The Great Indian Medico Masala by Dr Kumar Nirbhay
My take on the book:
The Great Indian Medico Masala traces the journey of Arun starting from his days as MBBS student, the ragging he faced, the friends he formed due to shared terror for anatomy exam and the crushes that bloomed in dissection labs. Later, the stories capture Dr Arun’s early experiences while working as a doctor as Arun moves from student to intern to a doctor navigating the chaos of government hospital OPDs.
The long working hours, the emotional struggle when patients’ condition does not improve, the politics, the orders from seniors, but beneath it all the author highlights the everyday humor that helps make life easier for the doctors. This book highlights the other side of a doctor’s life beyond stethoscopes and surgeries. What stands out is the simplicity of the narration as the author retains the Hindi-English mix seen in Indian hospitals, hostel rooms and canteens.
The humor lands because of the specific details shared by the author, like the exams stress and the 36-hour marathon shifts. However, what impresses is the emotional layer that exists along with humor. Between the jokes and the masala, the book also looks at the daily burnout faced by doctors and the stress from OPD that stays with them long after the shift ends. By the end, the book demystifies the medical profession without taking away its respect.
A fun read, this book tells the truth with enough masala, so the reader is left smiling.
My rating:
4/5.