taking it every chance you could.

When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her by being on the phone all night.

When you were 18, she cried at your high school graduation.
You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn.

Growing old and gray

When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition, drove you to
campus, carried your bags.
You thanked her by saying good-bye outside the dorm so you wouldn't
be embarrassed in front of your friends.

When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing anyone.
You thanked her by saying, "It's none of your business."

When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for your future.
You thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you."

When you were 22, she hugged you at your college graduation.
You thanked her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to
Europe.

When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your first apartment.
You thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.

When you were 24, she met your fiancé and asked about your plans for
the future.
You thanked her by glaring and growling, "Muuhh-ther, please!"

When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding, and she cried
and told you how deeply she loved you.
You thanked her by moving halfway across the country.

When you were 30, she called with some advice on the baby.
You thanked her by telling her, "Things are different now."

When you were 40, she called to remind you of an relative's
birthday.
You thanked her by saying you were "really busy right now."

When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take care of her.
You thanked her by reading about the burden parents become to their
children.

And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything you never did
came crashing down like thunder.

"Rock me baby, rock me all night long."
The hand who rocks the cradle...may rock the world".

Let us take a moment of the time just to pay tribute /show
appreciation to the person called MOM though some may not say it openly to their
mother.


There's no substitute for her. Cherished every single moment.
Though at times she may not be the best of friends, may not agree to our
thoughts,

She is still your mother!!! She will be there for you...to listen to
your woes,
your braggings, your frustations, etc. Ask yourself.....have you put
aside enough time for her, to listen to her "blues" of working in the kitchen, her
tiredness???
Be tactful, loving and still show her due respect though you may have a
different view from hers. Once gone, only fond memories of the past
and also regrets will be left.

DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE THINGS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART.

LOVE HER MORE THAN U LOVE YOURSELF.LIFE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT
HER...

Monday, January 10, 2011

HONESTY REALLY PAYS !!

HONESTY PAYS !!

Once when I was driving my car through the crowded small lanes behind Anderson Street in Parrys corner in Chennai [it is still a nightmare to venture driving there !!] I drove unknowingly in a one way street on the wrong side. There was no way I could turn back but fortunately there were no vehicles coming in our way. At that time I spotted a traffic constable about 40 feet away. As I couldn’t dodge him I drove boldly [!!] straight up to him and asked innocently the way to the shop I was searching for.
He stared at me, looked at the license plate, knew that I was out of city man [country goose!] and asked where I was from. When I replied he asked whether I was aware that I was driving the wrong way.
I feigned surprise and offered to turn back.
He glared at me but later softened “Never mind. Drive straight. Your shop is about 4 buildings away.”
Bingo ! Not only had I wriggled out of the tight situation but also managed to drive to the shop easily.

But the leaf has been taken out from my younger day’s era.
During my childhood in Rangoon in the holidays we, boys, used to roam along, climbing mango trees and plucking the small mangoes [that our pocket money would have easily bought many numbers of good mangoes could not deter us].
In one such venture, two of us were on the look-out [some look out!] while one agile boy climbed to pluck the mangoes. Suddenly a Burmese man from a nearby house came running, shouting and wielding a stick.
Our first reaction was to run but we realized that our partner who has climbed the tree and who was now descending at a record speed could never make it in time and as steadfast thieves we stuck together.

I thought we were in for a bashing as the Burmese people are known to be a rough lot, when my friend who was standing beside me hissed in a small voice in Tamil ‘Stay calm”.
The man who ran up to us was clearly perplexed as to why we were standing undeterred and calm [well, more or less!]. He asked the boy who had now reached ground why he had climbed the tree.
My friend again said in low voice in Tamil ‘Tell him that you did it to pluck the mangoes”
Given time, he would have questioned the sanity of the reply but he was at his wits end [like me] and blurted out the same to the Burmese man.
Hearing the astoundingly honest reply the man scratched his head, lowered the stick and said ‘But, this tree belongs to me “
“Is that so?’ my look out friend calmly replied “We thought it was a common tree “ .

The so called private trees on no man’s area were usually marked with a ring of barbed or plain wire and fortunately there was no such thing.
“No. It is mine. Now, clear off” he shouted.
We strolled away slowly curbing our instinct to run. When we were out of sight we took to our heels.
My friend explained later that the brain wave came to him only when the Burmese man asked why we climbed the tree!