Tuesday morning, while a distasteful political row was being waged between the Governor and Chief Minister of Maharashtra over the opening of temples during Unlock 5.0, I was drawn into a religious drama that had me knocking on heaven’s doors. It is a sad story that wrenched my heart. And to do with a close friend for whom I would kill. So I got involved.
I will not take names. Of the people, city, and hospital here. There’s no need. My friend was a top-drawer surgeon in one of our prestigious hospitals. Migrated because the children joined overseas universities. Now he’s restarted his life and is practicing in a charming foreign city. He’s happy. Though his heart beats for Mumbai still. Whatsapp has kept us bonded. We message we talk.
His old caretaker is dying. Suffering from cancer and in terrible agony. He got her admitted to the hospital where he once operated. She had suffered all her life. Was unloved by her family, and thrown out like garbage from her ancestral home in Goa, but remained a devout and trusting Christian, accepting her fate without complaint, with nobody in the world of her own.
For 27 years, she was the prop of my friend’s home. Cooking, cleaning, and looking after the children. He got her into a warm and caring institute, looking after her needs when they had to migrate. Then cancer struck, and he got her treated, but it returned with a vengeance. She’s dying in hospital now. And he’s heartbroken that he can’t be there when she needs him most.
Sadly, all the big doctors he worked with have no time for the poor caretaker. His old ward boys are more helpful. My friend wanted a Catholic priest to pray over her. Administer the Last Sacraments. So that she might go in peace. Nobody was willing. The hospital would not allow it. Covid-19 has no empathy. My friend was helpless. He’s so far away it’s dinner time there when I’m having breakfast.
Moved by his hurt, I tried calling the church on a dodgy MTNL number, hoping to get the parish priest. After 27 attempts, I counted, and he was on the line. Sympathetic but regretful. The Last Sacraments required the priest to touch the dying. And the church and hospital wouldn’t hear of it. I told him I would call the Vatican and the Pope. The good priest finally, but reluctantly, agreed to go.
Not everybody in their last stages is blessed with divine intervention like the old caretaker. Places of worship are people’s connection to their God. Especially if death is near and medicine has failed them. I am on nobody’s side in this ugly spat over opening temples. I get the CM’s angst. And the Guv’s pique. But I wish politicians did not use religion like a baton to orchestrate passions. The Gods are watching even if their houses are closed.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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