A Letter from father (Dr. Ashish) to his son (Athang), on Athang's Birthday

Dear Athang,

 19 years before your appearance in this world was great gift to us. As you are very active now , you were in utero and while coming out took cord around neck. It was very tough decision for us as your foetal heart rate was going down and our heart beat increased. Suddenly Dr. Leena mavashi took our sign on emergency LSCS. Since birth you were so matured that your aai had to underwent second surgery on 3rd day after your birth and your were sleeping quietly without crying for milk for half day. Probably it was effect of GEETAI I used to sing near to your aai when you were in utero.

When you became one year old we celebrated your birthday in one tribal village by distribution of sweets to poor tribal children. You were so happy to share your sweet with those innocent kids. When you were 4 months young, your aai provided half of her milk to another new-born baby for 15 days as his mother couldn't breast feed him. You happily accepted it.

Kavita used to visit tribal villages when you were barely six months young with you to treat poor people in villages. She used to tie you under some tree in villages and treat patients. You always cooperated her. When you were an infant, at that time electric load-shedding was quite common for 18 hours a day sometime 8 to 10 days a month. During summer when temperature used to be 48 degree centigrade, many nights you tolerated without fan and we both used to put you in cradle and tie wet clothes around you to keep you cool.

Many times you developed severe illness in Melghat. At that time, there was no pediatrician in Melghat and we both used to treat you by reading Nelson book of pediatrics. Though both of us were highly qualified doctors, we couldn't provide pediatrician services for you but you never complained.

Once, we went to Baba Amte's Anandwan for sharing our social work with youths in program organized by Dr. Avikaka Saoji. We were busy in guidance of youths, while playing you suddenly disappeared in crowd of some big mela in Anandwan. When we realized it after our program, we couldn't locate you. Both of us were so shocked as you were just 3 years young. After some time, we got mobile call from you and we could somehow locate you on outskirts of Anandwan. We realized importance of technology and happy to understood importance of your tech-savvy nature.

Once there was scorpion on your bed in between your legs throughout night. He probably sensed patience from you and didn't bite and slept well in night. Once, Aai was shocked to see cobra snake under your feet and without training she caught the poisonous snake and saved you.

When there were fake cases against us, you very matured ly accepted the stress and never complained. You always happily accepted all difficult situations just to fulfill my wish of serving tribes.

One day one of our neighbour removed her generator connection from our home when you were in tenth standard and you couldn't study. That night was really painful for us. But in spite of all such odds you scored 96% in tenth though you studied in tribal village throughout your life.

Once we three were standing on Wardha railway platform. Suddenly you went to talk to a rag picker boy standing near the platform and talked with him for few minutes. We were surprised to see that you had no inhibition to talk to poor neglected child of society.

We can't forget when after declaration of tenth standard result you got 94% and we were so happy. But you became so nervous that you didn't accept sweet as you were expecting 96%. You made us to go for revaluation and surprisingly you were correct. SSC board increased your marks and you scored 96% and stood in Merit list. We are really very proud of you, beta

Suddenly once you declared that you want to become doctor to serve poor tribal of Melghat which was sweet surprise for us. Now you have become so independent and self-confident and got admission in Govt. Medical college. We both and MAHAN trust are happy that the second generation is ready to bear the weight of health of poor tribal for next 50 years.

Wish you many happy returns of the day.

Yours

Ashish