He was known better as the ten-rupee
doctor
Than by his name; he knew the pangs
of poverty
A self-made person
he found a chance
A goal to serve
his neighbors poor
Who often fell ill
and couldn’t afford to buy
The costly drugs or pay the
doctor’s costly bill;
In making them happy he found a
sense of thrill
And
accomplishment of his long-cherished dreams;
Staying in a
simple house he began to treat
His patients who
flocked to him with thankful eyes;
His tall, stout body bespoke his rustic
origin;
His palms though
rough adept in healing touch;
His stern visage revealed his
strength of will
Little he spoke,
but his keen looks assess
The state of disease in a
surprising way;
Never he let his
patients explain too much
About their
troubles ;”Enough”, he used to shout;
A few jottings
on a slip he quickly wrote
None can decipher
his mysterious script
Except the pharmacist
beside, well-used to it;
Strict silence
maintained whenever he came
He bowed before
the portrait of God and stood
Closing his eyes
for a moment and then began his work;
“ He is the
ultimate healer, not I with mortal frame”,
He used to say
with a philosophic smile ;
Never did he write a
long list of medicines
He treated patients
with minimum drugs
Unlike others who
made huge profits
Colluding with
drug-sellers who gave
A part of gains plundered
from patients poor;
Drug-dependent
slaves did he never make
His patients, but
made them live in simple ways
Using natural,
healthy food and nutritious drinks;
A harmonious style of life he
always did advise
Without vain, wasteful and harmful habits;
His serious face with a commanding tone
Aroused in people a
sense of respect with awe;
In his advice they
found relief, no selfish flaw;
No lofty mansions
did he build, no teeming wealth
No huge commissions
did he require;
Content to live within his limited
means
He did not yearn
for undue profits or fame;
“Focus on your
work; don’t crave for wealth and fame
Those small wisps
of clouds in world’s changing game.”
He told his
patients who came to praise his worth;
He toured villages
whenever free
To treat the poor
without asking for fee;
Free medicines he gave to help the
sick
True joy he found
in other’s happiness and health
Still he did
pursue in his noble line
Though old he was
quite happy and fine
Reduced his
working hours to suit his age
A dedicated
doctor with no sense of craze
So many patients
still remember his noble service
A true healer in
him one always sees.
******************************************
July 13, 2019 Somaseshu Gutala
