Personal Narratives

Reflections on family life, personal hobbies, and the intersection of poetry and medicine.

This is Not Cricket

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A few days ago, Saurabh Ganguly switched off the India–Pakistan match after the 15th over and watched the Manchester Derby instead. I’m not surprised. As a medical student in the 70s and 80s, I grew up watching Pakistan at its peak—Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Qadir, Mudassar Nazar, Wasim Akram, Waqar … Read more

Ravichandran Ashwin

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“One should retire when people ask why, not when they ask why not.” These wise words from Vijay Merchant, a brilliant Test batsman and a keen reader of the game, still ring true today. Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to hang up his boots suddenly and fly back to Chennai has left everyone in shock. Why did … Read more

One should retire, when

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𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗶𝗻 has decided to hang up his boots today. It’s a bittersweet moment. I still vividly remember his debut Test against the West Indies. Wasn’t it in 2011? He got out for a duck in his first inning, but it didn’t take long for him to prove he was no ordinary cricketer. Six wickets … Read more

Bhau: The Fearless Hero of Balwadi

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Picture this. The year was 1962. The village was Balwadi, nestled on the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The small village was surrounded by thick and dense forests, home to many panthers. These predators often crossed the thin boundary between the forest and the village. Whenever they appeared, they incited panic and terror among … Read more

Surprise and Sentiment: Mr. SR Halbe’s Memorable 76th Birthday

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On May 10, an unknown number flashed on my phone. A few minutes earlier, I had received a message from the same number, introducing the sender as Mr. Halbe’s student and current colleague, requesting to speak with me about a surprise event for Mr. Halbe’s 76th birthday. The caller was Mr. Shrirang Padhye, a Mumbai-based … Read more

The Anatomy of Compassion: A Tale of Generosity and Discovery

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In the corridors of our hospital, a remarkable story unfolded just a day ago. A woman well into her nineties, her spirit worn by time but her resolve firm. Hailing from a village 200 kilometers east of Sevagram, she lived out her days in the company of memories and her devoted son after the loss … Read more

Even legends eventually fade

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Novak Djokovic has always been my hero, and I have supported and cheered for him throughout his career. However, I faced a dilemma when he competed against Roger Federer, as I greatly admired Federer as well. It was always a mix of emotions when one of them emerged as the champion. While I also enjoyed … Read more

England vs. Austrlia

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I vividly remember 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 match in 1981 against England in Mumbai. We saw the most unusual runout in a test match that day. Srikkanth ran himself out by performing an unexpected and nonchalant act. The ball was still in play when he casually strolled outside the crease, unaware of the consequences. John … Read more

Sportsmanship in Cricket

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Australia could certainly benefit from emulating Courtney Walsh. In the 1987 World Cup, he had the opportunity to run out the Pakistan non-striker on the last ball. By doing so, he could’ve won the match for his team- the West Indies. He didn’t. He chose integrity over victory–a remarkable act of sportsman spirit. West Indies … Read more