Even had there been an India-Pakistan match scheduled at that time, I still would’ve missed it, in favour of the first ever live-telecast meeting between the striking doctors and the Chief Minister and her officials.
The suspense was on, whether or not the meeting will go ahead, as the doctors stuck to their demand of meeting under the glare of the media. The reasons were obvious. They were not trained politicians but were novices at the art of negotiation, pitted against the most seasoned politician of the state, the Chief Minister, the State Health Minister, the Chief Secretary, the director of health, the Home Secretary, the Health Secretary, the Police Commissioner and the Commissioner Law & order among others.
The atmosphere elsewhere in the country was getting hotter, with doctors joining the strike of their Bengal colleagues. A solution had to be found, and the strike called off for the sake of humanity. The seventh day in the running, the paralysed health system of the state could not be allowed to engulf into a national protest.
The initial defiance of the government soon dissolved under pressure, who agreed for the live telecast of the proposed meeting, and the doctors accepted the CM’s conference room for their session. The government also relented on the number of doctors permitted to partake in the deliberations, as 31 of them trooped into Nabanna from a bus that ferried them.
The doctors were all orderly, humble and respectful despite being a little nervous, without realising that they were imparting lessons to millions watching around the world, the fine art of negotiation. The posture of the CM initially was of disinterest, and she could have been ready to call off the meeting and walk away, given a chance and a small scope. There was absolutely none and the respectful, but firm tone of the young doctors made her realise the void in the healthcare system of Bengal. Mamata charmed the doctors with immediate administrative orders for all the points raised without losing her cool a bit. This is what she was when she walked into the Writers’ Building.
The doctors did not seek any personal benefits but were demanding safety at workplace for their community. They iterated that they were secular and were not concerned about the religious, caste or creed antecedents of the patients. They firmly declared that they were not outsiders, nor allowed to be swayed by the outsiders. It was a fabulous show, a repeat of David Vs Goliath.
Despite knowing the weaknesses of the government, which was pushed to the wall, by the Central Government, the Governor, by the civil society and the media (save, The Telegraph), the doctors were extraordinarily graceful and represented the real face of Bengali gentry. I wish I went to NRS to give a hug to the young doctors, who came back as humble as they went to declare the withdrawal of their strike soon after explaining the meeting with all their colleagues, most democratically.
In a period of lost hopes and losing faith in humanity with disturbances all over the state, the episode rekindled a new religion, a unique feeling of trust.
Bravo boys, Yeh Dil Maange More!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
