Give Me a Break (standard:non fiction, 450 words)
Author: Juggernaut	Added: Mar 08 2013	Views/Reads: 2635/2	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
On surface, Juggernaut don't get it on some issues but when he looks deeper, "Give me a break," that his feelings.

Give Me a Break 

Subba Rao 

A Doctor with Social Conscious 

TV talk shows went berserk in India. It is interesting to watch 

some interview shows on YouTube in which celebrities from various 

fields and others with colorful background were interviewed. A 

transgender woman gives such an articulate account or her life 

experiences it draws tears. There were several such stories and then 

from those  returned to mother  India after living abroad for decades. 

Their account of their experiences needs to be taken with a grain of 

salt. For example, a doctor in an interview says he came to America in 

60's because his hand writing was so bad he could not further his post 

graduate studies in medicine in India. One wonders how poor handwriting 

hinders advancement in any field particularly in medical field. Is it 

not doctors known for poor hand writing? 

As a surgeon, this doctor with over 20 million dollars saved in 

US, went back to India to open a socially conscious Hospital. It was a 

great success story by any measure. But when he emphasized on the taxes 

he paid in US on the vast amount of money it sounded as if he has a 

gripe against tax evaders in US which was totally understandable.  As a 

doctor he worked hard in US and paid tax on every penny he earned while 

some businessmen could have avoided paying some taxes. The doctor had a 

choice either to pay taxes due or take chances with IRS. He did the 

right thing to pay taxes in full.  Paying taxes is not a personal 

virtue to crow about; it is a duty and tax evaders if caught pay heavy 

penalty in US. 

On his comment on  doctors employed at his hospital in India 

as money hungry and can't wait to make quick buck,  perhaps he has to 

make clear that the positions at his hospital was more for gaining 

experience at less salary. If doctors can make more money elsewhere why 

would they stay with him? To save over 20 million dollars, the doctor 

had to earn twice that amount in US and now he is planning to build 

1000 bed hospital in India. That's good for him. But what's wrong with 

young doctors in India to be ambitious like him. I don't get it. Give 

me a break. 

Living abroad whether it is 5 years or 5 decades don't change 

the inborn traits and engraved native cultural beliefs and biases, they 

always remain as core characteristics. In the adopted land, sure people 

acquire new skills, local accents, food habits, attire, etiquettes 

etc., to fit in local culture and society but these are all superficial 

like Teflon coating. 


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