7 Year Old Surgeon - Akrit Jaswal - Page 7

Originally posted by: tetuty66

I believe some people r born with somehtin special in their brain which u just cant posses accordin 2 ya wish tht wht geniuses r 😛
some peopel just never figure tht special also 😉

Originally posted by: debayon

something special in their brains?🤣

Originally posted by: tetuty66

I meant the ability to use brain 😉 😆

Does he look happy?

Yes he does.

Does he look like a well adjusted kid?

He seems to be fine?

Is he truly happy and well adjusted?

Probably. I cannot say for sure, but I do agree that there is a probability that he is truly happy. Maybe even happier than other kids and really enjoys what he is doing. Seems like his interest was self driven, so maybe this is exactly what he wants to do in life and is one of the lucky few who has all that at a young age.

Do I buy the whole story?

Perhaps it is a mental block, or the effect of the mind limited to 'more ordinary' circumstances; but, I am skeptical about the whole deal. I personally would never want this upon any child.

Why not?

Childhood is an integral phase of human life. I think it deprives a child of a normal healthy childhood. It deprives him the opportunity to be nothing but a child, and view the world with childlike wonder.

What is a normal childhood?

I admit that is a harder more abstract question to answer. Each person is unique and each child has different interests. Some like to run and play, some like to draw and paint, some like to read, some like to watch television, some like to play with dolls, some like to be completely neurotic and do it all. Some like to eat candy and sweets, some actually like their veggies like brocolli, some find that dirt and stones and things like that are tasty. Children are so different with such varied tastes that its practically impossible to find a benchmark of normal interests and behavior.

So perhaps Akrit really likes reading anatomy. Maybe surgery is more fascinating that any games. Maybe finding a cure for cancer is more intriguing than puzzles and coloring books.

However, for me it goes beyond personal interest and intellect. There is a state of being as a child across the board, irrespective of interest, intellect or anything else. A carefree state of being, of being nothing but a child – it is too abstract or subjective for me to explain in the right words. Although, I think every human can relate to that carefree phase where nothing mattered. I doubt that a seven year old prodigy like Akrit has the privilege of experiencing that carefree state of being.

Childhood is a phase where as humans we are looked after. It is a phase when we dream, we dream not logically or rationally, but as far as imagination stretches. Parents take care of their children, encourage their imagination even if it is whimsical and try to fulfill dreams. Childhood is a phase where we are don't have responsibilities or obligations, our family has these towards us. Of course parents have expectations and dreams of their children, but these do not kick in till later phases of life. Of course society has expectations of people, but we don't do that till we are grown. I doubt that a seven year old surgeon, serving people, committed to finding a cure for cancer has the privilege of dreaming and living life without the responsibilities and obligations.

Medical science, surgery, finding a cure for cancer in complete context these are not just hard facts or knowledge to have. It is not just about being brilliant and smarter than the rest. It is not just about being skillful beyond measure. It comes with great burden and responsibility. A deeper understanding of pain, of life and death. An understanding of choices and the difficulty of choices. About the social ethical and moral consideration of medical research. An awareness of the cost of knowledge, the risk of pushing to far and playing God, the ability to accept things beyond human cure and treatment.

Someone researching a cure for cancer is not applying technical science in a lab experiment. In today's times they grapple with questions like how do we approach stem cells, what about embryonic stem cells, what about testing, can we test on animals, can we test on humans, can we test at the risk of pain and death.

I have been unable to find what sort of surgery he saw or learned, but usually surgeons need the resilience to stomach, blood and guts and gore and the resilience to bounce back when things go wrong, things are not as expected, or when things go beyond human measure. The ability to see an organ, a problem, a disease but still a human. Is it normal for a seven year old to have this resilience? Should they?

These are critical issues researchers and medical professionals must be aware of and think on. Grown men and women are unable to bear the burden or have a hard time. Is this a burden a seven year old ought to bear? Its all fine and great to be a super smart prodigy – is he ready for the awareness, the responsibility, the morality of things. The bigger question is should he be?

We distinguish between children and adults for a reason. But why do we think that some things are ok for children to do, but others are not?. A seven year old can be a cancer researcher or a surgeon, maybe a lawyer, an engineer, a salesman or some other genius. Can a seven year old join the armed forces, run for office? What all is a seven year old ready for – to drive, to consume alcohol, to smoke, to have sex, to get married, to have children, get a job, support a family? [I am aware it is a slippery slope argument. The point I want to make people think is what is the definition of child and adult. What distinguishes the two, and what is acceptable behavior and accomplishment for children and adults. What exceptions to the norm are acceptable, what are not]

Akrit is a child prodigy and a seemingly successful and happy one. That is good for him. I wish him the best in life and pray that there never come a day where he regrets a childhood lost and only see his interests and his success. I wish that he is stronger beyond measure and capable of undertaking the responsibility that is attached to his undertakings.

But at the same time I have to say, I am sorry Akrit; I cannot support your endeavor or feel happy about it. Perhaps I am completely foolish and wrong, perhaps I have a very narrow and limited understanding of the world, but childhood as I know it is way too precious for me to even imagine that a prodigy as this can be, where childhood as I know it has ceased to exist. I pray to God that he never create such exceptions. To me childhood, Innocence, being carefree is too heavy of a price to pay for any success or any abilities or any sort of accomplishment. Such a heavy price, I would not wish on my worst enemies either.