STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Award winning writer and noted physician, Dr K L Chowdhury’s new book ‘Why Don’t You Convert?’ was released here on Sunday. The book release function witnessed participation of well known doctors and eminent men from civil society.
Disclosing that the book is a compendium of stories based on real experiences while treating his patients, Dr Chowdhury said, “Each patient has a story to tell. The stories are like raw diamonds. All I do is to dig them out, chisel them, polish them, and present them to the reader.”
While speaking at the function, noted writer and critic, Dr R L Shant hailed the book as a significant contribution to a new genre of storytelling. While praising the author on his acumen as a master story teller, he said that ‘Why Don’t You Convert?’ will become a benchmark in story writing. He admired the gesture of author in dedicating the book to his patients, whom he regards his Gurus.
Prof H L Misri said that Dr Chowdhury was a genius who needs to be understood not only through the prism of literary criticism but also from the point of view of positive humanism. Through this book Dr Chowdhury has given a clarion call to doctors, to probe the inner depths of the patients and explore their soul in order to broaden the horizons of healing with a human touch.
Dr Sheetal Singh, well known surgeon and former Principal of Government Medical College, while lauding the versatility of Dr Chowdhury, called him a father-figure of doctors and the world of medicine in J&K. Recalling his long association with the author, he revealed that it was largely at the behest of Dr Chowdhury that tough diagnosis and rare operations were performed at the SMHS hospital in Srinagar when the modern tools of diagnosis were unheard of. Noted Neuro- physician, Dr Susheel Razdan, while musing on the qualities of Dr Chowdhury, said that it was pure bliss to attend his lectures and case demonstrations. He lamented that while the modern tools of medicine have reached high level of sophistication, practicing the basics of healing has taken backstage.
Dr Anupama Vohra, Associate Professor of English, Jammu University praised the simple style of storytelling of the author who has added a new dimension to English literature in J&K. She said that Dr Chowdhury has emerged as a significant author on whose works students must undertake research projects to analyze the impact of his writing.
Earlier, the programme started with Sharda Vandana presented by the under-privileged children of Sharika Foundation to which all the sale proceeds of the author’s books will go.
The book has received rave reviews in social websites and on online shopping sites like Amazon.in and Flipkart.
Pradeep Kaul conducted the proceedings and Sanjay Dhar presented the vote of thanks.
