Journalism of Courage
Dr Reina Khadilkar reveals the inspirations behind her recent book,Oh! To Be A Lady Doctor
Dr Reina Khadilkar recently launched her first novel,Oh! To Be a Lady Surgeon at MCCIA hall,SB Road. The ability of a female surgeon is still doubted when patients contemplate a second opinion. I wrote this novel keeping in mind all the female medical practitioners who face such ordeals at some points of their career, says Dr Khadilkar of her inspiration. A consultant surgeon at Jehangir Hospital,Dr Khadilkar feels that her first effort will reach out to the entire medical fraternity. The book will be a trip down memory lane for practising doctors. It is a sneak peak into the lives of people in the medical world. Oh! To Be a Lady Surgeon will help aspiring female medical students renew their belief in their passion, adds Khadilkar.
Dr Khadilkar admits that the protagonist in the book lives through a compilation of stories from her female medical practitioner friends. Belonging to small towns does not really make a difference these days. But in the 1970s it was difficult to practise medicine if you came from a small town. I am from Aurangabad and it took me a long time to establish myself successfully in a city like Pune, says the 49-year old writer. “It is not a feminist novel from any angle,but a tribute to the feminine struggle for survival even in the world of medicine, Khadilkar clarifies. She found her support in her husband,Dr Madhav Khadilkar,a surgeon himself.
