Sonal Singh On Sonal's Table
Book title – The reluctant doctor
Publisher – Vitasta Publishing Pvt Ltd Pages – 249 pages Language – English
Genre – memoir
Authors – Dr Balesh Jindal
Available on – amazon.in
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This book took me by surprise. Usually, I do not enjoy reading memoirs, even if they are well written. But, Dr Balesh Jindal’s – The reluctant doctor – is more than just a memoir. Its an enthralling deep-dive into the world of medicine from the perspective of someone who had to learn to re-imagine her life, her world and her dreams. Such a noteworthy feat!
What I enjoyed in this book –
1. The sterling language and the narrative – direct!
2. The real-life anecdotes from the clinic – inspiring, heart-warming.
3. The characters – totally relatable, people we are or meet in everyday life.
4. The sprinkling of wit – this I enjoyed the most and that is what made this more than just a memoir for me. Too many authors pen down serious memoirs that can out a reader to sleep. This one, was engaging and witty!
5. Illustrations – I do so enjoy good illustrations in a book because they help me visualize better.
We, city-bred, snooty humans take so much of our life for granted, including medical care. Things that we have easy access to, are still an aspiration for rural India. Earning a medical degree in India is a time-consuming and lengthy process. Its financially draining too. No wonder then that most doctors prefer to join metro city hospitals to earn back some of the money spent. Medicine today, is just as much a business, as is any other profession. Dr Jindal’s sacrifice in the face of such avarice, stands as a testament to nobility. I am awed and equally thankful to her for doing all that she has done for the people for rural Haryana. It cannot have been easy to build a life in rural India whilst quashing her urban/global dreams. I am inspired by the challenges that she has faced and overcome.
The book is a moving (but not in a soppy manner) account of one woman’s transformational journey which in turn has led to many people benefitting from it. I would recommend this book to everyone but I hope that particularly, young medical professionals read it. There is much to learn here about – selfless seva!
