Elusive equilibrium

An Indian doctor settled in Britain had an interesting experience to report to a visiting friend from India after the latter expressed a des...

An Indian doctor settled in Britain had an interesting experience to report to a visiting friend from India after the latter expressed a desire to explore opportunities of settling down there. 8220;Your idea is fine,8221; he said, 8220;so far as the financial aspect 8212; emoluments, perks, etc 8212; is concerned. But life is something more than lucre, it needs love, sympathy and respect 8212; that is, some social values also. You need company, friends who care for you and who value your association. This is particularly so in times of difficulty and bereavement which are not in our control. One has to balance the sum total of what you can term as comforts or means of well-being including non-material things too in the two countries.8221;

The friend was not quite convinced. So the doctor proceeded to illustrate what he meant. 8220;An elderly patient, an Englishman, was admitted in our hospital and was under my charge. He had a heart problem. One night his condition worsened and out of sheer sympathy I rang up his son to inform him of the critical condition of the patient. That is what we do in our country 8212;and are expected to do for fear of being dragged on the coals for lack of humane feelings. But my experience in that case was strange. The son8217;s attitude was curt: 8216;So what?8217; he asked on being told. 8216;You look after Dad, that8217;s what you are paid for. Don8217;t disturb me!8217; I was annoyed. But more was to follow. A couple of days later I was shocked to receive on behalf of the son a lawyer8217;s notice for 8216;damages caused by being disturbed at night!8217;8221;

One does sometimes notice, however, a change overtaking us in India too. I found an example some time back right in the business capital of Madhya Pradesh. It was Deepak Mehta, who had worked for three decades in industrialised countries like Holland, Germany, Italy and Japan, as a specialist in the production of synthetic fibres and petrochemicals. With all this to his credit, how come he could make himself comfortable in a management institute at Indore and was not attracted by much more paying jobs and international fame which he would have earned in the bargain? 8220;My old parents are here8221;, he answered, 8220;and they need my presence. Therefore I had to settle for this. This is a good institute and the job is a satisfying one.8221;

8220;But,8221; I persisted, 8220;What about your own family? Usually people find the attraction of foreign jobs irresistible.8221; 8220;Yes, I agree,8221; he said, 8220;I have two sons, both working in the US. And, I do not expect them to come back here, if I need them with me in my old age!8221;

Is this, then, the essential price of progress? Has material well-being to be bought at the cost of social and family values? Maybe a proper mix of the two has to be chosen.