Ajmer: This family of cops and doctors is on the frontline of coronavirus fight

AJMER: At a time when even the smallest individual effort is appreciated, the Bhati family of Ajmer stands out and has much to be proud of. Most of the adult members of this family, which include doctors and cops, are involved in serving society.
Sub-inspector at Clock Tower Police Station, 54-year-old Amar Singh Bhati, has been living at his workplace for over a fortnight now.While he is ensuring that nobody breaks the curfew in this area, his elder son 35-year-old Mukesh Bhati is on a round-the-clock duty as the jailor of Ajmer Central Jail. His 32-year-old daughter Sanju and her husband Vijay Pal are both doctors serving at JLN Hospital where corona patients are being treated in Ajmer. His younger son, 27-yearold Rajkumar Bhati, also a doctor, is part of the state government’s Rapid Response Team working in Bhilwara.
“Since the corona outbreak, none of us has seen each other. We are all busy doing our duties. While others did manage to talk on the phone, nobody could talk to Rajkumar for days as the response team was very busy and under quarantine in Bhilwara,” Bhati said.
All of them work on a 12-hour shift and it is a worried father who makes it a point to call all his three children whenever possible. “I do not and cannot stop them from doing their job, but that does not mean I am not worried. All my children work in high-risk zones and I need to hear their voice at least once a day to feel assured,” he said.
Bhati shares the news of his children over the phone with his wife Laxmi Devi, who is at home taking care of two grandchildren. “We did not want the young children to be exposed to any risk and hence, the decision that if things go bad those on duty will make minimum trips home was taken by us almost a month ago,” she said.
While the contact of other family members with the outside world is limited, Laxmi Devi receives several phone calls every day from concerned relatives. “Our neighbours, friends and relatives appreciate the work my husband and children are doing. When I tell my kids about what others are saying, they remind me that it is their duty. My heart swells with pride on hearing that.”
Sanju, their daughter and a doctor working in the pathology department at JLN Hospital, says, “All this was possible only because of our mother, who is a strong lady. We are what we are because of her and we can concentrate on our work without any worry as she now has taken our children under her wings.”