India marks 80 years of independence, a milestone that reflects not only the nation's political freedom but also the progress made in the health and well-being of its people. This celebration goes beyond flags and fireworks; it honors the freedom to breathe, hear, and speak—basic human abilities that connect us to life and to each other. As we commemorate this historic moment, it is essential to recognize the role of health in sustaining the spirit of independence and pride. fig 1. Happy Independence Day The Journey of 80 Years of Freedom India’s independence in 1947 ended centuries of colonial rule and opened the door to self-governance and national identity. The journey since then has been marked by remarkable achievements and ongoing challenges. The freedom gained was not just political; it was a chance to build a society where every citizen could enjoy fundamental rights, including the right to health The first decades after independence focused on establishing institutions, in...
It's late at night. The house has finally gone quiet, everyone's asleep, and you're lying in bed waiting for sleep to catch up with you too. That's usually when it shows up — a thin, high-pitched ringing, or maybe a buzz, a hiss, even a soft hum like a mosquito that never lands and never leaves. You check if a fan is on. You check if it's outside. It isn't. It's just... there. In your ear. And nobody else can hear it but you. fig 1. why is my ear ringing? If that sounds familiar, you already know how strange and honestly a little scary tinnitus can feel the first time — like your body is playing a sound only you're tuned into. Here's the first thing Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty wants you to know, and it usually brings people real relief just to hear it: tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. It's not something wrong with your ears making noise for no reason — it's your ear, or sometimes your brain's hearing pathways, reacting to something under...