Aruna Shanbaug - a life ends..

Aruna Shanbaug - a life ends..

In the annals of legal and Medical history in India, a tragic chapter came to a calm end outside an isolated room in Ward 4, Edward memorial Hospital Mumbai. Aruna Shanbaug died today of pneumonia - Death finally relieving her frail body of the burden of having to continue existing. She has remained in vegetative state for 42 years without the slightest indication of recuperation. Besides breathing, defecating and being fed like a baby, there was nothing else in her mortal frame that could be constituted as living or life. Yet, she tenaciously persisted under the loving care of Hospital nurses for these long agonizing decades with not an iota of hope or respite. Though Government bureaucracy made three futile attempts in the last three decades to evict her from the bed she was occupying unproductively, the adamancy of the nurses, support of resident doctors - made it impossible for anyone to so much lay a finger upon her. They took care of her with a fierce sense of pride, duty and empathy. She was a fit case for Euthanasia - so argued her friend, advisor and well-wisher and journalist - Pinki Virani; but the nurses would let that happen. When Supreme overturned her appeal in 2010, the hospital took on a festive mood celebrating what they deemed as the "second birth" of their beloved Aruna. Her case though led to a land mark judgment allowing mercy death by food deprivation and milder means in extreme cases. But that's besides the point... So who was Aruna Shanbaug?

Aruna joined as a nurse in King Edwards Hospital in 1970. A beautiful young lady from Karnataka, driven by a zeal to serve physically ill. It was a dream come true for her, when she landed in Mumbai. Adored for her humility, respect and ever smiling face, she soon became one of the most popular nurses in the hospital. A young aspiring medic was in love with her; willing to get married - all seemed well set and laid out for Aruna. And then the horrid night of November 27th 1973, when an illiterate, lusty and vagrant sweeper on contract decided that Aruna had to be physically violated. In a basement room where she changed into regular clothes, Sohanlal Bhartha Walmiki let loose upon her the most virulent physical abuse possible. Sodomized, asphyxiated with a dog chain that cut of blood supply to her brain for a few vital minutes, beaten, and bruised - he left her on the floor all but dead. She was miraculously found alive the next day by a cleaning lady; but by then she was beyond all medical help. She had slipped into Coma, blinded by Cortex injuries - this young flower of a lady was in a matter of few hours reduced to a vegetative state. Valmiki was quickly apprehended, convicted - not for rape or sodomy, but for assault and robbery; did a couple of sentences seven years each; and walked away freely to live a life of freedom, liberty and choice. It is ironical that the Hospital did not press charges of rape against him, wanting to protect the “honor” of Aruna… Nothing can be more unreasonable than this ridiculous piece of logic. It was left to journalist Pinki Virani, who took her case, wrote a book, fought in courts and helped keep her alive and in news for so long. Valmiki has vanished into thin air. For the last two decades, Pinki has been searching for this brute, but our system is so dysfunctional and unorganized that neither the hospital not the court have a legitimate photo of him (Can you believe this?). I am sure, Valmiki today would breathe a sigh of relief, wherever he is… The young girl he brutalized forty years ago is no more. She has died today an old lady, 65 years old - of pneumonia, without a flicker of life on her face or body for the last four decades. If this is justice, then it may need a little redefinition in my books.

I came across Pinki Virani’s little book: “Aruna's Story: the true account of a rape and its aftermath” in 1998 or thereabouts in Eloor Library in Chennai. And I remember, being shaken by what I read then. For some reason, over the years, Aruna’s image has frequently passed through my memory, making me wonder and think about her plight. Pinki’s book had ended with optimism. She really hoped that Aruna would soon recover and be normal again… And that thought lingered in me as well… A few days ago, I was researching on something, when once again for a brief moment, I paused to think about Aruna. Little did I know, that a few days later, I would wake up to read about her silent passing away? I did involuntarily shed a few beads of tears. A life taken away at its prime; sacrificed at the altar of single man’s brutal consummation of sadistic needs, having to live a completely dependent life, a social outcaste - all for no reason at all… The only redeeming aspect was the unconditional love, affection and protective instincts of the nurses at KEM hospital. The took care of Aruna like a little child. Her room was special and was so her care. This is a unique demonstration of unconditional love and empathy shown by a group of nurses, anywhere in the world. And for their efforts they were honored with Florence nightingale award - an award that commemorates excellence in Nursing.

My deepest prayers for Aruna that she now moves on to a painless world. Bottled up in an incapacitated frame for long, she has now found release. The eagle can soar again, and find its incarnation in a newer context. She deserves it, and life ought to give her another chance. For this one was plucked away while it was flowering – perhaps a trifle unjustly by any standards.

God Bless…

Yours in Mortality,

Bala