As I watched this Bulbul perform acrobatics on the branch to look, I wondered what was engaging its attention! I still do not have a clue as to what was in its visual search!
However its body postures of different moods of body behaviour, it occurred to the that the Bulbul was processing and responding to the information.
Most birds are actively present to the environment!
I remember listening to Dr Keith Sanders, who worked at the Duncan hospital at Raxaul from 1955. He encountered the horrible reality of mortality of 80 to 100 percent of patients who suffered from Tetanus. His attention turned in to initiating several clinical trials to treat Tetnus with intrathecal administration of the Anti-tetanus Serum and perfected that art and science of caring, which reduced the mortality of Tetanus to less than five percent. Till he returned to the UK in 1973 his intense observational skills founded the scientific foundation in treating Tetanus when the central Nervous System was involved. He received a research award with MD from the Bristol University of the Uk for this outstanding contribution.
What inspired me as I heard his story in 1983, was his sense of enquiry with intense observational skills. He asked questions to lead him further. When he first proposed the use of intrathecal ATS, he received adequate support to continue the investigation as otherwise death was the outcome in most of the situations.
The second aspect of his work was recording his observations and having them audited by others critically.
The third aspect about him was his sense of responsibility to preserve life and promote wellness.
Dr Sanders was born in Angola and joined the British Navy at the age of 17 years. He suffered from a ship wreck in 1943, with the ship burning in the Atlantic Ocean, while in voyage with goods from the USA to Britain. He swam holding on the debris and saved two others till finally they were rescued by a boat. It was this experience that became a turning point in his life. He joined to study Dentistry initially and changed over to Medicine since he felt that it would give him an opportunity to sere in a needy situation.
The question he paused to me was, 'What do you see' ? I had left mainstream involvement in child health to take up child development and rehabilitation and was waiting for clear direction. It was Dr Sanders who told me that, 'keep looking, keep understanding and keep exploring' ! That helped me to look beyond to create an interface between parents and professionals while engaged with developmentally challenged children to evolve a partnership plan to support children and families.
This story of Dr Sanders came back to me when I watched the Bulbul bird looking with an intent purpose from above.
Dr Sanders was one who was intently engaged in looking, understanding and exploring!
Life is a voyage of looking and discovering to live with a purpose!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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