Progression: Ida Sophia Scudder during her stay in India had a life-changing experience one night when she witnessed the death of three women who died during childbirth and was unable to help them during the trauma. These women cannot receive medical help from male doctors according to traditions and customs. There were no female doctors. She decided to train and raise female physicians and began the work of Christian Medical College, Vellore in 1900. She remained single to accomplish her vision.
Regression: After 120 years of modern medicine education pioneered by CMC, Vellore, medical college students in Madurai were asked to take an oath replacing Hippocratic oath, in a language they did not understand. Sadly, the oath in Sanskrit has controversial conditions that are not compatible with modern medicine ideas. Practising asceticism in student life to learn medicine, male doctors treat women only in the presence of a Brahmin/a male family member. (NDTV news 2 May 2022)
Backward march: Instead of progressing forward, people like to regress backward. Jeremiah told the Nation of Israel, they went backward: “But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” (Jeremiah 7:24)
Did not obey: The Children of Israel did not incline their ear to listen to the Word of God. They did not obey God’s voice.
Own counsel: The Israelite thought their own counsel as supreme and greater than the Word of God. Hence, by choice walked in those wicked counsel.
Stubborn in evil: They were stubborn, unwilling to learn or change. They had set their hearts and minds to pursue their evil desires and rejected the call for doing good.
Backward march: The natural result was not progression, but backward march. Forward march happens not by glorifying the past but learning from the past mistakes and taking reformative steps. For that humility is vital, proud people cannot regret or repent, instead justify their ignoble deeds.
Do I march forward towards the eternal destination?