Karnataka votes today! Everytime, there are elections, I always remember my dearest Ajja, Dr. K Venkatesh Rao, (or dadaji, a paternal grandfather). What he did back in 1998 is something I'll never forget till my dying day. He will remain my source of inspiration.
In 1997, he suffered a stroke and due to a cerebral haemorrhage he was left paralysed on his right side, leading to loss of speech and inability to walk, amongst a few other things. Most of the doctors had given up as the damage was quite bad. But, by God's grace, he survived for another 18 months. I guess it was his will power, amongst the other things that he survived. Also, his stubbornness (which runs in the bloodline!) to be independent was another quality that made him live long. Though he could talk something, it was quite unintelligible and often, you couldn't understand what he wanted to say. He couldn't walk without support and he had to drag his paralysed right foot. But he walked somehow and expressed himself.
In 1998, India was voting once again for the elected party (in 1996) had fallen and we required a better leader! So, this means elections and polling once again! Ajja, who used to read the newspapers in the mornings was very disappointed but elated and hoped the Central Government would be a different one. This meant, he was very eager to go to the polling station to cast his vote.
The D-Day arrived and believe it or not, Ajja was the first amongst us family members to get up at 6.30 am raring to go and vote. He tried to wake the nurse, but no use! So he got off the bed somehow (I still don't know how, as we had put bars ensuring that he get off the bed and wandering off on his own.), walked to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. In the meanwhile, the nurse woke up, realised Ajja was not in his bed but was at the sink trying to brush his teeth. After helping him with the daily chores, he got dressed, sat outside in the main hall, in his favourite chair, waiting for the rest of the members to wake up! Finally, dad and me, woke up, got ready and took him to the polling station. He somehow walked it with my support from the car to the main polling booth. People who saw him, stood up in respect and came forward to help him. Everyone in the station knew grandpa. It's a different thing that all were his patients. With their help, he finally cast his vote and returned home, with the biggest smile on his face. His eyes shone and it spoke of the joy he felt on having voted today. I was 16 that year.
I still remember, there was an elderly gentleman, (a neighbour and a friend of ajja), who was certainly older to me ajja. He walked up and said, "I'm really proud of you today. Even though you're in no condition to walk or talk, you still have decided to vote today. You're the source of inspiration to all today and we shall remember this as long as we all live!"
Today, we keep hearing and read that a 90-odd year has voted for he believes that his vote can help make a difference. I also admire such people, but my admiration is not greater than me ajja.
Ajja, what you did that day, is something I'll never forget. Today, as I cast my vote, I remembered you. As wrote this blog, I cried silently as I remembered everything you did when you were sick. Ajja, you will always remain my source of inspiration and the reason for my will power, if I were to be as sick as you were. Ajja, I'll never give up or show signs of giving up. People still remember you to be a great doctor who cured many a sickness quickly, a doctor who rarely charged anyone for consultation, a doctor who genuinely cared even though you used to shout at patients for not taking care of themselves well. Some still talk fondly of you and wish you were still alive to take care of them. More than them, I wish you were alive for you were the best grandpa, Even though you used to beat me when I got my maths all incorrect, but you still cared a lot. Miss you ajja. Hope you are looking down proudly upon me today, though I've not become quite the engineer as you wanted me to become!
Vinay
05-05-2013
1436 IST
In 1997, he suffered a stroke and due to a cerebral haemorrhage he was left paralysed on his right side, leading to loss of speech and inability to walk, amongst a few other things. Most of the doctors had given up as the damage was quite bad. But, by God's grace, he survived for another 18 months. I guess it was his will power, amongst the other things that he survived. Also, his stubbornness (which runs in the bloodline!) to be independent was another quality that made him live long. Though he could talk something, it was quite unintelligible and often, you couldn't understand what he wanted to say. He couldn't walk without support and he had to drag his paralysed right foot. But he walked somehow and expressed himself.
In 1998, India was voting once again for the elected party (in 1996) had fallen and we required a better leader! So, this means elections and polling once again! Ajja, who used to read the newspapers in the mornings was very disappointed but elated and hoped the Central Government would be a different one. This meant, he was very eager to go to the polling station to cast his vote.
The D-Day arrived and believe it or not, Ajja was the first amongst us family members to get up at 6.30 am raring to go and vote. He tried to wake the nurse, but no use! So he got off the bed somehow (I still don't know how, as we had put bars ensuring that he get off the bed and wandering off on his own.), walked to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. In the meanwhile, the nurse woke up, realised Ajja was not in his bed but was at the sink trying to brush his teeth. After helping him with the daily chores, he got dressed, sat outside in the main hall, in his favourite chair, waiting for the rest of the members to wake up! Finally, dad and me, woke up, got ready and took him to the polling station. He somehow walked it with my support from the car to the main polling booth. People who saw him, stood up in respect and came forward to help him. Everyone in the station knew grandpa. It's a different thing that all were his patients. With their help, he finally cast his vote and returned home, with the biggest smile on his face. His eyes shone and it spoke of the joy he felt on having voted today. I was 16 that year.
I still remember, there was an elderly gentleman, (a neighbour and a friend of ajja), who was certainly older to me ajja. He walked up and said, "I'm really proud of you today. Even though you're in no condition to walk or talk, you still have decided to vote today. You're the source of inspiration to all today and we shall remember this as long as we all live!"
Today, we keep hearing and read that a 90-odd year has voted for he believes that his vote can help make a difference. I also admire such people, but my admiration is not greater than me ajja.
Ajja, what you did that day, is something I'll never forget. Today, as I cast my vote, I remembered you. As wrote this blog, I cried silently as I remembered everything you did when you were sick. Ajja, you will always remain my source of inspiration and the reason for my will power, if I were to be as sick as you were. Ajja, I'll never give up or show signs of giving up. People still remember you to be a great doctor who cured many a sickness quickly, a doctor who rarely charged anyone for consultation, a doctor who genuinely cared even though you used to shout at patients for not taking care of themselves well. Some still talk fondly of you and wish you were still alive to take care of them. More than them, I wish you were alive for you were the best grandpa, Even though you used to beat me when I got my maths all incorrect, but you still cared a lot. Miss you ajja. Hope you are looking down proudly upon me today, though I've not become quite the engineer as you wanted me to become!
Vinay
05-05-2013
1436 IST
