In a totally different act, doctors of the city, most of the time feeling the pulse of patients and prescribing medicines for various maladies, captivated the minds of a houseful audience in Kalamandira here last evening by their melodies. In this year's edition of Geeth Gaatha Chal, which began in 2000, the doctors sang popular film hits from Kannada and Hindi movies of yesteryears.

They chose to sing numbers from movies of the 1960 to 1980 period which had scored thumping success at the box office with romantic as well as sad message of jilted lovers that appeared on Hindi screen apart from Kannada flavour associated with memorable lyrics sung by the greats of that era. The doctors literally enabled the audience to live again that bygone era of the film world that enjoyed an intimate relation between the film celebrities and the common people. Dr. A.L. Hemalatha, Professor and HoD of Pathology, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, who rendered the lyric Pujisalende Hoogala Thande... opened the doors of the music-oriented minds of the audience.

Dr. M.S. Natashekar, leading ENT consultant and an ardent fan of Hindi plyaback singer Mukesh, rendered the State anthem Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujaathe...scripted by poet laureate K.V. Puttappa (Kuvempu) taken from the movie Mana Mechchida Madadi, raising in the audience their pride for Kannada language.

Dr. M.A. Shekar, Professor and Head, Department of Endocrinology, MMC&RI, grandson of the legendary Mysore Piteel Chowdaiah and son of famous Paediatrician late Dr. Ankegowda of Cheluvamba Hospital, chose to sing the lyric Kuch na Kaho, Kuch Bhi Na Kaho... taken from the movie, '1942 A Love Story' transporting the listeners to the world of Hindi film songs. The number O Sajana Barkha Aayee'from the film Farak, originally sung by the Nightingale of the film world Lata Mangeshkar and sung on stage by Dr. Hemalatha virtually made the jilted lovers in the audience once again experience the pangs of their broken love of the past.

By singing the duet Aajaa Sanam, Madur Chandini Me Hum from the movie, Chori Chori, Dr. Hemalatha and Dr. Natashekar made many in the audience reminisce their lovelorn days. So did the rendering of Yaad kiya Dil Ne Kaha Ho Thum from Patita rendered as duet by Dr. Hemalatha and Dr. P.A. Kushalappa, Professor of Dermatology, JSS Medical College.

The song of separation between lovers, O Jaanewaala Ho Sako Lot Kiya Aana... from Bombai ka babu rendered by Dr. U.G. Shenoy, leading Paediatrician, made a deep impact on the minds of the audience. That was followed by Dr. Kushalappa's rendering of Jo Tum Ko Ho Pasand, wohi bath karenge' from Safar, also a song of separation between lovers.

Dr. Natashekar, one of the threesome who conceptualised the event that has now become an annual feature, rendered the lyric 'Anisuthide yaako Indu... Neene Nannavalendu' from 'Mungaru Male', shared his deep feelings as it were with his listeners. Dr. Kushalappa's rendering of the lyric Minchaagi Neenu Baralu from Gaalipata, literally electrified the listeners. The rendering of the number O saathi Re, Tere Bina Kya Jeena sung by Asha Bhonsle in the Hindi movie Mukaddar Ka Sikander by Dr. Hemalatha virtually drowned the audience in the ocean of jilted love as it were.

Appearing on stage of Geeth Gaatha Chal for the first time, Dentist Dr. Snehashri captivated the minds of her listerners by rendering the number Teri Aankhonka Siva from the movie Chirag. By her rendering of the lyric Ullasada Hoomale from the movie Cheluvina Chittaara, Preethi Prabhu caused a virtual fountain of enthusiasm to spring in the minds of listeners. Sara Nayeem rendered the number Naina Barase Rim Jim from the movie O Kaun Thee with melody that captured the minds of the audience. Sparsha Shenoy also enthralled the audience. Dr. Hemalatha, Dr. Natashekar and Dr. Kushalappa sang selected numbers from the movies Pyasa, Jis Desh Me Ganga Bahthi Hai, Wo Koun Thee, Love Marriage, Satta Bazari, Aradhana, Naya Daur, Jurm, Post Box 999, Hum Dono, triggering the feelings of navarasas, in the audience.

The doctors presented their Geeth Gaatha Chal programme with Karaoke background music. Syed Aftab and Ravishankar compered. The auditorium was not only full to the last seat but also was overflowing with hundreds of listeners enjoying the evening with the help of a large screen in the lobby. Vehicles which could not be parked in the Kalamandira premises were seen parked on the roadside outside, stretching up to Kukkarahalli Lake.

Senior doctors Dr. P.C. Chandrashekar, Dr. S. Ramaswamy, Dr. C.B. Murthy, Dr. Nanjarajaiah and Dr. P.R. Kulkarni were felicitated on the occasion. Dr. M. Venkatesh, Dean and Director of MMC&RI, was also felicitated. Chief guest of the function, K.B. Ganapathy, Editor ,Star of Mysore and Mysooru Mithra, was honoured by the Geeth Gaatha Chal team and also by various hospitals in the city.

Dr. K.R. Kamath (Kamakshi Hospital), Dr. C.B. Murthy (Basappa Memorial Hospital), Dr. S. Bhaskar (Vikram Hospital and Heart Care) Dr. P.A. Kushalappa (JSS Hospital), Dr. M. Venkatesh (K.R. Hospital), Rev. Fr. Mariraj (St. Joseph's Hospital), Dr. Prasanna Shankar (Mithri Hospital), Dr. Kamala Raman (Raman Medical Services), Dr. Santhrupth (Shanthaveri Gopalgowda Memorial Hospital), Dr. Suguna Shantha (Holdsworth Memorial Hospital), Dr. Chandrashekar (Aditya Hospital) and Mrs. Madappa (Apollo BGS Hospitals) garlanded K.B. Ganapathy. Dr. M.S. Vishweshwara, Oncologist, Bharath Diagnostic and Oncology Center and co-ordinator, M. Jagannath Shenoi, sponsor and Dr. C. Umesh Kamath, Medical Superintendent, Kamakshi Hospital, the moving spirit behind Geeth Gaatha Chal, were present.

Gone are the days of 'sick' ambulances, lack of drivers, shortage of diesel and the hospital's inability to rise to the occasion during emergencies. People in medical emergencies in any corner of the district need not bother about inefficient ambulance service in hospitals. The State Government has started a revolutionary ambulance service which was flagged off by former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Raj-yotsava Day in Bangalore.

The emergency help is just a call away. Those who need the services may call toll-free Phone No. 108 (round-the-clock) and an ambulance reaches their doorsteps within 20 minutes to shift the patient to a hospital. Zilla Panchayat President K. Marigowda inaugurated the facility at a function held at J.K. Grounds this morning. MLA H.S. Shankaralingegowda released the ambulance vans by driving one of them.

Deputy Commissioner P. Mani-vannan, Zilla Panchayat CEO V. Shankar, District Health Officer Dr. D.S. Uma, MLAs Sa.Ra. Mahesh (K.R. Nagar), M. Satyanarayan (Chamundeshwari), H.P. Manjunath (Hunsur), MLC Thontadarya, Bharat Radha-krishnan, Chief Executive Officer of Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI), and others were present.

District in-charge Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who was to launch the facility, could not turn up. The Government in Association with EMRI, Secunderabad has introduced the facility. In the first phase of the service introduced in Mysore today, six ambulances have been released. Six more ambulances will be released either towards the end of next month or in the first week of January 2009.

The hi-tech ambulances are equipped with all the necessary equipment to deal with emergency medical needs. the facilities include oxygen, blood pressure monitoring equipment, special stretcher, spine board and also medicines for emergencies. The vehicles are fitted with Geographical Position System (GPS) with control room in Bangalore, sources in EMRI told Star of Mysore. People may call No. 108 either from a landline or mobile telephone without the need for using the STD code.

The vehicles in service at Mysore will be placed in the jurisdiction of selected Police Stations. One of them will in the jurisdiction of K.R.Hospital in city.  Each vehicle will have a staff comprising two pilots and two Emergency Medical Technicians, on 12-hour shift.

Karnataka Pedicon-2008, a two-day conference of about 500 Paediatricians from all over the country, organised under the joint auspices of JSS Medical College, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) and Indian Academy of Paediatrics (Mysore District) will be held on Nov. 1 and 2 at the Platinum Jubilee Hall in J.K.Grounds here.

Announcing this at a press meet yesterday at Pathrakartara Bhavan here, IAP State President Dr. U.G.Shenoy said that the theme of the conference will be 'Care, not just cure for better child survival.' It would feature workshops, lectures and create an awareness among the people on child care, he explained.

The event would be inaugurated on Nov.1 at 4 pm by Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji. Dr. R.K. Agarwal, IAP National President, will be the chief guest. JSS University Vice-Chancellor Dr. B. Suresh, JSS Medical College Principal Dr. K. Raghothama Rao, MMC&RI Director Dr. G.Venkatesh, JSS Mahavidyapeetha Executive Secretary B.N. Betkerur and Director Dr. M. Anantharaju will participate, he said.

Three major hospitals in city have geared up to treat victims of cracker-burst during Diwali celebrations. The hospitals have drafted the services of teams of doctors to attend emergencies round-the-clock.

K.R. Hospital Superintendent Dr. Geetha Avadhani said that the burns ward has all the necessary medicines and equipment to treat the victims. Dr. Avadhani said that necessary instructions have been issued the doctors and staff in burns ward and eye ward to be alert to meet any emergencies.

The hi-tech Apollo BGS Hospitals too has made all arrangements to treat burns cases. Similar emergency services are also available at JSS Hospital and Mission Hospital.