Tragic cocktail of bad health care, superstition for MP's tribals
Hindustan Times|February 14, 2024
This could not be happening again. It was the middle of November, and in 22-year-old Ganeshiya Baiga's arms, her three-month-old Ragini daughter was shivering -breath drawn sharply, eyes fluttering, body fading.
Shruti Tomar
Tragic cocktail of bad health care, superstition for MP's tribals

Ganeshiya's mind flashed back to another baby who was once motionless in her arms; her six-month-old son had died after he fell into the village well. This could not be happening again.

She looked for help, but there was none. It was early afternoon, and her husband, like every other male member of the tribal Patasi village in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol, had left home early to earn his daily wage. She glanced around her thatched home for something that could alleviate her daughter's pain. The floor was bare, the kitchen sparse; and no possibility of any medicines.

She thought briefly of the sub-health centre (SHC) at Kotma, 9km away, but experience told her that was rarely useful. There was the medical college in Shahdol the district headquarters --15km away, but there was no money for transport Travelling to the city without her husband was out of the question anyway; the village would not allow it.

Ragini had pneumonia, not uncommon among young children. And as her condition deteriorated, Baiga decided on an option often exercised in trib Madhya Pradesh because of a potent cocktail of superstition and inaccessible primary health care an option that may not always cause death itself, but can delay proper medical attention until it is far too late.

Ganeshiya took her daughter to be branded.

The young child clutched tightly, she ran, arriving at the home of her 67-year-old grandmother, Tirji, in Kotma. Tirji is a "vaidya", the local word for an unregistered medical practitioner. Tirji did what she had done many times before. She brought out an old sickle, and set it next to a flame. Then, 50 times over, as the child cried out, she branded Ragini, the tell-tale scar from burnt skin spreading its tentacles across her stomach.

This story is from the February 14, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 14, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMESView All
Backing queer love stories in cinema is liberating: Onir
Hindustan Times

Backing queer love stories in cinema is liberating: Onir

Filmmaker Onir's latest project, We Are Faheem and Karun, is a queer love story set against the backdrop of Gurez, Jammu and Kashmir.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Terence Lewis reveals why Saroj Khan, Farah Khan were 'more aggressive' than male choreographers
Hindustan Times

Terence Lewis reveals why Saroj Khan, Farah Khan were 'more aggressive' than male choreographers

When it comes to the field of choreography in Bollywood, there have been only a handful of women choreographers. Two names that instantly come to mind are the late choreographer Saroj Khan and choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Lucknow kids' reimagine Sabya's bridal collection; earn cheers from B'wood
Hindustan Times

Lucknow kids' reimagine Sabya's bridal collection; earn cheers from B'wood

Underprivileged kids from Lucknow reimagine Sabyasachi's bridal designs

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Zendaya and Anne Hathaway join Christopher Nolan's next
Hindustan Times

Zendaya and Anne Hathaway join Christopher Nolan's next

Hollywood actors Zendaya and Oscar winner Anne Hathaway are the latest additions to the cast of director Christopher Nolan's upcoming feature film.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
'Comedy is enjoyable but not easy to do'
Hindustan Times

'Comedy is enjoyable but not easy to do'

Actor Aftab Shivdasani has had a good run in comedy films, with notable performances in Hungama (2003), Masti (2004) and Deewane Huye Paagal (2005). So, it's no surprise that he is excited to return to the genre with Welcome To The Jungle.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
ARMAAN MALIK ON HIS THIRD EMA NOD: IT FEELS SURREAL
Hindustan Times

ARMAAN MALIK ON HIS THIRD EMA NOD: IT FEELS SURREAL

Singer-songwriter Armaan Malik is ecstatic that he has received a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) for his song Always with British singer Calum Scott in the Best India Act category.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
'A crossover between The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and Real Housewives of NY is in the works'
Hindustan Times

'A crossover between The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and Real Housewives of NY is in the works'

Reality TV star Jessel Taank, the first Indian to feature in The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY), was in Mumbai recently. Talking about her weeklong visit, she shares, \"India's so exciting-economically and culturally - it's imploding. What drew me to India is the fact that I am labelled as the first Indian on RHONY and that's a big compliment. Yet, I feel a disconnect.\"

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Ricky Kej beams with joy after fourth Grammy nomination
Hindustan Times

Ricky Kej beams with joy after fourth Grammy nomination

Musician Ricky Kej is thrilled to receive his fourth Grammy nomination. Having won the prestigious award in 2015, 2022 and 2023, his excitement remains as palpable as his first nomination.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
A new innings begins for Athiya and Rahul
Hindustan Times

A new innings begins for Athiya and Rahul

Actor Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul are set to embrace parenthood in 2025, as they joyfully announced their pregnancy on Friday.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Sonu Sood is the Brand Ambassador and Tourism Advisor for Thailand
Hindustan Times

Sonu Sood is the Brand Ambassador and Tourism Advisor for Thailand

Sonu Sood, already celebrated as both an actor and philanthropist, has added another prestigious title to his name: Brand Ambassador and Honorary Tourism Advisor for Thailand.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024