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Book Review
Journey through life
METAMORPHOSIS — A Doctor's Autobiography: Subhash R. Naik; Printech, B-1, Himanshu Sadan, 5, Park Road, Lucknow-226001.
Rs. 200.
THE BOOK under review, which is a life story, mirrors the evolutionary process from a timid fatherless child amid moss-grown traditions to one of heroic mould. To mull over his journey through life is an almost transcendental experience. Dr. P.C. Alexander's foreword puts a true-life adventure on the map.
A product of Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, the author, looks back on his successful career in the three renowned medical institutions — Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, and Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
The nascent talents in the medical fraternity will have much to gain if they set themselves doggedly to observe the sound principles implanted in good many chapters e.g., training to be a real doctor; training to be an internist; gaining confidence as a doctor, learning academics, taste of a British medical institution; learning from patients etc.
Of no less importance are the chapters: The aftermath of the MIC at Bhopal; Planning super-speciality medicine at SGPGI, Lucknow; Learning and teaching scientific communication; also one on Community health.
The fascinations are endless. Like for instance, the historic background of Gaur Saraswat Brahmans to which community the author belongs; his worshipful mother Aaee (88) who is still happily with him; the Goan freedom struggle; his childhood reminiscences; his days in the Bhavan's College, Mumbai, which chapter ends with the harmful influences of elections in Indian universities; besides Aaee, two more characters — his beloved wife from South India, Dr. Sita Ramanathan and darling daughter Mukta, come alive in the pages.
It is to these three the book is dedicated. Right from its frontispiece drawn by Mukta, numerous sketches and photographs enrich the book.
What would move one to tears is the concluding chapter, "Twilight years", which ends with a philosophic note on death. No, this wonderful memoir is not his swan song.
P. SUNDARESAN
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