This topic reminded me of my life in 1980s.
I had a friend during college, bright and built like a bull; but suffered from a limp - childhood polio - special shoes could not correct. His younger siblings were high achievers in college while this guy went way out to be part of social activities - was well liked in the neighborhood
He had a peculiar way of giving good advice. I remember him hosting a birthday party out-to-beach event. His b_day, we enjoyed, he remained as the catering & camera man (remember no cell phones then). Now I had a mild crush on one of the girls and it was noticeable in the party. Same time, I was obsessed with a married woman in our neighborhood. This guy gave me a picture with the party girl in it - clearly to deflect me from my obsession - no words were spoken - but clear intent.
Later on during his working years: he had to cope with the 'pity look' that peers give in a factory environment - cause, as many of us know, production, construction, etc., are command and control environments. Over the years, the bitterness swept into his family life. (I'm assuming this because) one day out of the blue his wife committed suicide (they had no children)
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In 2011, after a 30 year campaign, India was declared a Polio free country. The campaign was started by Rotary India, joined by the Government. A larger international campaign is ongoing by Rotary International, WHO and supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Recently - Forbes published an article on the Indian success story and in it was a mention on American doctors who had volunteered to work on kids living in appalling (and hopeless) conditions. I have taken a tiny clip from it - the human side
Dr. Scott Leckman, Rotary Member, immunizing children in India
After doing the immunizations and walking back to the bus. I’m kind of walking by myself and this Indian guy about my age on a bike was passing by and jumps off and starts walking with me.
He says, “Where are you from?”
I say, “The United States.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m with Rotary and we’re immunizing kids against polio.”
“Well, what do you get out of it?”
I said, “A world without polio.”
He thought about it for a moment and simply replied, “Namaste,” which is to say, I recognize the divinity within you. Then he got back on his bike and rode away.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2014/03/15/the-secret-to-polio-eradication-in-india/#2ecd56c45639