A mobile medical team brings hope and cheer to neglected Ataria

Swami Vivekananda had once remarked: "Jatra jiva, tatra Shiva (In every creature there's God)." For him "service to the jiva (being) was service to Shiva (God)". And till this day, Ramakrishna Mission—the monastic order founded by Vivekananda—lives by this motto of karma yoga, however far from the limelight.

Take Ataria, a village 50 km from Lucknow. It's one of the three laboratories where the Lucknow-based Ramakrishna Mission Sevashram is currently conducting experiments with its truth of service and charity. And thanks to these experiments, every Wednesday and Saturday hope and optimism accompany the first rays of sun to this tiny hamlet.

These are days when children excitedly scurry out of their beds and expecting mothers take a quick bath. The ailing and the old too seem to be in their best spirits and there is a light, joyful spring in every step. They just can't wait to reach the makeshift shed in their village.

In no time there is a huge though orderly queue under the straw roof, with the little ones huddling in one corner. Suddenly, an engine's groan brings a sparkle in every expectant eye—the Sevashram's mobile medical van has arrived.

Well into her eighties, Sundara is not one to be left behind. She stands in the queue, waiting for a healing touch from the doctors of the mobile team. In great pain, she has braved the scorching sun to cover the 10-km distance from her village to Ataria with her son Bhagwandeen. Says he: "I'd given up hope and spent a lot of money on several hospitals and private nursing homes." His optimism was restored by what his friends had to say about the Sevashram medical team.

According to Swami Muktinathananda, who heads the mission in Lucknow and has accompanied the mobile team, Ataria is one of the three villages in and around Lucknow which is receiving their concerted medical support. Says he: "The people living here are mostly below the poverty line. They were left almost medically unattended till we took up the task. But this is just the beginning, we hope to move on to several such hamlets around the city in due course of time."

With that he moves towards a bucket full of milk and is greeted with claps and gleeful shouts from the children. With a pink identity card in one hand, every child clasps any odd container—from a steel glass to a polythene bag—in the other. Says Muktinathananda, as he fills their glass: "Their gusto is evident in the speed with which they polish off the last drop of milk given to them."

This group of dedicated monks, doctors and paramedics routinely visit Sri Ram Van Kutir, Ataria and Katra Bakkash twice every week where they work relentlessly through the day. Says Paltu Prajapat of Ataria: "What really impresses us is the love that these men bestow upon us and the way they empathise with our sorrow." And as the good word spreads, the number of patients who queue for the mobile van keeps mounting. Currently, there are 300 patients of which at least 150 are women, 100 are children and 50 are men.

The mobile team sets up 10 counters in the village on the day they dispense their services. These cater to registration, dental cases, ophthalmic patients, immunisation, medicines including herbal cures, first aid, paediatrics, gynaecological care, gastroenterological treatment, to name a few. The Sevashram also intends to include X-ray machines and pathological kits in the near future. Says Muktinathananda: "This will help us get a clearer picture of the patients. " Those in need of hospital attention are driven to the mission-run Vivekananda Polyclinic in Lucknow. Once the patient is cured he is driven back to his village to ensure he reaches home safely.

The confidence among the residents of Ataria is evident in their unfailing presence at the counters, come hell or high water. Sabteri, who has recently been cured of acute diahorrea, says: "Kya kare, in logon se milke tassali ho jaati hai (These people inspire hope and well-being)."

As the sun moves westwards, the queue shortens progressively. But the buzz under the shed continues—it is all about the endless hope and infinite love that the team spreads among the villagers. Those interested in participating in this labour of love should contact the team at Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Nirala Nagar, Lucknow-226007. Telephone: 0522-787143.