It is hard to digest for the present generation, how the medical system worked in the olden days, especially in villages. The so called medical knowledge was verbally inherited from generation to generation and the values like trust and belief played a major role in the treatment. The story what I am going to narrate is about a doctor, who did miracles in a small village. The ungrateful people forgot them long back, but the old pipal tree in the center of that village and the dilapidated tank still remember that humble man who saved many lives.

It was a very small and interior village in the southern part of India, which was surrounded by a thick forest. The main activity of the people was agriculture. To reach the nearest small town, bullock cart was the only transportation. Once in a day an old bus used to pass through its dusty mud roads. The villagers were very innocent. For any medical emergency or general treatment they totally depend on only one person named Narayana. Mr.Narayana used to give medicine from dog bite to snake bite and from general fever to paralysis. He was regarded as a doctor by the villagers, not by profession, but by the trust they had in him.

During one hot summer early morning hours, everybody was in deep sleep and the village climate was very quite, except for the sound of the cool wind which was coming from the forest. Suddenly a pitiful shrieking cry from a small hut trembled that silence. Most of the neighbors jumped out of their beds and rushed out to see what it was. They understood that it came from Ramu’s house. Within no time all the neighbors gathered and noticed that Ramu was lying down on the bed unconsciously. To describe the condition, his mouth was pulled towards his right and a kind of liquid which was like white form, was drooling out of his mouth. His right hand was twisted slightly and he was totally unconscious. His wife was sitting beside him and was crying aloud beating her head with her hands. Ramu’s mother was crying keeping her head on Ramu’s chest. His three children were also crying, not knowing what happened to their father. Other than watching with distress nobody was really thinking what to do.

The message spread like a wild fire in the whole village and the gathering started to increase steadily. Lots of discussions were also going on among the people. Somebody commented that Ramu was on his deathbed, recalling all his past experience. Someone else noted that the white foam coming out indicated that it could be a snake bite. One other person was trying to convince that it might not be a snake bite, because there was no chance for any snake to enter into Ramu’s house as if he was the architect of that house. Some ladies were discussing how Ramu’s wife was going to live and look after the children without Ramu. The discussion continued, but none of them knew what had to be done to save Ramu’s life. Such was the level of innocence of the people of that village. A young man named Balu, who had just arrived at the scene, pushed everybody aside and entered the house. Seeing Ramu’s condition, he said, ‘let us take him to Mr.Narayana first and let him decide what to do’. He immediately took a cot and shifted Ramu on to it with the help of others.

Four people carried the cot and Ramu’s family followed along with some villagers. The discussion continued in the back of the procession. Within no time they reached Narayana’s house and placed the cot under the big tree in front of Narayana’s house. By then it was already dawn and Mr. Narayana was sitting in the portico of his house and grinding some medicine in a stone grinder. As if he knew the fates of people, he coolly walked to the patient. In a single glance, he understood what had happened to Ramu’s health. By the time Narayana reached the cot, somebody pulled a small stool for him. He sat on the stool and tested Ramu’s pulse and checked his eyelids position, etc. He then called for his son to get some medicine bottles. He asked his other son to go to the farms and get some medicinal plant leaves. Within no time the plant leaves were brought to him. He called for Balu who was strong and young and gave him those leaves and asked him to rub them with his hands so that they would get crushed and give out the juices. Narayana took two tablets from his medical bottle and put them in Ramu’s mouth and asked Balu to squeeze the leaves juices in his mouth and ensured that the tablets were swallowed by Ramu. He also gave some medicated oil and asked Ramu’s wife to apply to his paralyzed hand and leg. She did that immediately. All the people who had gathered were quietly sitting on their knees and watching what was going on. They had great respect for Narayana and observed the proceedings with wonder.

Within an hour Ramu started moving on the cot and the joy which was seen in the faces of his family was hard to describe. Slowly after some more time he opened his eyes. He finally got up and sat down on the cot. He was told what had happened to him and how he was saved by Narayana. He then realized where he was and immediately got down from his cot and sat on the knees with folded hands in front of Narayana. Narayana had a smile on his face and took Ramu’s hands into his and asked him to get up. He then gave some course of medicines to Ramu and told him what to eat and what not to eat.

Narayana told Ramu that he was out of danger and asked him to go home. Ramu’s family members touched Narayana’s feet and all the other villagers showed their repect by folding their hands. They praised him as if he was a God. Narayana showed lot of confidence and assurance in his face.

Holding his wife Ramu started and took few steps. Then everybody also started dispersing to their homes. Somebody took the empty cot in which Ramu was brought to Narayana’s house, on top of his head to drop it back at Ramu’s house. But then, he heard Narayana calling him. So he stopped and looked back in obedience. With a smile, Narayana asked him to put the cot on Ramu’s head and told Ramu to carry it back to his home. For a moment Ramu was surprised to hear that. But then after realizing what Narayana meant, he did what he was told. When Ramu started carrying the cot, the tension among the people also eased out and they too started to walk back to their houses laughing. Mr.Narayana sat back in his chair and started grinding his medicine. He had a mischievous smile on his face which was saying that he was enjoying the innocence of the people of that village.

-Babu Rao

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