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Despite being a tradition, branding only increased the suffering and complications of many children’s illnesses: Dr. Rajesh Maaheshwari

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Dr. Rajesh Maaheshwari began his tenure at G.K. General Hospital in Bhuj in August 1994 and served there for about 1.5 years. Despite the limited resources in a government hospital, he treated many challenging cases and saved the lives of numerous infants and children with severe illnesses.

During the examination and diagnosis of children from the Vagad, Bhachau, and Rapar regions brought to the hospital, branding marks were often observed on their bodies. These marks were found on their bodies, including the chest, abdomen, forehead, back of the neck, and genitals. This brutal tradition of applying hot branding marks as a form of treatment passed down through generations was accepted as natural by society, but it was heart-wrenching to witness.

Seeing the additional pain inflicted on these innocent patients by branding, Dr. Maaheshwari’s heart melted. Despite being a tradition, branding only increased the suffering and complications of many children’s illnesses. He decided that something had to be done about this inhumane practice, which was nothing but superstition without any scientific basis. However, as a government hospital employee, his scope of action was limited, but the seed of change was planted in his mind.

In February 1996, Dr. Maaheshwari started practicing as a pediatrician at the Masoom Children’s Hospital in Gandhidham. He was also invited to the Trust Hospital in Bhachau and Rapar as a visiting pediatrician in 1997-98. His interaction and acquaintance with the Vagad region increased. Increased patients with branding marks started coming to him for treatment. He often thought that in Vagad, branding was the only treatment for children’s illnesses, deeply rooted in superstition. Such branding often worsened the condition of these children, who were already suffering from severe diseases like malaria, typhoid, jaundice, meningitis, and seizures.

In some villages of Rapar, it was common to heat a metal ring and apply it to the back of the neck of every child as a preventive measure against childhood tuberculosis. The prevalence of branding in the Vagad region was alarmingly high, a grave concern for any sensitive human being.

Dr. Maaheshwari was practicing privately and was directly connected with the people of Vagad, so the seed planted in his mind years ago to eradicate the practice of branding became fresh again! Taking this as a favorable coincidence, he contacted journalist in 1997. He was the chief of the Gandhidham news bureau of the ‘Kutchmitra’ newspaper. Dr. Maaheshwari explained the superstition of branding, its prevalence, and the serious harm it causes to children. He emphasized that this practice is inhumane and brutal and that something must be done about it. He responded positively. Dr. Maaheshwari provided him with information about a child in Vagad who was critically ill due to a (+) shaped branding on the forehead. The child was suffering from ‘hydrocephalus,’ a condition where fluid accumulates in the brain. He took this news seriously and published it with sensitivity and seriousness on the last page of the ‘Kutchmitra newspaper. This news opened eyes of many wise & sensitive people and received praise from many litrate /educated people and doctors, encouraging Dr. Maaheshwari further.

Some argue that branding is a long-standing tradition that will never be eradicated as it has been passed down from generation to generation. It is a part of the mentality and superstition of the people. Later, whenever Dr. Maaheshwari visited Bhachau-Rapar to examine child patients, he would take some time to visit villages and personally explain to people about the practice and its adverse effects, discussing ways to eradicate it. Whether it was a social gathering, event, or religious discourse, whenever he was invited, he would go to remote villages at his own expense to inform people about the adverse effects of branding and discuss its eradication. Often, he faced opposition, and people would get upset, but he never gave up or felt disheartened because his purpose was clear, and he had no hidden agenda. His sole aim was to eradicate superstition and free children from this atrocity.

Dr. Maaheshwari embarked on a challenging journey to eradicate this inhumane practice. He moved from village to village, engaging with families, social leaders, religious figures, and local media personnel, educating them about the harmful effects of branding. He participated in social and religious gatherings, addressed masses alongside Dharmgurus, and spoke at educational institutions in Rapar Taluka to raise awareness about the dangers of this practice.

His campaign, however, was met with significant resistance. He faced rejection, insult, and even assault. His medical practice suffered, and he incurred monetary losses and ridicule from colleagues. Yet, Dr. Maaheshwari persisted, using his resources without the support of NGOs, often facing social hatred for challenging deeply entrenched beliefs.

In the movement to eradicate branding, Dr. Maaheshwari lost many patients in his pediatric practice. It affected his practice; he received threats over the phone, and people didn’t like it when it was covered in the newspaper. There was anger among the people because they nurtured this superstition and did not want to end this generational tradition. However, an educated and sensible section of society understood this issue. The institution ‘Gramseva Sangh’ in the village of Nilpar in Rapar taluka was aware of this. Dr. Maaheshwari was invited to the annual program because eradicating superstition was one of their main agendas. He spoke about the inhumane practice of branding in the Vagad area, its ill effects, and the misinformation surrounding it. Various small and large organizations also invited him to understand this issue. His central mission was to eradicate this inhuman practice entirely and decisively. To achieve this, he involved himself in all social, political, and other meetings and gatherings in the Vagad area, visiting villages and neighborhoods.

He also involved & requested journalist friends in this mission, as media like national newspapers (Times of India, Indian Express, DNA, The Hindu, India Today) and regional languages like Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, including five Gujarati publications like Chitralekha, and broadcast media like Zee News, India TV, ETV, etc., joined this movement against branding, turning it into a widespread campaign.

Educated and sensible citizens began to understand that this practice was highly harmful. As a result, the prevalence of this practice started to decrease, but the complete eradication that should have happened quickly and extensively seemed impossible. This was because until the government, police, and administration took stern action and legal proceedings against this inhuman practice, social awareness alone was not enough. Repeated publication of such incidents prompted action from the administration. In December 2011, when PTI (Press Trust of India) reported on a girl in Vagad in critical condition due to branding, it caught the attention of T.V., newspapers, and other media across India. PTI took this news seriously, as Dr. Maaheshwari had also mailed a copy to NHRC (National Human Rights Commission). As a result, the NHRC issued a show-cause notice to the Gujarat Government, asking what steps it had taken or would take to prevent branding, a prevalent practice in the Vagad area, which was given to children as a part of their treatment for illness. The government then ordered that if any child were found to have been given branding, their parents and the person who administered it would be legally held accountable, and action would be taken against them. This instilled fear in those who practiced and propagated branding, significantly decreasing the number of children receiving branding in the area.

Dr. Maaheshwari’s goal was to eradicate branding. By around 2014-15, it almost ceased to exist, as evidenced by no cases of children receiving branding being reported in the Vagad area by 2019. Though, it became outdated there were occasional cases in neighboring districts like Patan or Banaskantha, the inhumane practice of branding in the Vagad area seemed to be fading away. Dr. Maaheshwari’s continuous, relentless struggle of 19-20 years, facing challenges and opposition like a ‘one-man army,’ succeeded in eradicating this practice. This campaign affected his medical practice, but he never gave up because his purpose and goal were clear, selfless, and honest – to save small children from this inhumane practice. During this campaign, he received a lot of positive support and cooperation from leaders of various communities, newspapers, periodicals, and reporters from broadcast media, which helped make this mission successful.

Seeing his selfless services toward children in rural set up and against odd condition he was elected as President of Academy of Pediatrics ,Gujarat State in 2015.He launched KUPOSHAN MAHAABHIYAAN in 2015 along with Govt. of Gujarat in Sept. from Chhotaudepur taluka,along with Chief minister Smt.Anandiben Patel state wide to combate Malnutritions in children across Gujarat, He conduted many academic programme keeping centre in child health & walfare whole year.

In addition to his fight against branding, Dr. Maaheshwari has been an advocate for child health and nutrition. He promoted breastfeeding, emphasizing its importance as a birthright for every baby, and raised public awareness about its benefits. His service extended to orphans at Jeevan Prabhat orphanage and to addressing health issues like malnutrition among children of salt-pan workers in Kutch’s coastal belt. He has also been actively involved in vaccine advocacy in rural and urban slums and has written extensively on child health and vaccination, considering his vaccines advocacy and helping govt. of Gujarat in many epidemics controlling drives in Kutch like Poliomyelitis,Diphtheria, Measeles & cholera etc.in last 26 yrs ,he was invided in 2018 at Johhnesberg ,SA for “Afro-ADVAC advanced Vaccinology course 2018 ” to discuss his views, personal experiences in public health problems,and how to overcome vaccines hasitency

For his relentless and selfless service, Dr. Maaheshwari was honored with the prestigious “Unsung Heroes of AOP-Gujarat” award at GUJPEDICON 2022 in Ahmedabad. His journey, marked by unwavering commitment and personal sacrifices, stands as a testament to the power of individual action in bringing about significant social change.

Benefits and impacts of Branding Eradication Compaigns is that public, police and adminstrations started considering branding is harmful, cruel and atrocities to children more over it takes lives of children without any reasons,second thing other doctors have started informing police and press and police started lodging FIR as criminal offence under IPCs 304 etc. and taken actions against branders and parents too.in society.that is biggest achievement as NHRC took congnizence and issued showcause notice to Govt. Of Gujarat in 2011 December.

My now ultimate aims is to work upon Branding eradication in other district. & talukas of Gujrat with help of NGOs & Govt.,second aim is work for health, Nutritions & education of chidren of Agariyas (Salt Pan workers)