AIDS is a dreadful disease1 and is a reason for the death of crores of people every year. There is a deadly question regarding the innocence of aids2. This is a journey to find answers to some questions that may sometimes appear before you.
Is AIDS A Crime?
19 May 2004
10:00 am
My first day at my office was a day with more than I had in over 10 years. On the day, after the usual procedure of welcome as a DEO of the education department of Kerala, my first appointment was with the headmaster of a school that I can’t remember now. He is the one who was nominated for the best teacher award.
I saw him, and it was surprising to see how unhappy he was despite being an award nominee (it would have been a massive deal to me). He was somewhat sad and was also carrying something. He gave it to me. It was his resignation letter. I was astounded to read it and asked the reason behind it. Then he cried and revealed his touching story. He served the school for over 19 years as the teacher and headmaster.
One day he received a complaint about a rank holder in class 10. The summary was to dismiss him immediately, and if not, all the parents of the rest of the children would not send their wards to the school. He asked the teachers what the problem was, but they kept silent; then, finally, he asked about the issue of that particular student. The reason was that the student had been infected with AIDS through a blood transfusion3 from an infected patient4.
After that, the Teachers’ Committee called for a meeting, and due to immense pressure from the management, teachers, and other parents, he signed the student’s dismissal. He didn’t cry at the time, but he said one thing: the topic ‘IS AIDS A CRIME?’ to be taught in class 10.
This teacher was so ashamed for dismissing the boy that he couldn’t handle the responsibilities and the power anymore.
Later I got two calls from the press. I found out that my subordinate had gotten the best teacher award.
The other news was about the death of that teacher due to a heart attack5 after hearing the news of that boy’s death.
I went out to a seashore and screamed out loud: “I am an AIDS patient, I am an AIDS patient,” again and again.
- Patterson, James T.ย The dread disease: Cancer and modern American culture. Harvard University Press, 1987. โฉ๏ธ
- Piot, Peter, et al. “The global impact of HIV/AIDS.”ย Natureย 410.6831 (2001): 968-973. โฉ๏ธ
- Goodnough, Lawrence T. “Risks of blood transfusion.”ย Critical care medicineย 31.12 (2003): S678-S686. โฉ๏ธ
- Repetto, Marisa, et al. “Oxidative stress in blood of HIV infected patients.”ย Clinica chimica actaย 255.2 (1996): 107-117. โฉ๏ธ
- Cowie, Bill. “The cardiac patients perception of his heart attack.”ย Social Science & Medicine (1967)ย 10.2 (1976): 87-96. โฉ๏ธ
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