Bangalore, Chennai, Vellore --these cities may represent a whole lot of things, but to a Bengali these are the places where anyone suffering from any ailment under the sun will seek refuge in. No, seriously, every time a member of the “bong” community falls sick, they will first consult the local MBBS who has set up a clinic in a tiny, dingy room around the corner of the street. Then, if the ailment hasn’t magically vanished with a poof within two days, then South India, here we come!
I wouldn’t pretend not to have done this myself once (or twice, maybe). Of course, the fact that I was finally correctly diagnosed within a week in Chennai, after worshipping at the altar of the hospitals in Bengal for over half a year, is totally besides the point.
So, why is it that so many Bengalis have lost faith in their “para”s doctors? Are the doctors in the land of idli-vada really better than those of our home turf, or is it just a myth that we like to nurture?
You may ask, why this sudden interest in Kolkata’s medical facilities? This was brought on by today’s morning news. I was accosted by gruesome images of a comatose 8-year old and his mourning family who are currently on their way to Bangalore for further treatment. Apparently the boy was admitted to R. G Kar hospital for a tonsil operation but was returned to his family a living vegetable.
If you visit a Doc for something as simple as a common cold, the first task in his agenda would be to prescribe a bunch of tests, just to be sure whether you actually have common cold or whether it is a precursor to Kwashiorkor.
Not too many years ago, a renowned hospital nearby was vandalized by enraged ruffians for not catering to victims of a road accident. While I don’t necessarily applaud the hospital for its actions, I absolutely condemn the damage. I do not see how venting out on harmless, expensive equipments is going to solve anyone’s problems.
On the other hand, Christian Medical College of Vellore has gained an almost cult status among the Bongs. Reportedly, there are four Bengali restaurants outside this hospital almost next to each other, neither of which has ever seen slow business. I wouldn’t be too surprised if the primary language spoken in this city turns out to be Bengali solely for the unbelievable amount traffic from Bengal.
A quick Google search showed me that in Chennai Apollo Hospital, more than 30% of the total outpatients and 35% inpatients are Bengalis. If you were from Bengal, you would fit right in—they have from Bengali signboards to Bengali translators, Bengali books in the bookstores to even a Bengali restaurant “Atithi”, catering to the Bong palate.
When so many people are willing to travel more than fifteen hundred kilometers for something as simple as a hernia operation, it begs the question –why?
Are the hospitals in Kolkata really lacking in its infrastructure or are we just determined to believe that the grass on the other side is greener?
