Falling before the herd of elephants, many unexpected things happened; Love this job: Dr. Ashwati Soman

A doctor who knew the forest and tribal life intimately. The doctor who became a shadow for many when they were isolated in the forest during the Kovid and flood times. After walking for kilometers, traveling in jeeps, crossing the forest and understanding the pulse of the children of the forest, the doctor became a shadow for them. Malayalees started paying attention to doctor Ashwathi Soman during the Covid era. Aswathi extended her hand of goodness to the adivasi community who had no one, and it was the same in her life as well. Dr. Ashwati Soman, who followed in her father’s footsteps and returned to emergency service, is a source of comfort to many people today. Dr. Manorama is sharing details about life and the field of emergency services with Manorama Online. Ashwati Soman.

I wanted to be a doctor since my childhood
I am single. Born, brought up and educated in Kozhikode. My father was also a doctor in government service there. My father also had a practice at home. Whenever the father was not attending to the sick at home, each of them would come home with their children. Then they say that just seeing a doctor will cure the illness. It was a bad feeling. I was curious to know what such a feeling was. That’s how I decided to become a doctor. It is a desire that has been ingrained in my mind since the beginning. So I became a doctor.

Like any job, being a doctor is a profession. We have to generate income from it to live on. But doctor job is not only for money. When I was studying at school, I often did not have my father at home. I have said it as a complaint then. But now I understand what it means. There are some people we need to take care of. Similarly, the life of a doctor is not just about money.

Whatever you like, you should do it right away, and I like the forest very much
Working in a mobile dispensary system in government service. It’s not like an OP system where we are assigned to each colony and given treatment at the camp. That’s how it was done. During covid there was an order that field and workers should not have any injections. But they did not say no to medical camp. Therefore, medical camps were held at that time as well. He went to the colonies and worked. How the people living in the forest could live when everyone was locked up and locked at home was a terrible situation. Not only that day, but also when the flood came, it was very difficult for the camps that had reached the forest.

Each place I work is chosen by myself. That’s why I want to go there and do the maximum that I can do. When I look back after ten years, I don’t think I could have done it. That’s why I try to do everything I can now.

Jungle is always an adventure zone. There is no telling what will happen in the forest. No phone. Cannot coordinate things at home. That’s why many people asked how this work can be done. But I like to do things that are adventurous. I started exploring myself a little late after I got the job. That’s why I thought I’d go to the forest when I got the chance. It was an awesome job. You can’t tell what happens every day. Sometimes get stuck in the forest. That has happened. Once our diesel tank burst and got stuck in the forest. Then he is in front of the herd of elephants. So many unexpected things will happen. He came to Nilambur to work more in the tribal area. This place was preferred.

At first it was difficult to understand their problems
In the tribal region everything was very difficult in the beginning. Now we go there and they have an attachment to us. They will understand Malayalam. They can now understand what they are talking to each other. At first there was a little fear when I came among them. Then gradually he made a good relationship with them. Now they share all their problems with us.

Being a woman has its positives and negatives when it comes to urban areas. Men among them are not so cooperative with us. They don’t tell if they have any physical ailments. My body is the way my wife wants to see it. But women will tell everything.

Their way of life is very different from ours. They are satisfied with their own life. Living happily. Whatever we get is not enough. We have a lot to learn from them. There is no difference between them male or female. There is an equality in their community. No matter what problems come up, everyone will find a solution together.

Diseases like scabies and leprosy are more common among them because they live on the ground. We have to go out there and do things to reduce it. They should be educated. Education is also important. Their abilities should be understood and nurtured. But what should be done is not to study the book and pass. The skills between them are different. If an elephant is coming or there is a problem, they know it quickly.

Our country does not have an education system that has gone into the forest. Many NGOs are trying to do many things. Some organizations of the government come and take details of what to do for education. All of that is supposed to be a big change.

Work and there will be many to blame
No matter what we do, there are very few people who say good things about us. Everyone wants to find fault with us. If I say these things from a different angle, I am not doing my job. I am doing what we are doing very sincerely. Everyone is working. Morning is coming. Not only me but also the people who were here before me who were in the same post as me are going to the forest and doing things. Coming back. What I do makes the news. That’s not what I said. I posted about my travels on Facebook. But not about my patients. I even got an appreciation letter from the collector for what I did during the flood.

Work is different, family is different, time is needed with them too
I worked in the tribal area. My duty time is 9–2. Sometimes you can’t even reach 2 o’clock. It will be 6 o’clock when I reach home. Pays full attention to it while working. My whole life is not devoted to work. I am a mother of two children. is the wife. I enjoy the moments with my family. They go on vacations together. Those holidays give us a refreshment. Need a break. It is not true that I only do this from 8 to 10 in the morning. We should not feel sad that we are dead or alive at this moment.

Along with work, I have also acted in films. He has also directed two commercials and a short film. It is a great desire to direct a film. And PG should be done. Scripting of two films is going on. He also writes. The problem is that there is no time. And there is some hesitation. Watch all web series on Netflix. As it is said, Dasa, everything has its own time.

Everyone should understand what are the priorities in our life. Work is important to me. And more so my family. If my children are sick I will take leave if I want to. I don’t mind if someone comes to judge me. This is my priority. We must understand ourselves. Then you have to plan things. Everyone has a different life. Each one likes. It should be prioritized and lived. Problems arise when desires are not met. Everything in life is possible if we understand ourselves and find time for our desires.