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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

President takes prompt cognizance

Mumbai: President Droupadi Murmu has taken immediate cognizance of a plea pointing at grave insults to the Indian Tricolour (Tiranga) in pubs and hotels, violations to the Flag Code of India, 2002, in the name of celebrating Republic Day and Independence Day. Pune businessman-cum-activist Prafful Sarda had shot off a complaint to the President on Jan. 26 but was surprised to receive a response from her office in less than 72 hours. Under Secretary Lakshmi Maharabooshanam in the President’s...

President takes prompt cognizance

Mumbai: President Droupadi Murmu has taken immediate cognizance of a plea pointing at grave insults to the Indian Tricolour (Tiranga) in pubs and hotels, violations to the Flag Code of India, 2002, in the name of celebrating Republic Day and Independence Day. Pune businessman-cum-activist Prafful Sarda had shot off a complaint to the President on Jan. 26 but was surprised to receive a response from her office in less than 72 hours. Under Secretary Lakshmi Maharabooshanam in the President’s Secretariat at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replied to Sarda on forwarding his complaint to the Ministry of Home Affairs for necessary action. It further stated that action taken in the matter must be conveyed directly to Sarda. “It’s a pleasant surprise indeed that the President has taken serious note of the issue of insults to the National Flag at night-clubs, pubs, lounges, sports bars and other places all over the country. The blatant mishandling of the National Flag also violates the specially laid-down provisions of the Flag Code of India,” said Sarda. He pointed out that the Tricolor is a sacred symbol and not a ‘commercial prop’ for entertainment purposes to be used by artists without disregard for the rules. “There are multiple videos, reels or photos available on social media… It's painful to view how the National Flag is being grossly misused, disrespected and even displayed at late nights or early morning hours, flouting the rules,” Sarda said. The more worrisome aspect is that such transgressions are occurring openly, repeatedly and apparently without any apprehensions for the potential consequences. This indicates serious lapses in the enforcement and supervision, but such unchecked abuse could portend dangerous signals that national symbols can be ‘trivialized and traded for profits’. He urged the President to direct the issue of stringent written guidelines with circular to all such private or commercial outlets on mandatory compliance with the Flag Code of India, conduct special awareness drives, surprise checks on such venues and regular inspections to curb the misuse of the Tricolour. Flag Code of India, 2002 Perturbed over the “perceptible lack of awareness” not only among the masses but also governmental agencies with regard to the laws, practices and conventions for displaying the National Flag as per the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the centre had brought out the detailed 25-page Flag Code of India, 2002. The Flag Code of India has minute guidelines on the display of the Tricolour, the happy occasions when it flies high, or the sad times when it is at half-mast, the privileged dignitaries who are entitled to display it on their vehicles, etc. Certain violations attract hefty fines and/or imprisonment till three years.

Western India’s first double bridging heart surgery

Anvay Mulay

Dr. Anvay Mulay, Director of Cardiac Surgery, and his team of advance cardiac surgery team at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, have successfully performed a ground-breaking procedure using the Double Bridging Technique to support the left and right ventricles of three patients suffering from severe heart failure. This marks the first time this advanced technique to been used in Western India, providing a second lease of life to patients who were in dire need of immediate care.


All three patients arrived at the hospital’s heart failure clinic in critical condition, requiring urgent evaluation. Each underwent a thorough assessment, including right heart catheterization, donor-specific antibody testing, and other comprehensive evaluations to determine their eligibility for heart transplant. These tests were crucial, given the severity of their conditions and their individual medical histories.


One of the patients, Rohit (name changed) Mumbai resident, had been battling heart issues for nearly a decade. Earlier this year, his heart function deteriorated to a dangerous level, with only 10% of it still working. The medical team employed the Double Bridging Technique, an uncommon method that uses ventricular assist devices (VADs) to support both sides of the heart—a departure from the usual practice of supporting only one side.


In addition, two other young patients, who had no prior history of heart issues, underwent similar surgeries, further highlighting the uniqueness of these cases.


One patient Amit, 41 (name changed) shared their experience: “I had been struggling with a persistent cough and chest discomfort. After visiting another doctor, I was referred to HN Reliance for advanced care. Several tests revealed that fluid buildup in my chest had significantly weakened my heart’s ability to pump, and I needed a transplant. I’m now recovering and doing much better.”


The other young patient (17) discovered their heart condition unexpectedly through routine blood work. His father Avinash (name changed) recalled, “We had no idea anything was wrong until we got the blood test results. It was a shock, but thanks to the hospital’s guidance, my child received the necessary treatment and is now recovering.”


The evaluation and procedure were led by Dr. Mulay, a highly experienced cardiac surgeon with more than 30 years in the field and over 10,000 successful surgeries. Known for his expertise in handling complex cardiac cases, Dr. Mulay emphasized the importance of acting quickly, stating that even a 24-hour delay could have proven fatal in these cases.


“To stabilize the patients while waiting for donor organs, the medical team initially used a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, as their conditions worsened, it became clear that additional support was required. We quickly introduced a right ventricular assist device (RVAD), and in one case, we converted the patient’s extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to a biventricular support system,” said Dr. Anvay Mulay, Director of Cardiac Surgery at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital.

 

About H.N. Reliance Foundation: Located in Girgaon, Mumbai, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital is a 345-bed, multi-Speciality tertiary care hospital with top level expertise in areas of Cardiac Sciences, Gastroenterology & Hepatobiliary Sciences, Liver Transplant, Nephro-Urology, Neuro Sciences, Oncology, Orthopaedics & Spine, Woman & Child Health and Critical Care. The Hospital has progressive diagnostic services, including Laboratories, Radiology & Imaging, and Nuclear Medicine. This is a technologically-advanced institution designed to international standards and the most stringent criteria in infrastructure, medical care, fire-safety norms, and environmental guidelines.


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