Tamizharuvi Manian, the renowned politician who was recently diagnosed with coronavirus infection penned down a heartfelt thank you to Siddha medicine for helping him recover from the virus. Here’s what he said:

“I was very cautious and refrained from leaving home for one year from March 2020, when the coronavirus began to spread rapidly in Tamil Nadu. I spent my time productively, reading a lot of books to expand my knowledge base. At the end of January this year, I went to Erode to attend an event after following all the necessary precautions, and also since the intensity of the coronavirus spread was low. Just like how Kamban said that fate acts in strange and mysterious ways when Kumbakarna left for war, I realised that fate had dragged me to Erode.”

He continues: “Many took selfies with me when I was done talking in the event where more than a thousand people had gathered. I was persuaded to do so without a face mask, and I reluctantly complied. The price I paid for it was too high. When I returned home I realised that I was affected by corona. My wife, who underwent heart surgery and a valve replacement, also got affected by it. Since we were economically disadvantaged, we sought treatment from a government hospital.”

“After the test, the doctors told us that we were in the early stages of the infection and recommended that we take some pills and isolate ourselves at home. Even after ten days of treatment, the disease was far from being cured. After listening to my plight, Siddha doctor Veerababu, who was a friend of mine, came to my house to meet me, and strongly coaxed me into getting treatment at his clinic. Half-heartedly, I agreed to be treated at that hospital with my wife,” he added.

“The CT scan taken at his clinic showed that my lungs were severely affected. Following this, I got affected by pneumonia which took me to the brink of death. The whole body was burning with fever, and I had a splitting migraine the entire time that I had the disease. I struggled with a near-death experience for 13 days with oxygen tubes injected into my nose. I felt that it was my destiny to fall ill and thought I was on my deathbed, as it felt like death was looming before my eyes. It was then that it became clear to me as to how wise it was for Rajini to stay away from the polls without wanting to sacrifice anyone. The deep grudge I had towards his decision to quit politics up to that point vanished, as I had completely lost hope that I would survive this disease.”

He continues: “It was somewhat comforting that my wife revived back in good health four days after the treatment as her coronavirus infection was in the early stages. Dr. Veerababu, who assured me that I would definitely recover from the deadly grip of the coronavirus, treated me day and night relentlessly. He cared for me like a mother caring for a sick child.”

“Two weeks later, the pneumonia subsided thanks to the dedicated service of Dr. Veerababu and the nurses led by Mrs. Vasantha. I was completely healed by the treatment that followed. It was Siddha medicine that saved me from the deadly grip of death. But it is a pity that the government does not support traditional medicine like Siddha, Ayurveda and homeopathy. The question arises as to why the health sector, which last year tried to use Siddha, ayurvedic and homeopathic medicine along with English medicine against the deadly corona last year, is now relying solely on allopathy. My experience is proof that it is not possible for people without a strong economic background like me to get admitted into private hospitals and spend thousands of rupees. ”

He adds, “The hospitals of doctors like Veerababu are a boon to ordinary people like me who have no choice but to leave the government hospitals. Veerababu, who treated my wife and I for a month and provided me with three meals a day, refused to accept a single rupee from me. I left a sizable sum on his desk and returned home.”

“I do not always express my loss and pain to others. That’s why I didn’t report that I suffered from corona and had a near death experience. But, now, I am sharing with you what happened to me to educate people. As the coronavirus spreads like wildfire today, the government must turn to our traditional treatments in an environment where there is not enough space in government hospitals and private hospitals. The government should allocate sufficient funds for the development of Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine in the future. The Corporation of Chennai should immediately come forward to make extensive use of the services of Siddha hospitals. It was Veerababu’s Siddha hospital that saved my life and saved the life of Ponraj, the deputy head of the Makkal Needhi Maiam, who was Abdul Kalam’s advisor.”

“To conclude, I would like to say this. Coronavirus is deadly if we fail to notice at the initial stage. It has been a month since I returned home and I still do not have the same level of health that I used to before. I am not yet completely free from the depression that was caused by coronavirus. It is wise to follow prevention before cure. Do not hesitate to get the vaccine. Do not go anywhere without wearing a face mask. Social distancing is very important. Do not try to take selfies with anyone. Make it a habit of doing steam inhalation at home every day. Do not go outside unnecessarily. Never forget that the election campaigns of politicians are the main reason why the corona is spreading so fast today. Corona has made it clear that there is no political party or leader for the benefit of the people. We have no good helper other than ourselves.”

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