India's eminent cardiologist Dr. Sheikh JALAL

Dr. Sheikh JALAL

Another doctor fell to bullets. A sympathetic   note followed from the authorities, but as usual no Ex- director of SKIMS, an ex-head of the department and a doctor who was engaged in  care  of Kashmiri patients….Almost two decades back the bullets hit another doctor of SKIMS, another head of the department, a bold surgeon, a conceiver, a visionary and a humble human being-Prof.Abdul  Ahad Guru. He was murdered for a crime that each one of us committed those days-asking for something that was denied to us for ages. His murder was wrapped under the thick black quilt of “murder by un-identified gunmen.” No one spoke for the justice to the victim or to his family. A young boy lost his father, a woman lost her husband and Kashmir lost an able son. No probes, no inquiries and the matter stood forgotten. probes and no inquiries. In a few weeks from now   the matter will be forgotten. This   time it was an

The fear that gripped the community of doctors was so much that Dr.Guru was never remembered   on his death anniversary, never was a lecture delivered in his honor, and never was a stone erected in his memory in the very premises of the college he conceived. No medical associations of the state, country or the world-talked about Dr.Guru….ever.-

Years went by , a  loyal bureaucrat  of Government of India  who has played long innings in Kashmir came out  with the stunning revelation in his book ‘My Kashmir’ about the truth regarding the murder of Dr. Guru. He named those who were responsible for the dastardly act, he named the real men behind the scene  as he removed the dark quilt from the dark scene. A late revelation-  nonetheless informative. No one yet again after these facts which exposed the authorities   came to the surface- spoke about justice to the victim. The family   had possibly reconciled to their fate as the actual murderer had been eliminated.

Another great doctor fell to the bullets almost within the premises of the hospital he worked in. Dr Farooq Ashai   served as Medical Superintendent and a head of the department in Bone and joint hospital Barzulla. He was on his way to his hospital when he   was shot at. A talented man, a versatile doctor, a competent orthopedician, a loving teacher was silenced forever. Who killed him, why   and how- was never revealed. His wife who intubated her own husband with the hope to revive him in the very theatres where he had revived thousands –is waiting   even today for the justice to her husband. But will she ever get it in this dark valley? And we all have maintained silence- out of fear or out of callousness –regretfully so.

A little less known than these doctors was a gentle Professor of surgey at SMHS hospital Dr. MS Malik. The humble Professor was crushed   by Forces vehicle in Lal Chowk. No probes, no punishments and no inquiries. They were not bothered and we too continued with our lives.

Another doctor who dared to enter into the world of politics –Dr.Lone was mysteriously killed to satisfy someone’s thirst   for a doctor’s   blood. His friends   in political circles never asked for a probe into his death. Here too a doctor was a victim.

Well a survivor she is-thankfully , Dr. Girja Dhar one of the boldest principals of GMC Srinagar who held it together when it was all set to be doomed, faced a shower of bullets - a horrifying incident that went unaccounted, un-probed. The attempt on the   life of a high profile public servant did not evoke a condemnation from any quarter.

Doctors have borne the odds, suffered but   delivered amidst   crises in this conflict zone. But these witnesses’ of genocides are being hit and no one it seems is bothered. From Dr.Guru to Dr.Ashai, Dr.Malik to Dr. Sheikh Jalal-these were the doctors who stayed back in trouble torn valley to treat patients. Their families had invested in them   and their patients had trust in them. Why won’t someone tell us why they were killed?

What about the national and international health organizations and associations? These agencies busy with celebrating Malala days are maintaining a criminal silence over the death of our Messiah’s-Why?

It is a pain to be born in Kashmir-and more painful to be a practicing doctor witnessing death in all forms. The stress under which a doctor works here is tortuous   and the risk to life and honor is tremendous. If a doctor braving it all cannot be protected-then where should doctors seek asylum and where will the poor patients go?

This may not be the entire tale of doctors working in Kashmir and dying at the hands of unknown and unidentified men-I hope to talk more elaborately in my book “Whiteman in Dark”-till then I dare to condemn the attacks  on life and honor of doctors of Kashmir (Greater Kashmir)