Histories
Updated: Sep 14
It was that time when the headlines screamed of feticide of the female child in Beed district of Maharashtra, and during such turbulent times when girls were brutally murdered in their mother’s uterus, we were sitting around in the department and talking about the prejudices, discrimination and ignorance of the rural and illiterate folk. In comes Savitribai, the patient assigned to us for history-taking.
She looked just like the rest of them, those ignorant fools we were just cursing for killing unborn girls. She was old, withered, and in pain, and thus began her long spiel of complaints. By the time we reached the family history, we were pretty sure what her diagnosis might be, and we were just going through the motions. She told us that she had 4 children, three daughters and one son.
I scorned mentally and slotted her to be one of those people who kept trying for a son instead of choosing to have a small family. But she didn’t stop at that; maybe my disgusted expression pushed her on. I really don’t know, but she went on to explain how happy she was with her daughters, how hardworking they were, how much they studied, and how proud she was of them, and, as if this wasn’t enough, she told us that she would gladly exchange her wayward son for another daughter. And that was when I realised my folly. I was so prejudiced that I couldn’t take people for what they were and assumed that because she was old, ignorant and illiterate.
I presumed that she must have prized her son more than her daughters. How wrong was I! Prejudice prevented me from building rapport with my patient, but the old lady, in all her wisdom, helped me realise my mistake. But this is just one incident; there are countless others in my fledgling career, and I’m guessing there will be many more in the years to come, because while we attempt to take their history and learn about their ailments, they end up teaching us life lessons.
Credits
This opinion was written by Manognya Bethapudi, edited by Sreekar Ayyagari and photographed by Ravindra Patoju.
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