04-26-2007, 07:44 AM
Here is another story of Plague and Malaria. Until public health measures helped control them they remained scourges in India (Malaria is still a scourge in areas).
It is interesting that the story of plague in Europe is linked with the development of public health measures against plague. Antibiotics came much later. It is not surprising that doctors who were trained in "English medicine" who were able to make a difference were treated with so much respect. I am not sure - but plague itself may have come to India from Europe. Malaria of course was "indigenous" and helped fight the British - but the first cures were also brought in by the British from Europe. Quinine as a cure for Malaria was first used by natives in South America whose narrative is now dead. It was brought to Europe by Jesuit priests, rejected by Protestant doctors, but eventually accepted by all.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->This happiness was unfortunately short lived. News was received that his elder sister had died suddenly at Mulbagal. She, with her husband and 5 year old son had come home for vacation when the plague epidemic struck. The husband was the first victim to the raging sickness, but was nursed back to health by his devoted wife. Relatives have narrated to me how this devoted lady spent days and nights at her husbandâs bed side singing bhajans in her sweet voice. A fortnight after her husbandâs recovery, she herself fell a victim to the same disease and died very soon. Father had to rush to Mulbagal to participate in the funeral of his sister and to console his brother-in-law, who was grief stricken and was in a state of shock.
There was more bad news to follow. Within a month or so came the news of the death of Ugracharâs wife. She had gone on a visit to Malur where plague had been reported. She returned to Kommanahalli with high fever and before the signs of the dreaded disease could be recognized, she was dead. She left behind a sorrowing husband and 4 young children. The religious studies, at Marikanve were cut short and Ugrachar, with his father Rangannachar, returned to Kommanahalli to face the catastrophe. By this time, our step mother was pregnant with her first child and the deceased lady was her elder sister. With these tragedies in both the families and the scourge of plague still lurking about in the region, our father decided that their first child would be born in Marikanve instead of Kommanahalli. The engineering projectâs colony had an hospital and a trained mid-wife. Fatherâs younger sister, Padmavathi, offered to help with the delivery and was to arrive the following month. Everything seemed to be set for the young couple to welcome their first child. But the scourge of malaria, which always followed the construction of large reservoirs of water, was just round the corner. When Sukhalaya Bai was 5 months pregnant, she was struck with malaria. Treatment was started through the local doctor but her physical condition was not conducive for strong doses of medicine. Within 2 months she aborted a dead child and in a couple of days she followed it with her own sad end. Except for her young husband no one else was with her when she breathed her last. In her delirious condition she repeatedly asked for her elder sister and for her father who was away on a pilgrimage. Our Aunt Padmavathi recalls that our fatherâs first wife was a girl of lean build and fair of color and with a sweet voice for bhajans. She had been reared in the religious tradition and had enjoyed the vigor of religious life in her husbandâs home.Â
Within a year of his marriage our fatherâs cup of misery was full and he was distraught. He gave up his job, closed his house and collecting the few belongings he traveled back to Kommanahalli to be with his friend and to find solace mutually. Ugrachar was also bereaved but he had his father and sisters to care for the young children. Our father performed the final rites for his wife and since his father-in-law was expected to return home soon, it was the proper thing to wait and pay his respects to the elderly gentleman.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It is interesting that the story of plague in Europe is linked with the development of public health measures against plague. Antibiotics came much later. It is not surprising that doctors who were trained in "English medicine" who were able to make a difference were treated with so much respect. I am not sure - but plague itself may have come to India from Europe. Malaria of course was "indigenous" and helped fight the British - but the first cures were also brought in by the British from Europe. Quinine as a cure for Malaria was first used by natives in South America whose narrative is now dead. It was brought to Europe by Jesuit priests, rejected by Protestant doctors, but eventually accepted by all.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->This happiness was unfortunately short lived. News was received that his elder sister had died suddenly at Mulbagal. She, with her husband and 5 year old son had come home for vacation when the plague epidemic struck. The husband was the first victim to the raging sickness, but was nursed back to health by his devoted wife. Relatives have narrated to me how this devoted lady spent days and nights at her husbandâs bed side singing bhajans in her sweet voice. A fortnight after her husbandâs recovery, she herself fell a victim to the same disease and died very soon. Father had to rush to Mulbagal to participate in the funeral of his sister and to console his brother-in-law, who was grief stricken and was in a state of shock.
There was more bad news to follow. Within a month or so came the news of the death of Ugracharâs wife. She had gone on a visit to Malur where plague had been reported. She returned to Kommanahalli with high fever and before the signs of the dreaded disease could be recognized, she was dead. She left behind a sorrowing husband and 4 young children. The religious studies, at Marikanve were cut short and Ugrachar, with his father Rangannachar, returned to Kommanahalli to face the catastrophe. By this time, our step mother was pregnant with her first child and the deceased lady was her elder sister. With these tragedies in both the families and the scourge of plague still lurking about in the region, our father decided that their first child would be born in Marikanve instead of Kommanahalli. The engineering projectâs colony had an hospital and a trained mid-wife. Fatherâs younger sister, Padmavathi, offered to help with the delivery and was to arrive the following month. Everything seemed to be set for the young couple to welcome their first child. But the scourge of malaria, which always followed the construction of large reservoirs of water, was just round the corner. When Sukhalaya Bai was 5 months pregnant, she was struck with malaria. Treatment was started through the local doctor but her physical condition was not conducive for strong doses of medicine. Within 2 months she aborted a dead child and in a couple of days she followed it with her own sad end. Except for her young husband no one else was with her when she breathed her last. In her delirious condition she repeatedly asked for her elder sister and for her father who was away on a pilgrimage. Our Aunt Padmavathi recalls that our fatherâs first wife was a girl of lean build and fair of color and with a sweet voice for bhajans. She had been reared in the religious tradition and had enjoyed the vigor of religious life in her husbandâs home.Â
Within a year of his marriage our fatherâs cup of misery was full and he was distraught. He gave up his job, closed his house and collecting the few belongings he traveled back to Kommanahalli to be with his friend and to find solace mutually. Ugrachar was also bereaved but he had his father and sisters to care for the young children. Our father performed the final rites for his wife and since his father-in-law was expected to return home soon, it was the proper thing to wait and pay his respects to the elderly gentleman.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->