Month: November 2017

Lately, Western media is deluged with abundant cases of harassment of women at the workplace. Several prominent public personalities have come under scrutiny, speculation, and fire. If it would have been the one-off case, I would have been uninterested, howsoever glaring it would have been. To me, this is a social phenomenon, an event in Western Social and Professional life, where women are rebelling and demanding a courteous and dignified behavior.

This is possibly a watershed event since this has engulfed almost the entire western world with stories of the promiscuous proposition by men of influence, be it George Bush senior, Weinstein, Charlie Rose or Donald Trump. One thing is clear, the limits and threshold of tolerance of such behavior are marginalized.

It is obviously an important step if we need to enable and empower women. However, sometimes, especially in the case of Harvey Weinstein, I feel that the lesser gender submitted willfully and now, are calling it an inappropriate act of transgression of modesty. Especially the movie industry is abuzz with such congenial and complementary exploitation, wherein one gives and the other takes as a transaction to achieve professional goals. The truth is somewhere in between, how much on which side, is truly understandable only after knowing complex emotions that dominate women.

At least, that revolt, that rebel that exposure of misdeed is possible in Western World. Back in Asia or other parts of the world, where masochism and patriarchy dominants, it will take decades to unravel such a phenomenon.

References:

Charlie Rose suspended following sexual harassment allegations
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42060961

Below is an excerpt from Shashi Tharoor’s article.

For seven decades after independence, Indian identity rested on cultural pluralism. Now, the Hindu-chauvinist BJP is seeking to redefine India as a Hindu nation long subjugated by foreigners – not just British colonizers, but also Muslim conquerors.

By stoking long-buried resentments and promoting hatred of Muslims, the BJP’s kulturkampf is dividing Indian society, fragmenting its political discourse, and undermining its soft power in the world.

If the BJP is to avoid doing further damage to the Indian nation, it must recognize that the past is not a blunt tool for scoring petty political points. One cannot avenge oneself upon history: history is its own revenge. PROJECT SYNDICATE

India’s siege on Taj Mahal smacks of religious chauvinism
http://bit.ly/2mAqQDF

As a competition between different faith, we will certainly feel envious about Islam. However, as a state craft, I find it deplorable as these nomads are truly not nomads but have an inherent value system in their practice. When we convert them, irrespective of religion, to Christians, Buddhist, Muslims or any other faith, we essentially destroy and lose these value microsystem, enriched over time, to eternity.

Truly speaking, all dominant religions are indulging in proselytization and conversion. Barring exceptions, only Hindus haven’t done so, not as part of virtue but the varna sanstha has no place to accommodate a new entrant. Major conversions have been initiated by Christians ( last 4 centuries), Muslim (mostly before Christian conversion and the recent one being mass conversion to Buddhism.

Somehow, there is an irrational dominant perspective with man that his faith is supreme and the final emancipator of humanity. To be true, we dumb humans need humanoid Gods, his existence is truly sublime and beyond our human perception of humanoid cult. Irrespective, any faith, including the nomadic faith, offers a perspective of his existence, ethos and expectation of our responsibilities. Why destroy one and impose our? That’s so humanly and that’s so deplorable.

Indonesia’s Orang Rimba: Forced to renounce their faith
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-41981430

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[10:14 PM, 10/26/2017] Heda Shashank: One of the most impressive work and a facet of India that makes us feel proud about its heterogeneity and one that creates an awareness on keeping it alive. Truly deserves a bharat ratna!

The man who ‘discovered’ 780 Indian languages
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-41718082

In the western world, pollution from car is the biggest contributor towards environmental pollution. However, In India (as in this case of Delhi and other metropolitan places in India), we see other contributors such as organic and nonorganic pollutants.

In Delhi and other major metropolis in India, the contributing factors are many fold. Inorganic particulate matter, Volatile Organic Compounds and dust are major contributors to such menace. Even if major factors are corrected, (partial control works too), that would help reduce the VOC’s significantly. However, is there a way to look at these factors as isolated contributors and work upon each in helping reduce the pollution?

 

Note: Never be your doctor, always discuss with professionals before initiating any medical plan.

Osteoarthritis is a disease of ageing, a normal wear and tear process. Contrary to mainstream views, I trust, body has enough resilience to recover and bounce back. However, tailoring to age specific and relevant activities help significantly in avoiding any aggressive surgical options. Currently, there is significant impetus towards minimally invasive surgery and if possible, one should explore those.

Agreed, Osteoarthritis of knee is a disease of ageing but ‘Obesity’ is the single most important risk factor. Other contributing factors are sedentary habits and disuse of certain muscle groups and eventual imbalance.

Evaluating the stage of osteoarthritis is important and management depends upon the stage of destruction.

A comprehensive plan will include working on below options –

• Exercise
• Physical Therapy
• Modify Your Activities
• Weight Control
• Self-Help/Assistive Devices
• Heat and Cold Treatments
• Nutritional Supplements
• Over-The-Counter Medications
• Injections

Summarily –

Weight reduction –

1. Salt sugar restriction, and
2. Accentuated calorie burning from active exercise

Physiotherapy:

To evaluate Consistent or Progressive Foot Progression Angle.

1. Identify muscles that are in disuse atrophy. This creates imbalance and accentuates arthritis. Start fixing those muscles with proper advice from Physiotherapist.
2. Postural training.
3. Gait training

Heat Application

Nutritional supplements such as

1. Glucosamine-chondroitin supplements
2. Turmeric, Ginger (oral when low grade to moderate, topical when severe)
3. Babul ka goond
4. Vitamin C
5. Krill Oil

Arthroscopy is invasive

Evaluating knee joint fluid helps. Since arthroscopy is considered, also discuss injecting Glucosamine in the joint fluid and possible steroids if inflammation is exuberant.

Avoid NSAID’s:

As best as possible, avoid taking NSAID’s. If you have pain, take Tylenol (Paracetamol).

Additional Reading:

(Click the link for additional reading)

When Bones Collide

Treatment of Osteoarthritis: Stanford University

18 ways to keep your joints healthy (https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/better-living-ra-17/active/slideshow-keep-joints-healthy)

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/bones-joints-and-muscles/osteoarthritis/treatments.html

https://drsarahbrewer.com/the-9-best-supplements-for-knee-pain

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swollen-knee/basics/treatment/con-20026072

http://www.synviscone.com/what-is-synvisc-one.aspx

https://med.stanford.edu/clinicaltrials/trials/NCT01397981

https://med.stanford.edu/clinicaltrials/trials/NCT02767570