Defeat Cancer

Some people leave such an indelible mark on your life that even their absence cannot dim their presence. For me, Dr. Anita Borges was one such person — a pathologist par excellence, a teacher with unmatched clarity, a colleague of immense integrity, and a friend whose warmth and laughter brightened every interaction. I first came to know Anita at Tata Memorial Hospital in the early 1980s. Very…

I joined Tata Memorial Hospital in 1982 as a young and passionate surgeon determined to find answers to Cancer. Now it is four decades o fight against Cancer. Many memorable events have happened in these years. Meeting JRD Tata and later Ratan Tata were unforgettable. What men and what legacy ?!? All know that The Tata Memorial hospital is commissioned due to the large hearted donation of Sir…

Saluting "women for their courage in the fight against cancer"

Today is the World Cancer Day In the last four decades as a “Cancer Surgeon’, I repeatedly saw the remarkable strength and resilience in many women in the fight against cancer. In fact women are genetically stronger.The large X chromosome (XX) obviuosly holds more genetic punch that the puny Y ( XY)of men. There is a purpose as they bear the burden of the maternal duties like child bearing,…

‘MORALLY RIGHT’ – Gandhiji’s Letter to Adolf Hitler

There are many “rights’. Strategically ‘right’, economically ‘right’ and finally Morally RIGHT. ‘Morally right’ is the only thing that matters. Today we are in a situation when the whole world is watching India if it will choose what is ‘morally right’. Gandhiji wrote to Hitler during war 2. The letter is displayed in Mani Bhavan ( must see). India was in the middle of civil disobedience and…

Profession with a ‘purpose’ Selfless Nurses

In these days of pandemic, everyone is  asking the big question ‘what is the purpose in my life?’ I am indeed fortunate that  my profession certainly gives me a ‘sense of purpose’.  Each day is a satisfying movement,  saving lives or helping someone in distress. It is but natural for doctors to be recognized for what they’re doing. But as a doctor, a senior surgeon, having spent many decades in…

“They also serve who stand and wait”

These are the famous lines from John Milton in his poem on his ‘blindness.’ I tried to look at these lines in a different context at present times. After initial ‘vaccine hesitancy’ now there is a ‘vaccine desperation’. There is an unfortunate competition between ‘senior citizens’ for the  second dose (sometimes first dose) and of course those above 18 for their first dose. If you are one of…

I wish I was young again !!

Way back in 1982 when I joined as a young resident in the Tata Memorial Hospital, there was nothing like working hours. The day started it around 530 AM. After a quick cup of coffee, we were off to pushing dressing trolley and doing our morning rounds. Many times breakfast had to be skipped as the operation theaters started at 8:00 and we had to wheel in the patients at 8:00 AM sharp. If not, Dr.…

Our senior citizens need ‘Y’ category protection.

Two separate incidents in continents apart shocked me.

 Both happened to the parents of senior doctors, a senior surgeon’s mother in Argentina and a senior oncologist’s father here. Both elderly parents, having heart problems, diabetes, as is usual at this age. They were managing fairly well on their own but had to have support system of someone coming and helping them, someone trusted,…

Hold the hand before Surgery

Today I saw this young lady scheduled for surgery tomorrow.  

When I went, she was reading a book. I ask her “what are you reading?’.

It’s a textbook of Pharmacology. She is medical student in first clinical year.

When we see patients in the current circumstances, we wear a mask and helmet and she can hardly recognize me.  Rest of the people stayed a bit away from her.  Some of us are…

What next after the close call ??

 As I said earlier, I had a close call but all tests turned out negative. Some well wishers and my family were naturally anxious. They asked me to go slow. “You are 60+ and worked for more than three decades, why don’t you go easy now?” It is a sound advice but I’ll tell you a couple of real life stories which shaped my decision. I am using real names because they are real heroes. 

Dr.…

Enemies within the Country Hoarders, black marketers exploiting the shortage of life saving drugs and products in the Covid pandemic are the enemies of the country and should be identified punished swiftly. Otherwise many lives would be lost

We are all infuriated by the Chinese aggression in Ladhakh.  We applaud the heroism of our troops.  An external threat by an enemy always evokes a firm and decisive response.

What about the enemies within the country?  Let me give you a few examples.  In March when the lockdown was about to be announced, we suddenly found that boxes of surgical masks disappeared from our hospitals. The OT in…

Guru and the disciple – past , present and future

Past

Hindu Mythology describes the ‘Gurukul’ where the ‘Shishya’ or the disciple stays with the Guru, a renowned Rsihi, as part of his family. He along with his fellows, work for the Ashram and did all tasks including gathering fire wood, getting water from a nearby stream etc. In turn, the Guru treated them like his children and looked after his welfare. Teaching all ‘Sashtras’ is a daily…

Close call followed by a long week..

We had started cancer surgeries despite 80% beds being earmarked for COVID.  I strongly believed and wrote many times that non-Covid patients like Cancer patients are actually suffering due to lockdown.  We had a set protocol of Covid test, HRCT thorax and then admit for surgery.

I had this sense of ‘invincible bravado’ that my family disapproved. But the sick had to be cared for, so it…