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Rediff.com  » Getahead » 'I learnt the difference between Want and Need'

'I learnt the difference between Want and Need'

By Dr VISHWA RATAN
Last updated on: May 13, 2020 15:11 IST
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We asked you, Dear Readers, to tell us how you spent five weeks during the lockdown and share your best memories with us.
Dr Vishwa Ratan, 65, an ophthalmologist from Patna, shares his story.

How Dr Vishwa Ratan spent his days during the lockdown

IMAGE: Dr Vishwa Ratan feeds stray dogs in his neighbourhood in the morning and in the evening.

The lockdown was a good opportunity for me to work out many ways to spend time in a positive and useful way.

Life gave me more than I could have asked during those 35 days of lockdown.

Sharing a list of things I did:

1. Reach out to my patients

Being a senior doctor, it was necessary to stay indoors from a safety point of view. But I was concerned about the patients I had been treating.

So, I took all calls from them and advised them accordingly.

And whenever I felt the need, I directed them to labs and advised tests that I felt were necessary for treatment.

That's how I helped my patients. I never lost touch with any of them.

I believe that where there is a will, there is a way.

2. Cooking

Cooking was never my domain.

Gradually, during the lockdown, I have learnt to cook simple food items necessary for survival.

I realised that cooking is an art one should learn.

3. Revisiting old memories

For years, I had not seen my photo and stamp album.

Through them I could travel back into the years gone by which brought back pleasant memories in my mind.

A book I finished reading

IMAGE: A book authored by Dr Vishwa Ratan.

4. Writing

Writing is my hobby and during this period I was able to complete a help book in ophthalmology, which I was unable to complete earlier due to my busy schedule.

5. Feeding the strays

I believe that care goes beyond human beings. So I made a routine to feed few street dogs. It gives me immense joy.

Most of all, I learnt the difference between Want and Need.

Stay safe!


It has been more than five weeks since The Lockdown began.

How have you spent these days?

Share the highlights with us through pictures and videos and the best ones will be published right here.

You can mail your most interesting, funny, sad, even angry lockdown moments via stories, pictures and videos to getahead@rediff.co.in. Please mention MY MONTH-LONG LOCKDOWN STORY in the subject line.

Don't forget to mention your name, age and where you stay.

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Dr VISHWA RATAN