01st April 2024
"Today the Amazon is becoming a wood stove," Yoka Manchineri, an Indigenous nurse specializing in
Indigenous health, told Mongabay at a college in Rio Branco, the Acre state capital, where she
participated in a meeting with the state's Indigenous health counselors.
That was the only update Dr. Sneha, who is specializing in Medical Anthropology (an
interdisciplinary subfield of anthropology with a long history of research on environmental
health-related issues, especially those about human health within environments of risk, consequences
of ecological degradation, and the way patterns of development and globalization impact) could read
in the corner article of the newspaper. To stay updated on this front, Dr. Sneha also joined various
communities like APIB to know the exact situation there and to lend a helping hand to Indigenous
people's health and to prevent the cultural loss from happening otherwise. Being a resident doctor,
when she returned to her hostel after her allotted duty, she would have her meals and then sleep or
otherwise would be found researching how she could reverse the rise in recorded cases of respiratory
diseases by 8% in a span of 3 months (June - September 2021) In addition to this, her research would
involve the study of further probable damage that the continual Amazon fires.
Looking at her extensive research, her Head OF Department - Mr. Shekhawat, an ex-Army Medical Corp,
is so impressed. He likes the way Dr.Sneha takes her profession so passionately, she is too
dedicated to helping people, whether about Amazon Fire or in their hospital stretching her duty for
a particular case. She is the patient's favorite too, many of them request to be attended by her
because the pleasant smile she carries works as a balm, they say. After noticing her keen interest
in preserving the Indigenous culture and helping people there, Mr. Shekhawat himself is supporting
her cause and helping her get her aim converted into a fully funded project.
While there are supporters like Mr. Shekhawat, Dr. Sneha has people like Vikram, her elder brother,
who finds it too risky for her to actually go there and work for a year. While Dr. Sneha only sees
the plea of the Indigenous tribe, Vikram is well aware that these fires are not natural occurrences.
There is a dark side to it as well. The people who are causing these can go to any extent to achieve
their goals and it will be a death or life kind of situation for Sneha then. Dr. Sneha knows her
protective brother, but she also knows she will convince him if things work well in her favor.
Vikram comes up with a master plan to stop Sneha from dreaming in that direction, he suggests a
marriage proposal to his parents; His good friend Aman who is a successful businessman, knows Sneha
and likes her too, is the prospective groom. The parents are friends with Aman and know his family
too. That night they talk to Sneha about it. Sneha agrees to meet Aman in a coffee shop in Mumbai
since they both are in the same city.
The next day was a big day for Dr. Sneha as she made up her mind to convince Aman to wait for a year
and the administration was about to announce their decision about relieving Dr. Sneha for a year and
funding her project too.
Morning 8.30 am, Dr. Sneha does her morning schedule, prays to God (to seek much-needed blessings on
a tough day!), and takes a hurried stroll to the cafe. She enters the cafe in her sap green ajrakh
anarkali with her hair tied in a pleated braid, silver pearl jhumkas dangling around her cheeks and
kohl embossing her eyes on her face. She reserves a table and comfortably places her handbag on the
adjacent chair, quietly wiping sweat off her forehead. She waits for 3 minutes and then takes out
her current read from her bag as she orders coffee. After 7 minutes, Aman enters the cafe, and finds
Sneha's nose in a book, realizing he is late. "Sorry, Sorry! I know I am late!" he says as he pulls
a chair to sit for himself. Dr. Sneha rolls her eyes and folds her book placing a bookmark, to be
kept in the bag again. "How are you, Sneha?"
"Why are you being so formal, Aman? We just met last week, right? And yes, I am fine!" replies Sneha
with weird expressions.
"I never thought we would be meeting like this! I mean, I thought it would be a family meeting, and
then our marriage would be fixed, as far as I know you, I thought that would be the procedure!" Aman
exclaims cheekily.
"Thank God, it is not happening that way! Because before that I want to tell you something. I am
doing my research to preserve the Indigenous tribe and culture of Amazon forests. I am waiting for
the final verdict today from the administration. If it is a yes, we will have to wait for a year.
Are you ready for that?" asks Sneha in a tense tone.
"Wait, so it is a YES from your side already?" asks anxious and surprised Aaman.
"Wasn't that too obvious all this while? We gel well, and I always dreamt of a good friend over a
possessive husband. Also, if it is a YES from your side, you only have to convince Maa- Baba and
Dada. I know they are worried about this ambitious project of mine, but if I wish only one thing in
life, this would be it. I cannot miss this chance." explains Sneha in an elaborate way.
"This looks risky to me also Sneha, but I cannot oversee your passion for this project and I can't
say NO to you. I take the responsibility of convincing Uncle- Aunty and Vicky. But you have to
promise me two things! One is you will return the moment you sense any danger or risk. Second, in
the future, you will discuss your projects and consider the potential risks, together we will decide
if you should go or not. If and only if you promise these two things, then I will take charge of
convincing your family." says Aman in a very assertive tone.
Sneha gets up from her chair, jumps with joy, and hugs Aman hinting at her agreement to everything
he said. They finished the coffee looking at each other and smiling. After that Aman dropped Sneha
to the hospital in his car.
Entering the hospital briskly, Sneha walks in the direction of the notice board to learn the status
of her application. She stands in front of it wondering why the notice isn't put up yet? Patil Kaka
pats her shoulder and points towards Mr. Shekhawat's cabin. Dr. Sneha is now more stressed as this
is not the normal way of announcements. She still walks towards the cabin with a courageous heart
and finds herself in a group waiting to attack a surprise on her! "We are so proud of you Sneha! May
your project go in your desired direction. And remember, we are just a call/message away when you
sense a tiny bit of risk. Forget about the time zone difference and make that call. The whole staff
and administrative fraternity is honored to have a selfless doctor like you!" says Mr. Shekhawat on
behalf of everyone.
Dr. Sneha is now researching excess CO2 emission, exposure to the same, negatively altered water
cycle, and broken biome of Amazon because of lost moisture and carbon balance, rising level of PAHs
and VOCs, and recurring exposure to the same increasing the risk of cancer in the exposed
population.
With this story, I take a moment to salute everyone dedicated to putting their skills and
knowledge for others benefit, those who selflessly and continually work towards the betterment
of this planet we call home.
This post is a part of the #BlogchatterAtoZ challenge.
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