2012

dear friend. I know your name. It is 2012. I know that you don't know my name. Its ok. For me its compulsory to know something about you. If I dont have a plan to make a good orientation with you will twist me like a poor tree in a tornado.  I promise instead of planing the distant future I will try to live in the present in happiness. there are lots of lessons from your friend. Especially from 2011. I hope you will be a peaceful year to everyone.  

Light, Life and Love.

We are going to discuss about a masterpiece of art originally drawn in the period of word war 2. The specialty of the picture is it has drawn in a Christmas Eve like today. It was drawn in Stalingrad, Russia in a German army baroque. In the time both Russians and Germans suffered with heavy casualties. There were signs of defeat to the Germans. The areas always aimed by bombers and heavy artilleries gun shots. Under such devastating conditions faith and talent created the historical masterpiece in a war field.  Today the picture is considered as a icon of collision of past enemies (Russia, Germany, England) His Name was Dr Kurt Reuber. The picture is totally drawn by Charcoal on an old map.  Its a picture of Madonna and Jesus. In a side of the picture can see a writing. The writing is in German language. Meaning of the words is Light, Life and Love. This picture had given a big relief to the German soldiers who were helpless in the war field in the cold Christmas Eve. Dr Kurt Reuber later became a prisoner in Russia. He died in a Russian prison. Later his greatest art work sent to Germany. In a Church in Berlin it is keeping as a exhibit to public. Copies of the original sent to Stalingrad and England to mark the post-war reconciliation between former enemies.

Even for today Stalingrad Madonna is giving the warm feeling of a beloved mother, which totally gives a meaning of Light, Life and Love. I hope not only the Christianity but majority of other religions also brings a big lesson and message about the peace. I hope Christmas would be much meaningful in a peaceful background. Current political background is not a classic and great paining like Stalingrad Madonna. To make a peaceful world, the mission should be started from the family then we should advance till the world level. For every good mission always need a good vision and a good will.  

-In the Christmas Eve of 2011

To be independent.

This letter is not submitted to fulfill any political issue. But the situations which I’m going to discuss here directly connect with current and past political activities in Sri Lanka. Above situations have some direct connections with the recent international politics. Major point of the discussion is Sri Lanka was the first Buddhist country to reject a visit of a Buddhist leader to Sri Lanka. Not only a Buddhist leader but also a Nobel Prize winner and the previous political leader of the country called Tibet.  By name His holiness fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. He was awarded by the Nobel Prize to respect his work to keep the world peace and promotion of harmless and peaceful religious works all around the world. Many years ago he was the religious and political leader to a peaceful nation. In front of past political processes which concerned with Chinese communism the Tibet was in a helpless position. The only help what they had was Buddhism (I agree it’s not the Theravada Buddhism). For a country like china with a great political, military, economic and manpower wasn’t hard to throw out Dalai Lama from his country. Even for today to keep the political and regional stability Dalai Lama is not allowed to enter countries like China, Tibet, Russia and etc. Finally India was the country to come forward and let the Dalai Lama to live and promote his peaceful work to promote world peace and to find a peaceful political solution to keep Tibet as an independent Buddhist nation. Still he is active in his peaceful process in Dharmasala, India. In a time Sri Lanka had devastating effects by Tsunami, Dalai Lama requested to visit Sri Lanka to see and to help the country by pointing international Attention. But we couldn’t grant the Visa due to the direct threats from china to stop Lama’s arrival. According to them it was a great disturbance to keep close and friendly political relations between the nations. According to some local and international journals and news papers the real situation reveled. China was an artillery supplier to Sri Lankan Army. Granting visa could have stopped the artillery supplies from china and put Sri Lankan Government in to difficult period.  I agree with the statement china was a major point in winning the war against terrorism. According to my point of view above statement doesn’t make china a close friend to Sri Lanka. China played a role to keep their political stabilities by threatening other countries. According to this situation what we can understand is china didn’t have real wish to see the end of the war in Sri Lanka. Instead of that china used the golden opportunities to attach Sri Lankans to international political manipulations.They have changed Sri Lanka’s foreign policy by force. (Our foreign policy is a week one. Please understand I’m not trying to insult my country). Few years back when Sri Lankan cricket players got the opportunity to play Indian premier League Cricket, our player was strongly advised not to visit or come to media with Dalai Lama. China played the same role. Chinese political policies have violated harmless and innocent desires of small nations. Sri Lanka is a small nation which is developing. One of our major incomes is tourism. If support to china, Russia, and North Korea we lose the true friend ships with USA, UK, and Europe. If we support USA, UK and Europe we lose the support from china, Russia, Iran and North Korea. These political manipulators attached our little nation to their vicious cycle. As a result, in a decision which those countries not agree with us can cause negative effects to tourism in Sri Lanka (this is an example). What is the major point which we take in to our consideration?  Knowing or without knowing we have become a toy to big countries to Keep their political stability and integrity. Actually we have not treated as a friend. We have treated as a political tool. Still we think these are the real friends in the international politics. No they are not the real friends. A real friend doesn’t do a favor to take a profit from the friend. Can’t you see? They are doing it! As a nation we shouldn’t be part of other political agendas. If we can do it we can attain the level of an independent country. An independent country doesn’t need a huge economic, political and military power.  What we need is a sustained development. I’m not going to introduce the sustained development now. It will become in a following letter.  Current political giants have identified countries like us as toys and tools. We should have good friendships and connections with each and every country (Sri Lanka is a peaceful and friendly nation). We shouldn’t become partners or tools in vicious political process to speed up the economic growth. We have a 20 million people who love our little country. We have many natural resources. Between cheating and cunning political friends we have few good friends.

What we need is motivation and good plans to discover the wisdom.

Related links

http://tibetoday.com/articles.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalai_Lama

http://www.dalailama.com/

http://www.facebook.com/DalaiLama

True problems and dooms day.

There is a huge discussion in the society mentioning about a dooms day which comes soon. According to Mayan calendars and the majority of conspirators the world is going to its end. The only evidence which takes as strong point is an old Mayan calendar. I have a belief about the ancient knowledge. But I don’t like to become a slave of any kind of knowledge. First we must describe the situations and the information to our selves. Then we should think about the base of the theory. In the process shouldn’t forget to analyze the past and the present situations. Mayan Calendar comes to an end in 2012. Actually what was the purpose of the Mayan calendar? To describe the future? For sure the answer is no. Predictions about the future can be seen in every culture of the world. Many predictions stay unclear to this date. Many attempts which made to understand the future was unsuccessful. Many clues which were given to us by the ancestors still unclear in nature. It’s true! We shouldn’t under estimate their knowledge.    

But it’s a very clear to our minds there won’t be such a dramatic series of events marking the total extinction of animal kind. The idea is a correct one. According to the data which we know about the previous extinctions a total extinction is only an idea. (There is always a possibility).

A specific change in the earth’s axis, a huge tsunami caused by a big earthquake and asteroids are famous themes in the discussion. Greater than those threats there are some common problems which man should face to protect the world. Instead of the dooms day 2012 conspiracy people should think about the following things which may cause disaster effect in the near future.

Global warming.

Air Land and water pollution. Especially sea pollution.

War and nuclear power.

Fossil fuel use, limitation and its natural effects.

Population growth and their needs.

Animal extinction and deforestation.

These are some of the basic and well-known challenges in front of us. These are the major factors which we should concern about. Everyone knows the doomsday conspirator theories are to earn money rather than showing the real destination of the human kind.

Im not telling that those theories are not valuable. They provide some evidences of new challenges. For the present we have serious problems than them.

Mankind should turn their political, economic and development plans to the path of sustained development. The sustain development always have concerns about our environment. Management of natural resources is more meaningful with this plan. All the countries have the knowledge about sustained development. If we work together in such a development plan we can protect human kind and the animal kind including our natural resources. We will be the first generation which stopped a human extinctinction from the earth. 

What's your favorite kind of fruit?

grapes.

Ask me anything)))

formspring.me

Ask me anything))) http://www.formspring.me/charithwg

formspring.me

Ask me anything))) http://www.formspring.me/charithwg

Start of the 2011 winter.

In my tuberculosis cycle I got sick. Not due to a TB infection, but influenza. Our teachers discussed with us and already arranged one method to reduce the number of classes in the cycle. I was an ease to us in this winter period. Now the problem is what to do at home? As usually the weather keeps its character with the dark environment. The sun should be there behind the thick layer of clouds. But the poor sun even can’t send his warm rays to us. 23.5 degree deviation of the earth’s axis really can cause significant effects in the weather. November is the start of the real winter period. People Come to work and run for homes just after their work. In the summer the roads are fully crowded in the evenings. In the winter evenings are so lonely. Once these roads were filled with young children, elderly people, and lovers. But now they are empty.  In the winter the most difficult thing is to stay in a room studying. Outside dark and cold. The environment is so depressing. There are no much interesting things to do. Teachers telling the education are the most important.  I know what education is. I mean the mood of the education. What it has done to me is keeping me in one place which is bounded by tough borders for a long time.

The thing what I found is the many golden moments have passed me.   I’m thinking in my room about the birds which fly in the skies. Watching through a window for the same sight and thinking about a tomorrow seems to be a crazy thing. But for now there is nothing left to do.

In search of a warm place.

I’m having a free time in my tuberculosis cycle. Few days before I and my friend went to see one apartment for his use. End of the November reminds me the cold dark weather which will surround us soon. Kursk is a small town city area becomes empty as soon as the sun goes down. Outside low temperature goes through the body till the bones. We were searching one apartment in this winter period. I began to think about the poor people those who don’t have a proper place to sleep. I thought the struggle of a person to have an own place. For some people it is a long dream. Finally we found one place for rent. My friend paid the price. I remembered the some poor people who were begging near by the road in the summer and autumn. How do they face to this winter? To a country with distinct seasonal changes a roof doesn’t give the meaning of a home. It should be a warm place. I remembered the Story of a little girl who couldn’t find a warm place in a winter. Name of the story is “little match girl”. Finally she dies in the cold winter. Winter pictures a beautiful picture in our mind. But the real winter picture is not only the snow flakes and white sheet like environment.  The next thing which I remembered was the warm feeling of a beloved family. The little match girl didn’t have a warm place and a family. In a snowing winter she found dead in a dark building corner. A hope about a warm place and a family. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Match_Girl

World's largest book.

World’s largest book.

I was surfing the internet without any specific purpose. I was reading details about large libraries around the world. World largest library with the greatest collection of books was the Congress library of USA.  3^rd place goes to Library of Moscow named after Lenin. I didn’t saw check about the 2^nd place, My apologies! Then I saw one article about the world biggest book. It belongs to Myanmar (Burma).

The book is situated in a big temple. The temple is called Kathudov Pagoda. According to the number of pages it’s a medium sized book. But think about the dimensions and the material which used to make the book.  It’s amazing, 730 leaves of the book which turns in to 1460 pages made of granite stones.

Each and every page 3.5 feet wide and 5 feet tall covered with a casket made according to the Sri Lankan Sinhalese tradition of “Sthupa” (Pagoda).  At the top of the each casket a fixed gem. Thank to the British Invasion and colonization now the Stupas doesn’t have gems.

The name of this precious book is Tripitaka. Tripitaka is the spirit of the teachings of Lord Buddha. All scripts are in Pali language. For Theravada Buddhists this temple is a golden place. Actually it’s a golden place. The pages of the book are situated around the Golden Pagoda. The temple is made by a Burmese King Mindon. It was a great work which had done by the good king of Burma to protect and gift the Buddhism to the next generations.

I’m very happy to see such an international historical relic.  I wish to visit this site someday in the future.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_largest_book

20 November 2011, Sunday.

20 November 2011, Sunday.

I’m having a day off with a relaxed mined after the torturing surgery cycle. Tuberculosis cycle starts tomorrow. I hope it won’t be a difficult one. Im going to translate an ancient Buddhist suthtra to English. It’s originally formulated by Lord Buddha. I hope the spirit of this teaching will help everyone. I wish all the success to my readers. The teaching is about the success.

Maha Mangala Suthraya. (මහා මංගල සුත්‍රය)

·         Keep connection with good people and work with them. Don’t keep mutual connections with bad people.

·         Keep connections with educated good people.

·         Pay your respect to the people who really deserve it (To the good people).

·         Live in a good place which has a good surrounding (Environmentally, Socially and culturally). Simply a good country, good area which can keep your mind in a peaceful state.

·         Keep the good sins which you have collected.

·         Keep your mind steady. Don’t let it run here and there as usual. Take the control of your mind.

·         Learn well. Try to attain new knowledge which will be helpful to you.

·         Take the correct and appropriate education and knowledge. Not everything. Just what you need to your life.

·         Discipline.

·         Speak good words. Speak about good things.

·         Look after your parents. Treat them well. Care about them.

·         Look after your children and wife. Treat them well.

·         Good occupation. (No illegal jobs).

·         Donate to things to the poor people. Treat and donate to priests.

·         Collect good sins.

·         Help, treat and care about your cousins.

·          Always be honest to you. Work with a good vision in a well defined manner.

·         Keep away from the bad sins. Don’t involve with them.

·         Keep away from alcoholism, smoking and other harmful drugs.

·         Don’t be late to do good things. Don’t be late to collect good sins.

·         Respect to others. Respect to other opinions.

·         Live a joyful life. Live with the happiness.

·         Never to forget the people who helped to you in the past. Be helpful to them when they need it.

·         Listen, study and pay attention to your religion. It should be done in the right time.

·         Be patient.

·         Obey.

·         Discussion about your religion with the religious people. (Friends, monks). Improve your knowledge about the religion.

·         Live a religious life.

·         Great behavior.

·         See the truth. Try to find the truth.

·         Try to attain the great Nibbana.

·         Try to keep no worries. Be steady in the disaster and triumph.

·         Don’t worry about the past or the future.

·         Don’t keep bad and harmful thoughts in your mind.

·         Don’t be afraid.

These are the golden instructions to live a joyful life.  

Ich bin ein Berliner and Tear down the wall!

After the WW 2 it was the most discussed topic all over the Europe. It was a major iconic symbol of cold war. Dividing of Germany in to two parts without considering post war period depression, social corruptions and economic instability was a major negative point in political view. In addition the country divided in to East and West Germany fully demonstrating the anti communist parties and communist parties in the word (Actually the major communist party or the country was former USSR). The wall built by the soviet government which was governing the eastern Germany. The division which made by the Soviet Union yet to be considered as a big negative point in attaining the trust of smaller European nations to Russia.  Decisions to take the member ship of NATO by the small nations nearby Russia were influenced by this action. 

Related Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner

http://the-history-notes.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-this-day-first-block-in-berlin-wall.html

My psychiatric patient in Kursk Regional Psychiatric hospital, Iskra.

Once I just turned some pages of a Oxford Psychiatric manual. One of my seniors had brought it home for his exam preparations. That time I was a 3 year medical student in the medical faculty. There was a funny saying in the top of the first page of the book. -->Welcome to Iskraß. We usually call the hospital as Iskra. There is no need to describe what kind of a hospital is it. Every citizen who is living in Kursk city knows about the hospital. Iskara Psychiatric hospital.  We started our second psychiatric cycle in the hospital and we were allowed to visit the patients. At the entrance a foul smell gave a unpleasant feeling. They are having a bath once per week. There are faces are not usual faces. Many of them are chain smokers. We saw classic smoker’s signs in these patients. Nicotine stained fingers. Dirty clothes.

My patient has several psychiatric disorders and syndromes. If I name them mental depression and Delusional syndrome with hallucinations. He was a resident patient for 5 years in Iskra. According to his description he was a military equipment developer for military airplanes. That time he had many connections with Russian KGB. His grandfather was a secret agent who had connections with foreign secret services. His uncle was a psychiatric doctor. He directly told to our teacher “I will communicate with them, no problem, my grandfather was a psychiatric doctor too”. We went deep in to the discussion. But some of the words which he was using not clear. It’s a symptom Neologism. His words were so fast some parts of the conversation were unclear because our Russian knowledge wasn’t enough to understand him. When I asked about the location of the work place he strongly suggested me not to ask about military secrets. He advised even to my teacher to save the military secrets.  Then we checked his memory status. According to the tests his memory was normal. No Amnesia. We asked about the current president and the previous presidents of the Russian federation. He gave the correct answers. When we asked about the American presidents he gave the correct answers.  He told according to his knowledge of secret services former KGB’s are rude people including the former prime minister of Russian federation.  The breath taking part was about his abilities to cure people by human natural energy. This energy he named as “Bio pole”. To give such a power his brain spheres are becoming a one body. He has met several people who had the same abilities. According to him his father had the same power and it have inherited the power from his father. He had seen once his father was treating his mother.  According to his words most probably termination of his life will be due to chronic effects of smoking, drugs like Haloperidol or barbiturates. 

It is forbidden to go outside from the hospital. So patients stay in the wards. According to our teacher’s words there are very dangerous patients with severe maniac and mental disorders in Iskra. Some of them are resident patients for 20-25 years. There are some people who search the same happiness which we are searching for long time. But they are isolated and limited to dark corridors of isolated hospital facilities. There is a big necessity of good psychiatric doctors at the present.   

Posts From A Medical Student: History repeats.

Posts From A Medical Student: History repeats.: Leading character of Libyan revolution, Dear Mr Gadaffi. We can see history repeats again and again. Being a leader is not enjoying thing ...

History repeats.

Leading character of Libyan revolution, 

Dear Mr Gadaffi.

We can see history repeats again and again. Being a leader is not enjoying thing always. It’s a challenging duty. Time changed its not old world. They say world is going to be a small village with a revolution in the technology. People lose their good side but they don’t have a sense about it. Modern politics always concern with the international political changes and forces. The revolution you have been involved is a good one (Relative to my knowledge and experiences). I dont like to put a seal or a good mark telling that Im a independent criticizer. We should think about the independence better than this. I have my own view in politics. My view doesn't support American political forces which spreading across the world. Not being an American supporter doesn't mean that he support Russia and china. Why should I support Russia, China North Korea and Iran to put down and criticize American policies? Russia, China, North Korea and Iran have similar political policies which are kicking the small nations.  Attempts which made to give good feces to those political plans always lead the supporters to traps. See the unpleasant magic. Politicians are violating the humanity not the political policies. There is no such a typical political policy to see the human wealth 100%. After all political policies are collection of tactics.  Most of the political policies are lethal weapons because they are with dangerous people. Some political leaders are icons of typical politics today. If we check their political history most of them don’t have good political carriers. Good example is you Mr Gaddafi. You are the real leader in Lybia today. You are a typical leader, but your start as a politician is not a good one. Im not telling that Goerge W Bush had a good political start. Bush was a soldier in Vietnam War. He knows what he did there. Im sure his history is not good. Vladimir Putin a KGB officer, laterer he became to even higher seats in his carrier. Only he knows how he came to those seats. Many political leaders used violence on innocents. They never knew the same violence was following them. Still their bad sins follow them. For sure they will pay their fate. Finally what we can say is no one can get away from their own death. Everyone should face it.  Kings, queens, princesses, dictators, priests and beggars have the same end. All of us going to the graveyard some day. Politics are for the wealth of the mankind.  The problem is we have mixed the politics and political powers together. If the politicians are not good don’t send them to the parliament.  Don’t support to their revolutions or cunning political plans. If you support them some day they will miss use their powers.   The people who support America and UK should think why they support them. If you are not going to support them, think why do you support Russia, China, North Korea and Iran? Do you have a view which is independent from the current political situations? Do you have a policy which is not violent? Do you have an own view of the world and current problems in this world?

Don’t be politically Silly people. Be wise and open. Another good politician passed away, but there are many lessons to learn from him and from others. History repeats always. People should try to make good changes in the world. Real revolutions never cost lives. Real leaders don’t have political black spots in their carriers. Real politicians don’t use hidden political agendas and plans.  Real politics don’t exist this world at the present.  Gaddafi saw his mistakes and changed his way. Gaddafi forgot one thing”There are no true enemies and true friends in politics.”

Letter ends with a nice photo. which was taken few years ago.

Hope

Militant- One country
Patriot- to gave the last breath as he took the first one.
Student- to be the best
Doctor- to keep the innocent patient lying in the ICU
Engineer- Make something new and productive
Orphan- See his parents some day.
Real politician- to give a good hope to the people who are helpless.
Patient- good health and a long life.
Mother- to see her children smiling.
Father- to see his children stronger.
Monk- to end the cycle of life.

Celebrating light memories

If some one wish to write something in memory of me. I would like to hear a description as following.(this is not a obligation to keep a memory about me) I'm really trying to be a such person. I love to see people with such characteristics. I collected these attitudes and added in to my life from books, from various people and from various incidents.
Medical student is a person who really liked silent environments. He loved his mother and father a lot. The most precious thing he had and owned was his parents and their love. Medical student loved his brother and sister like a bird's love to the blue skies. Medical student loved to see his patients with big smiles. He liked to make them smile. Especially the patients he met at the cancer dispenser unit in Kursk and in the regional hospital of Kursk. Medical student loved to live with poor people who didnt even have a clothe to wear properly. He loved to be a good doctor to them. He had experienced love and kindness very less, but he was trying to give these thing to human kind.

I wrote this note because our lives are like water drops. We never know when it ends. I appreciate the person than his profession. I would like to tell silently, the person who is living in the medical student's character loves you all a lot. In my life I never forget my grand father and grand mother, Podi Amma, my uncle and aunt. I should admit I was shocked seen one patient who was about to die. She was with a end stage renal failure. I saw she was crying. Later I knew the story. Many patients gave me silent lessons about the uncertainty about our lives. For the first time I felt the side of my heart which afraid to death. Few years back I never had such a feeling. Finally I agreed with the bitter truth, sooner or later we should go through such conditions. No one knows to tell when we end this voyage. Im very sure the efforts we made to make someone comfortable will be the final reword and the happiness.

 

To the beloved people.

The read wearing women who cleans the road every day.

The grand mom in the park.

Grandmother in the hostel.

She cant even climb the stairs.

The depressed word they talk.

Sweat under their clothes, we never seen.

They were in this fight for a long time.

Our heroes living in TV.

Frustrated face of the women who was sitting by the road.

She was asking a Ruble for a beer can.

Did we ever think what they were trying to forget?

Did we ever think about their depression?

Many of us don’t have such a passion.

Cry when people cry.

Try to share what they want to share.

Those are poor, innocent lives.

Loneliness and the uncertainty twist us.

A fairy tale to new generation.

It seems like a fairy tale but it was a reality for me 21 years ago. I still remember my first school day. My father was there with me. There were many students with their parents just like me. My father gave all the necessary information and handed over me to the Malvana School. Though it was a small school it was a cool place for me. Many of the teachers are family friends. Many of the friends are from my own village. As im from a family which had close contacts with the teaching profession many of the teachers considered me as one of their own children.

Every morning we ran here and there in the grounds of the school, around the classes and even in the classes. A playful childhood in the best place where it should be spent. Every morning we went in front of the office and stood for the morning meeting. Before everything in the morning I and several friends went to the school well and brought water to wash our hands before eating. For the first time I experienced what does it mean low grade economy (Im not rich too). Some students (My beloved friends) came to the school with yellow colored suits. Why my clothes were so bright? I thought. Then we opened our lunch boxes. Some had lunch boxes; some brought their meal wrapped in a banana leaf or in a old news paper. I was thinking “why?”.  Then several times I took my lunch wrapped in a banana leaf to experience the feeling like others, but I didn’t have a clear idea about the economic problems of villagers. I carried my books in a nice bag, but some brought their books in a paper bag or a simple plastic market bag. I tried this also. My parents told me about the economic issues of others. I got some lessons about poverty. I didn’t have a clear idea.

But for sure there was a family in the school. Some didn’t bring a lunch. We shared our meals with them. First lesson of my life to overcome difficulties as a family.  At about 11;30 am school finishes for primary class students. My grandfather comes to school to take me home. In 1992 I left the school. I entered to Mahanama College. I came to a far school which is situated in Colombo. The Kottan tree which planted that time remains for today. It was a small tree, every day we poured water on it. When I went to my school last time I saw the same tree in front of my class. Just like us it had grown to a big one.

There are many stories from my first school. Many of those stories are fairy tales to new generation. As for me and my friends it wasn’t. The times which we spent there remain in our memories even for today.

I think our story is not a fairy tale. I have lived in a fairy tale. 

A good health policy to all of us.

Every person gets sick. Every country has its own methods to keep the people healthy. Usually a country has a policy for this purpose. A health policy may have multiple goals. Health policy should be a unique one to a country. Health policy of America may suits to Canada but it’s not fitting to us. Health policy of India aims the problems oriented with Indian society, economic status, culture, sanitary conditions, weather, resources (human and non living) epidemic and pandemic conditions of India (I took India as a example). A health policy of a country may be the best one in the world, but we can’t copy it and add to our system.  A health policy of a country is built and planned to win their goals and to overcome their problems. We can’t directly copy a method of another country and add to our system. Health policy of India not suits to our country because our society, health problems in our country, economic status, sanitary conditions, diseases which attributed to our country differ. Copying a policy may lead to a loss of large amount of money. We should study other health policies and take advantageous points from them. What we should do first is to identify the real need of a good health policy. Then we should identify our capabilities in the health industry. Evaluation of the economy of the country and the socioeconomic status of our people is urgent. We should increase our human resources to keep the health system in a stable position. In the process we must let our private sector to take part to develop this system.  Forming a national advisory board is very necessary. This should include many personals from various specialties (For example Specialist doctors, Epidemiologists, Economy specialists, Biologists, and etc.). A commission to monitor the activities which may corrupt our health and prevent them is very important. Mean while we can add enough human resources to the same commission to identify the new trends of the health industry and improve our health policy.

Natural resources should be protected and we should use them to improve good social status, good mental status. Traditional methods shouldn’t be excluded from the policy. We must understand their importance in the development process. The best example is in rural areas, people trust Ayurveda medicine than the western medicine. In those areas the medical facilities are not good. So what we should do is simultaneous promotion of Ayurveda and western medicine.

Another thing what we should concern about is to resuscitation of our national policy of drug production and prescription. Health services must be affordable to everyone. Promotion of government and private health insurances is urgent. Health education plays a vital role in the process. Promotion of health education is a big advantage. Active involvement of private and government sectors are very important. Rules and regulation in the policy must be practical. We should teach them to our people.

I hope one day we will win this goal too.

Charith Kumara.

Kursk State Medical University.

Russia.

Useful links

http://www.who.int/topics/health_policy/en/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_policy

http://www.healthycommunitiesbydesign.org/

October 5th lesson.

Few days ago an inspiring character in our time passed away. In the situation there are many lessons which we can learn.  There are many inspiring characters in this world and few become very famous. It doesn’t matter who is the person. The lesson is what he has and had to say to us. Steve Jobs such a character. I read his sort formatted life story through internet. In his life there are many important thinks to take and adopt in us. I saw several major points between those characteristics.

1)      Courage

2)      Dedication

3)      Right vision

        Well planning.

4)  

People like us (especially Asians) should see these points. Above four points can provide a stable base for a good personality. After all it will be the base of a fast development of a nation.

My letter is very short. There are many things to talk about such a character. The final and the biggest lessons   what we can learn is no one can run away or hide from the death. See the amount of money which he earned. In front of the death everything becomes helpless. May he attain great Nibbana. 

Related links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs

Lost

People feel like they are lost, when hope gone with the wind, when dreams fly away from them. It doesn’t matter who we are or where we are. Most of the time incidents are out of the planned schemes and schedules. Uncertainty is always around us. Our hopes may become helpless and finally they fade away. Our lives, love, parents, brothers, sisters other relatives and our goals have the same risk. A person with a great talent may lose his life tomorrow without a sign. Uncertainty becomes dominant character. We try to see and plan the future and most of the time we become helpless. A man dream to live a long life but he may shoot down tomorrow. People build mansions but an earthquake changes the fate. People love; some loses their own love even without telling or expressing it.  A child loses his beloved worm care of mother. People die, but no one wants to die. No one wants to live forever too. People love but without receiving a bit of love. Some smile but they never show their tears and pains. Some make others laughter, and they cry in dark corners. Dreams about happiness become a dream.  Even after many social and scientific revolutions man stay helplessly. Meaning and the purpose of the life stay as an enigma. Dozen centuries ago some knew that a temporary happiness is not the real wealth and happiness. After all we have forgotten everything.

Our ancestors knew something. They sent the message to their next generations who live in the present. Modern man couldn’t understand the real meaning of the message. Even in his developed and familiar environment man became a lost animal.

The thing what we afraid of is the end of all the things. Love, life, mother, father, money, businesses and friends. We should leave all of them someday.

This letter is written in a moment which I have a loss something. I have tried to make something a part of me. Finally uncertainty challenged me. I think it’s better to learn how to leave without giving a fight in this situation. I know there are things we should give a fight. As an example I’m not ready to give up a chest massage of a breathless patient. The phenomenons of uncertainty still follow us.

Medical Student’s pilgrimage to Korinnaya hermitage in svaboda village, Kursk, Russia.

It was a sunny Sunday morning with the cold wind of Autumn. My friend Sajith called me. I was in a deep sleep. Time was 10 AM (Its Sunday). “Happa are you ready to leave?” I was Amazed! Then I remembered the discussion to visit Korrinnaya hermitage. I suggested the trip. I couldn’t reject the initiation. After one hour we were at the bus stop to catch a bus to Korinnaya. A drunken fireman was in the van.  He was talking and joking with us till the end of our journey. It was a funny half an hour in the van. The drunken guy asked from Sajith “from where are you?” Sajith Answered “India” Then he asked from me! I told him “Pakistan”. Pakistan and India! He amazed. He didn’t know that he was our joker. We reached the Cathedral. All of us were Buddhists. But the environment around the cathedral gave us the same calm state in the mind when we were in a Buddhist temple. Many devotees were walking to the cathedral slowly.

About corinnaya…….

It’s one of Russia’s oldest cathedrals. It’s very famous to Kursk root icon of god mother. Two hunters who went to the woods found the icon. The icon is very famous to its miracles.  In the war period it carried to America. Now the icon placed in a church in United States. Each and every year the icon brings to Korinnaya cathedral in Kursk. The icon found near by a tree root in the woods. In the same place there is a fountain which never cutoff. A natural fountain with pure water. Everyone drink its water to take the god’s blesses. According to some devotees there is a special power of healing in this fountain.

We followed the Russian devotees though we were Buddhists. We gave one note with list of names of our group. We didn’t forget to add a not about our parents too. The interior of the cathedra is gold plated. We bought candles and offered them just like other devotees. One of the clergy women asked from me about my religion. I told “I’m Buddhist” she was very happy to see us there.

In the evening we came to our hostel by the same vehicle. I would like to appreciate the cathedral and the friendly devotees for their dedication. Especially I would like to be thankful to the church. These churches have made a big contribution to make the people calm and more civilized after the soviet period.  Russia is a country which have involved with two world wars. Post war periods weren’t pleasant. The soviet political regime kept the religion in a bottom place in their agendas.  This resulted a big polluted condition in the Russian society. It’s not the political face which showed to the world. The contribution made by these orthodox churches to overcome such a period should be appreciated.


Charith
Kursk Russia.
Related links
http://www.kurskroot.com

Battle against the cancer.

5^th year second semester started. We have finished two cycles, and then we met our oncology cycle. I never thought about the understanding between the patient and the doctor till I went to the oncology department. I saw many patients who were in deep thoughts. Some were swiping tears from their eyes. A mom was keeping her head on her sons shoulder. Son went to the ward again and the mom was watching he returns to the ward. A son is the biggest gift of one’s life. This son is in a battle which is very difficult to win. In front of the cancer all becomes helpless. Dealing with a cancer patient is one of the great challenges in the modern medicine. We never had a thought about a cancer in our childhood. What we knew was we are going to live a long life. Everyday some unfortunate people get in to this trouble. Percentage of the cancer patients are also increasing due to bad diets, environmental pollution and bad habits like smoking. Some people smiles. Doctors know what’s going to happen within next few days or weeks. Oncologists take all the stress in to them and stand with the patients. Diagnosing a cancer not beyond second stage and proving a patient doesn’t have a cancer are some of the best moments of an oncologist’s carrier. Oncologists always help the patients to keep their mentality in a satisfactory level. One day we were the best students in the class. Professor was very happy because we answered to her questions very well.  In the ward instead of taking case history we made all the patients smile. I was so happy. Finally professor came to the ward and told us “My dear students you forgot the class lets go to the class!” We went to the class. Professor asked from me “What’s your future ambition?” I answered “To be an Ophthalmologist” Others also told their own aims and goals. Even the best students afraid to take the challenge. It’s a great job, but no one have a certainty about the success or the personal satisfaction. Helping these patients is a great work. Every country should have a big space to this kind of patients in their national health policies. Nine days after we finished our cycle. But the doctors and the patients in the regional cancer treatment center are still in the fight against the cancer. I wish them all a long life.

Useful links.
http://www.cancer.gov
http://www.ncisl.lk/
http://www.livestrong.org/

Education as an useful equipment.

After the British colonization and a 30 years was Sri Lanka have become to a history turning point. With the economic development, development in the modern technology and science an anonymous revolution is happening in the world. Actually than a revolution this is wining the current economic problems by appropriate management and tactics. It’s visible like a revolution because some countries couldn’t face the problems which arose in this period, so some of them have pullback from top ranking to the bottom line. Sri Lanka seems stable for a long time in this period, but some of the negative trends in the country may lead us to poverty and corruption.

I would like to take the education as an example. I chose this because better education of a nation is the best equipment to face newly arising problems and to stay stable in rapid changes of economy. Not only in economy, rapid changes can be seen in technology. Every nation should have a good preparation to face these problems .Nowadays there is a wide discussion to establish private universities in our country as other countries in the world. I think this is a good discussion. Establishment of private universities is a positive point. In front of the current economic trends there is a necessity to establish such educational centers in our country. Many countries have this experience including our neighboring countries (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan,). Yet Sri Lankans couldn’t understand the benefits and losses which we should make as a country when we letting the private sector to come in. Definitely the number of graduates in the country will be increased by few folds. So the job market will be an exhausting place to the graduates. The competition will be increased by many folds. As a result the post graduate study trends will be increased. Increased trend to postgraduate studies is a positive marker of a balanced higher education system. There will be a discussion when a firm or an organization chose a person to specific job. If the graduate from a private university which keeps higher educational standards according to nation and international requirements, the value of the degree will be high. Sometimes a competitive private university will be the leading university in the country. This competition will automatically stimulate government universities to give a good fight. This will be a much practical way to raise the government university standards and to increase the funds which come to the universities through government (To government universities).

Any step in the development process will cost something. Sometimes it may cost one generation. I’m not forcing to cut the right to education to one generation but as wise group of people we should understand the situation. Though I couldn’t get the real profits, my younger brother or my son or my daughter will have the opportunity to have a good education in our country. This is a special thing, a good education for majority of students in Sri Lanka. Everyone have a right to learn.

Every private university should agree to give 20% scholarships from the total intake to government students with good results. It’s a good point please don’t try to block this opportunity! Especially our students’ unions in the universities must understand this situation. It’s better not to stop the process but add more positive points and win them. As an example university students can stand in time when there is a need of more specialists and force the government and the responsible authorities to increase the number of scholarships to students. (Then they can increase the free educating students up to 25%). Student unions should be independent organizations. It’s a shame to see our students’ power under political agendas. Success and wisdom is not coming to as a jackpot lottery. Success will come to the people who are ready to make real dedications and sacrifices to win a goal.

The responsibility of student unions is not over. They can lead the educational process if they are not under the dark clouds of political parties. Unity and non depending character of student groups is essential in the process of educational development of a country. If you can make a contribution to identify the specialties which your country need and to develop new educational programs like computer based distant education the future will be a bright one for sure.

The responsibility in government is the biggest part of our story. A 65 million medical degree is a big amount of money for every Sri Lankan. It’s a small value to big businessmen. But government should aim not only businessmen but also the middle class majority. Middle class normal people provide the biggest effort in the development process. If government doesn’t like to think about them it would be a brutal step against the country. To study in a best Indian university a foreigner needs 88-95 million rupees (there is no point of opening a private medical university to deliver a medical degree for 65 millions, everyone will chose India by adding few more millions or cheaper degree from Bangladesh or Russia with the same standards )We expect a bearable course fee from private universities. Government should have a good awareness about these modifications in our education system. If government doesn’t inspect the higher education, there will be many corruptions in our education.

Development of a protocol for student intake is another point. Intake should be very transparent process.  Intake procedure and selection committee should be independent. Political force on the selection procedure should be prevented. There should be a very reasonable scholarship program. Government should assess the private organizations to check their abilities to maintain good educational standards. Every private organization should affiliate to government or private hospitals in Sri Lanka for practical programs (these conditions mainly for medical colleges). For Engineering and other academic programs also need a procedure to conduct practices. As an example an agriculture academic program must have a specific organization to conduct their practices (Example Gannoruwa Agricultural experiment center).

All the universities should have affiliations with local universities. In this case there will be a good understanding between local and private universities. These affiliations will help to strictly maintain government and foreign standards.

Everyone should aim to conduct specialist programs which our country needs.

There are many things to discuss under this topic, the topic is so wide. Sri Lanka needs these universities to maintain and keep its development process steadily. A good education should use as an instrument of development process in the country. I hope our future will be a bright one.

http://www.unesco.org/education/poverty/

Charith Kumara.

Kursk State Medical University.

Kursk, Russia.

Your comments are highly appreciated.