Yesterday the Indian Supreme Court passed a historic judgment in relation to Petition for Euthanasia for Aruna Shanbaug, who lies in a vegetative state since last 38 yrs after she was brutally assaulted by a ward boy. The SC has made Passive Euthanasia legal, while still ruling against mercy death for Aruna. Story of her life (really?) has inspired many documentaries, TV programs, News stories and even a book – “Aruna’s Story” by Pinky Virani. This is possibly the first case of Euthanasia in India that has received this significant coverage in the media and has been debated and discussed at length through various channels. Along with this, Aruna’s painful story has also reached common people and has been a topic of discussions everywhere. I feel the story has two absolute extremes of human behavior.
Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse in KEM Hospital in Parel, Mumbai was sexually assaulted by a ward boy Sohanlal Walmiki in 1973. In an horrific demonstration of brutality, he throttled Aruna with a dog chain. The sever strangulation disrupted blood supply to Aruna’s brain. Physical and mental trauma was so severe that Aruna entered into a vegetative state and till date remains in the same. Sohanlal was an extreme example of brutal, cruel and inhuman behavior. I would wonder what conditions would trigger a human being to treat another with such ruthless deeds. It is fearsome for me even to think and imagine. I would think one would cross such limits only if he is insane or lost his senses under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
On the other hand, Aruna’s story has a demonstration of other side of human behavior - Care, Love, humanity and dedication. It was a couple of yrs after the assault on Aruna that the BMC wanted to move Aruna out of the KEM hospital so that the bed is available for other patients. She had no family support, no friends, no relatives. It was the staff of KEM hospital who came down to streets against this decision and made sure that she has a bed permanently allotted to her. It has been 38 yrs since then that the staff at KEM has been taking care of Aruna who does not even know what’s happening around her. The lady who was in her late 20s has now turned 65 lying on the bed without any senses, emotions, reactions and movements. The nurse staff does everything for her, day in and day out, every day, for last 38 yrs. Aruna is a family member for them. For last 38 yrs, they have ensured she did not have a single bedsore . This, even after knowing that she is possibly not going to wake up one day and offer a vote of thanks. Here is an example of extreme dedication, altruistic care and love driven by a pure noble intention of serving a life.
While Walmiki shows us the dark, cruel, fearsome and inhumane dimension of Aruna’s story, the KEM staff shows us the light of love, care, selfless service and most important - hope.
Salute to the spirit of the KEM ladies. You are a great inspiration.
