In India’s COVID-19 war, medical warriors fight their own battle

He served the people with compassion, made one of the best hospitals in the city, a philanthropist par excellence, he was always available to all, in times of need. His hospital gave the poor and the needy hope of getting affordable treatment. It was also where another great man, distinguished scientist former Indian President Abdul Kalam breathed his last. But little did this great soul whose motto was service above self, know that his last rites would have to go through an ordeal, for many among the very people he served would deny him that right and honour.

The above lines are a tribute to Doctor John L Sailo Ryntathiang – who passed away on the morning of April 15, barely 24 hours after being detected as the first COVID-19 case in Meghalaya. That was perhaps destiny, but the cruelty and drama that played out at the very end for such a noble soul, was painful and heartbreaking, which had many Shillong resident crying out, “I want hang my head in shame.” For an entire day the family members of the renowned doctor, who founded the Bethany hospital in Shillong, were running from pillar to post to convince people to allow them to conduct his last rites.

The 69-year old doctor was finally buried on Thursday afternoon at the Presbyterian cemetery at Lawmali in Shillong after refusal by the public of two localities within the city where the electric crematorium is located and in the nearby district of Ribhoi. Ironically, those that refused did so out of “fear” of contamination which was largely spurred by the social media trolling and vilification that the doctor’s family was subjected to as soon as his infection was made public.