Could this possibly be the year when limelight and focus shifts towards this bleak patch of my existence: long have I labored, trudging, often alone, waiting for a day when media gaze directs towards my endless efforts to further scientific studies from this part of remote India.
(Opening page of a Bangalore newspaper with my photo)
In the last few weeks, many from the media have discovered me – and find some of my produce worthy enough for a wider audience attention: The weekend gone had me being featured on Times of India (Kannada), Kannada Prabha and The Indian Express have all carried much information on our epidemiological survey on chikungunya – and next week, more coverage is expected for our HIV work. Ten days ago, Namma TV telecast an interview of mine….….Or is now the moment when I must henceforth stop moaning my mantra ‘mera number kab ayega?’ The reply to which was an oft-repeated and monotonous ‘ayega baba, ayega’….
Could it be that my five minutes of glory has finally 'aa gaya'? In my topsyturvy world of setbacks and much personal tragedy – a glimmer of cheer comes my way, professionally. Am I over the moon? The recognition, publicly, of hours and hours spent pursuing ever receding goals in the research world?
(The New Indian Express item)
A few happy tidings have come this year …my elevation to the institutional head’s position, a hefty hike in wages, a new silver Ford parked at my door for my use, gratis. The addition of a bonny baby into the home census, the selection of a sulekha blog for inclusion in Penguin.
I look around my room as I type this article: on the shelf is a large laminated B & W picture of a lady I once worshipped. Would she have savored this moment of glory of mine? Would my daughter have shared the happy news with her friends, of how her father had finally made it?
I wonder.
A few weeks from now a special press and media meet has been arranged in the state capital for me…along with a prolonged TV session on research. I rub my eyes, is this real? I sometimes feel am I crowing and bragging here? Maybe yes, but more importantly for me, sharing my happiness with people here is as much my obligation as my need was to share my woes. So friends bear with my vanity as I yell from my roof top
..............Hear me world, I have arrived.
Close
dear sunkan,
Thanks ma'am for the very kind and warm words. Whether the missing lady and daughter hold me in esteem or not, it is more than made up for me by the spontaneous outpouring of goodwill the media attention has created among my friends, here and elsewhere. What more can I want? I am content, life has given me more than I ever asked from it - maybe a little less bitterness would have been more welcome, yet I have no grouse. To each his own share of woes and joys. My share is a bit lopsided, but not just one sided. That is cause for elation
regards, ixedoc
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dear doc atlast, and it is nice to hear you getting what you deserve, i have always respected the docs and engineers and army in our country for their selfless contribution whether they get their laurels or not they go ahead and live by their conviction. when god has chosen u to serve then what more can a human ask...but pl do not sound like the duryodhana after the war where he feel all this with no one around to appreciate my achievement was it worth, i know the lady you mention will be around and appreciate you and your daughter whether she acknowledges or not will always hold you her hero in mind..all best doc cheers to all your achievement so far..
sunkan
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dear supriya,
Its been some time since youve told me that...'you rock'. hearing that makes me feel at home and among friends
regards, ixedoc
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Dear supriya,
Thanks lady....its a super euphoric feeling when being coverd in the emdia, especially for causes I hold close. Science has played a gallery sitter role for the press, and when someone features anything that propagates scientific inqiury, I feel great,
regards, ixedoc
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uh uh...
NOW... You ROCK! :-)
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I am so happy for you. Finally, I breathe - you're getting what you *really* deserve!
Congratulations!
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dear kamalji & harsha,
thanks to both for wishing good to me. if all goes well, afew months from now, some new research of mine may get wroldwide recognition - but, there are always things that can go wrong, and my luck has been such till now, that I have become quite inured to setbacks: anyway, with all yoru goodwill and blessings, I hope this time things do turn out the way they have promised to.
regards, ixedoc
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Dear Doc,
This is not vanity, this is well earned.Congrats Doc from Harsha and me, we are very proud of u and yr acheivements, and u will go very very far in life.Glad to know my friend the Doc, is getting just dues.
As they say Doc " Der Hai Andher Nahin., Deer Aya Durust Aya, Better late than never.
all the best.Regards.kamal
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dear arian,
thanks for the well meant tip: yes, I know, this media attention can become heady - but, this isnt too new an experience for me – I’ve been extensively media featured earlier with write ups and pics in India Today, Outlook and The Week, the three top selling magazines in India - but this time around the attention is for research - it wasn’t earlier – that’s why I am euphoric now.
Research is low priority in a country that pays homage to sports or screen personalities - hence for science to find mention is break through of a kind, at least for me
regards, ixedoc
PS: this is from the net news channel today
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=82893
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DOC,
Wishing you all the success in this new avataar.
A detatched view and review of the whole process of publicity is needed. Dont get carried away.
Ofcourse you dont need my advice onl ife ... just prodding you to remember that this is nothing but Maya.
Rgds
Arian
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