Q.4 Akhil is a very reputed doctor who is passionate about the role of medical profession in development of India. Akhil is also an honest tax payer, having paid nearly 40% of his income in personal tax during the previous financial year. He has a small family with a 3-year-old daughter and a wife. They live in a major city that faces problems of acute pollution each year in winters. Given the sustained nature of the problem, Akhil has been thinking for some time about shifting to another city. Akhil started his professional journey as a doctor along with his childhood friend Rajesh. They studied in the same school and went to the same medical college. Today, both of them are highly paid doctors. They are thinking about partnering to start a hospital chain in India for affordable health care. Recently they organized a medical camp, bringing along other doctors and provided free cataract surgeries. At the camp family members of a patient thrashed a doctor and the medical staff attending the patient for alleged negligence in surgery. In wake of this incident, Rajesh has decided to migrate to country X which has attractive personal tax rates, better civic facilities, good schools, clean air, and is welcoming for skilled medical professionals. The beating of medical staff at the medical camp has left Akhil worried as well. He does not see this as a one-off incident. In recent years attacks on doctors and medical staffs by families of patients have increased across the country. Rajesh is trying to convince Akhil to move to X along with him. Akhil is a patriotic person and he feels conflicted about the prospect of moving to another country. He is aware that there is shortage of skilled medical professional in India, and migrating to another country would be doing a disservice to a medically under-served nation like India. But he is also feeling frustrated at the quality of life he seems to be getting in this country. As he is pondering over the thought, he sees the day’s newspaper filled with reports about crimes against women. He is thinking that in a more gender-sensitive society her daughter will be able to develop her potential in a free-spirited way. In light of these facts, answer: a) Akhil considers himself a patriot and wants to serve the nation as a doctor. Everyone has a different conception of patriotism. What does patriotism mean to you? b) What options are available to Akhil? Suggest and justify the most preferable choice. (20 Marks)

Mentor’s Comments- Start by writing the gist of the case and the conflict at hand. Write your understanding of patriotism giving reference to the case. List the options available for Akhil. Write merits and demerits of each choice. Then for the last part, discuss the most suitable course of action and justification for it.