दोस्तों,
जैसा कि आप जानते होंगे उत्तराखंड का सबसे खूबसूरत हिल स्टेशन में से एक रानीखेत अल्मोड़ा जिले में स्थिति है जहाँ विभिन्न पर्यटन स्थल होने के साथ साथ कुमाऊ रेजिमेंट सेंटर का सेंटर भी है। लेकिन इस शहर का नाम एक बीमारी के नाम से भी जोड़ा गया है जो मुर्गियों में पायी जाती। ऐसा कहा जाता है मुर्गियों में पायी जानी वाली एक है जो घातक बीमारी रानीखेत में पायी गई लेकिन इसका अभी तक कोई इलाज नहीं मिल पाया। लेकिन वैज्ञानिको ने अपने शोध में ही इस बीमारी का नाम इस सुन्दर शहर के नाम से रख दिया जिससे शहर से छवि से देखा जा रहा है। इस विषय में विभिन्न सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता ने अपना मत रखा और सरकारों से अनुरोध किया है की इस बीमारी का नाम रानीखेत के बजाय कुछ और रखा जाय ताकि इस शहर का नाम बदनामी या अलग दृष्टि से न देखा जाय।
सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सतीश जोशी जी ने इस विषय में बहुत लम्बा सघर्ष किया और अभी भी उनका संघर्ष जारी है। मै जोशी के कुछ लेख इस टॉपिक में पोस्ट कर रहा हूँ और आपकी राय अपेक्षित है।
By Satish Joshi - satish_j@hotmail.com
In 2012 (November) a news on the death of Peacocks' at a Noida village was published in the Hindustan Times. That was my first encounter with an offensive reality that the National Bird(s) were killed by an avian flu, named as Ranikhet.
II.
Name of other city/place in the country has never been shared for such notoriety but the Ranikhet belatedly learned to got a unique distinction, whereby an avian disease which may kill chicken, duck, pigeons and even the National bird has been disgracefully co-existed with same name for several decades.
III. As per my understanding, the Constitution of India does not permit defamatory use of any place's name. However, one of my native place was found referred inappropriately and in a derogatory manner on several occasions due to a wrong reason, which is indeed a violation or / and contempt of the Constitution.
IV. he Constitution of India also entrusts fundamental duties on citizens to ensure compliance of constitutional provisions.
V. Thus, to enquire about Ranikhet (Disease)'s origin, official interpretations and premise, an RTI was filed in 2012 with the Animal Husbandry department, Agriculture Ministry, New Delhi. After persuasion the Department redirected the application to two Avian Institutes based at Bareilly and Bhopal with a direction that the replies be sent directly to the applicant. One of the Institute conveyed its inability in providing any detail while reply from other Institute is yet to come. My follow up with the State authorities proved futile though local MLA claimed to have raised and highlighted the fact in one of the Assembly session. Recently, the Public Grievance portal (DOPT) refused to redress the issue.
VI. Under this scenario I started gathering facts which are now being summarized and reproduced hereunder to evolve an understanding on the subject.
Ranikhet (Place) spread in around 29 Kilometer radius is a renowned tourist destination in Kumaon hills of Uttrakhand. Situated at 1829 meter height (from the sea level) Ranikhet is the Head Quarter of Kumaon Regiment and has gracious historical background.
The Indian Railway runs a train called 'Ranikhet Express' between Jaisalmer (Rajesthan) and Kathgodam (Nainital). Incidentally, unlike other trains named after the place of origin here the place Ranikhet is almost 70 KM's away.
As per the 'Free Dictionary' Ranikhet or Newcastle disease is a serious paramyxovirus disease of poultry and other (including psittacine and passerine) birds. Clinical signs ofNewcastle disease virus (NDV) include coughing, gasping and sneezing, diarrhea, petechiae, twisted neck, andparesis of legs and wings. Three strains exist: lentogenic, mesogenic, and velogenic, the last is the most pathogenic(mortality to 100%, may present with peracute signs or sudden death).
Further, Wikipedia confirmed that the Newcastle disease (NDV) is a contagious bird disease affecting many domestic and wild avian species; it is transmissible to humans. It was first identified in Java, Indonesia, in 1926, and in 1927, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England (whence it got its name). However, it may have been prevalent as early as 1898, when a disease wiped out all the domestic fowl in northwest Scotland. Its effects are most notable in domestic poultry due to their high susceptibility and the potential for severe impacts of an epizootic on the poultry industries. It is endemic to many countries.
Sources confirmed that this poultry disease was detected in India at Ranikhet (Place) sometime before independence and as per the prevailing practices of naming a disease by the name of 'place of origin' it was named as Ranikhet.
Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)'s official website highlights its landmark moments and one of them is the development of a vaccine ('R2B') against Ranikhet (Disease), during pre-independent era, in the year 1940. The Institute also run Post Graduate degree programs in veterinary science to orient the students on subjects relating to animal and birds. The course content includes special mention of Ranikhet (Disease).
Similarly other commercial organizations, PSU's, NGO's, institutional, educational and State's Animal Husbandry Department's official website, newsletters, course content frequently mention about Ranikhet (Disease). Government's policy documents and vaccination program have mention of Ranikhet disease. Media also publishes the reports on related events, again using the name of Ranikhet (Disease).
Most of the commonwealth countries including neighboring Pakistan also identify and make use of Ranikhet (Disease) whenever it occurs, as we share a common heritage.
While it is highly objectionable to allow persistent use of Ranikhet as a disease it may be relevant to examine that why the need of indigenous name of same disease/symptoms was felt during British regime. No wonder if it had anything to do with gradual shifting of focus to a Colony to avoid a quality concern about home grown poultry products, in due course or maintaining prejudices of misusing underdeveloped or hated country (s), or a place thereof, to name a disease.
Post independence, the Indian Government thwarted an another attempt of British scientists when in year 2010 (August) a human disease was named as 'New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1' after the name of our National Capital ironically because the infected Indian patient was a Delhite. The diplomatic efforts saved the medical tourism of India which could otherwise be subject to an adverse perception in days to come.
It is believed that reiterating the name of Ranikhet as disease not only demeans a place of repute but also adversely affects local tourism and our poultry trade even Internationally, due to a sickening feeling towards place of origin.
It may not be out of context to mention here that notoriety of any type may dampen prospects or brand, as realized by Tata Motors while renaming a new car model after Zika was notified also as a virus, during last years'.
Unfortunately, in India we have yet to realize the sensitivity towards disease naming practices and continue to use even other / friendly countries (or their constituents) name(s) with ease to refer to communicable or dreaded diseases. For example, we address medical conditions as Japanese encephalitis, Zika, Ebola, Hong Kong Flu, etc.
Keeping in view of these facts, on enquiring from WHO in 2015 about any existing policy on naming the diseases the organization evolved a guideline or model code of conduct on 'does' or 'don'ts' on naming, which is available on their official web site. The guideline is however recommendatory and not binding on member countries. The document is worth endorsable, also as a mark of solidarity for the cause or to dispense with an age old stigmatic practice. By Satish Joshi
M S mehta
