Dr. Bhaskaran and Mr. Writer

by R.V. Rajan, rvrajan42@gmail.com

Among the most inspiring personalities I have had the opportunity to move with in recent years is Dr. J. Bhaskaran (JB). A specialist in dermatology and neurology, he is also a prolific writer and speaker. I got acquainted with him through Tamizh Puthaga Nanbargal forum with which I was associated but I got to know him closely when I translated a collection of his short stories from Tamil to English. JB at 68 continues to practice as a medical doctor for half a day splitting his time between Public Health Centre in Mambalam and his clinic in K.K. Nagar.

He was born in Chidambaram in 1953 as the second of seven siblings to Jayaraman and Savithri. His father was a stenographer with Gemini Film Circuit, the distribution wing of the iconic Gemini Studios. He had his early education in a Chidambaram Middle school and later joined the Ramakrishna Mission Boys High school in T.Nagar, where the medium of instruction was Tamil. He had a tough time adjusting to English medium of instruction when he joined Loyola college for his pre-University. One of his uncles persuaded him to apply for admission in a medical college for graduation. He had scored over 87% in his Senior School Leaving Certificate Exam which got him the prestigious “National Merit Scholarship” for his entire medical studies. That was the beginning of his tryst with the medical profession. Between 1972-1977 he studied at the Madras Medical College. On completion of his training he was awarded the MBBS degree by the Madras University. However getting admission for the MD programme was not easy given the reservation policy. While he was practicing in a private nursing home he decided to do a two-year full-time Postgraduate Diploma course in Dermatology at the Madras Medical College which included special training in Leprosy and sexually transmitted diseases.

“”After completing the diploma course I got an opportunity to work in the iconic Adyar Cancer Institute which was considered then the refuge for all those who could not get admission for a PG (MD)course in medicine. I spent the next three years working closely with Dr. Shantha. While I learnt a lot at the institute where every patient was a challenge, the atmosphere generally was depressing because of the number of deaths I witnessed. So I decided to quit and joined as Resident Physician the T.S. Srinivasan Department of Clinical Neurology and Research, a part of the Public Health Center, a 150-bed community hospital located in Mamabalam. This is where I got exposed to Neurology”.

At the PHC he got the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Krishnamurthy Srinivas, a well-known Neurologist of the time who was associated with PHC right from its inception. He took a liking for JB and taught him practical lessons in neurology and in 1992 appointed JB as Junior Consultant in Neurology at the PHC. The same year, helped by Dr. Srinivas he also attended a Post graduate student training for the Diploma in Clinical Neurology at the internationally renowned Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London: a specialist course widely recognised in the United Kingdom and overseas. Thus started his unique dual specialisation as a Dermatologist cum Neurologist. While Dr. Krishnamurthy Srinivas was his mentor in Neurology he credits late Dr. A.S.Thamabiah, the legendary skin specialist of his time and Dr. Patrick Yesudian as his gurus in dermatology.

While practicing at the PHC and his private Clinic in K.K. Nagar, JB also offered his services as a visiting consultant to many other institutions in the city. He was also busy contributing articles on his profession to many industry journals. Saruma Noigal published in 2008 by Nalam, a unit of New Horizon media was his first book.

“It was a thrilling feeling holding the first copy of my first printed book,” says JB. Its success made him write another, on epilepsy titled Valippu Noigal that got him the award for best author/book in medical sciences for the year 2010 from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Receiving the award from the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was a proud moment for me,” he adds. This was followed by another Tamil book on headaches, which got the ‘NRK Award’ from the Uratha Sinthanai forum for the best book of essays in 2015.

While the writing bug had already caught him, it was his foray into Facebook which opened the doors for his journey as a creative writer. He posted his first humorous piece in 2010 on the popular Indian delicacy, the ubiquitous “bajji” that got him immediate response from his Facebook friends. Many other articles on similar popular topics found him gaining more friends and readers on Facebook.

“It is the immediate response I started getting for anything I posted on my Facebook page that inspired me to write not only articles but also short stories based on my experiences both as a medical doctor and as a common man. My first short story appeared in Naveena Vritchum, a monthly published by the popular writer Azhagiasinger. It was my friend Balasandilyan, a popular writer/poet in Tamil, who introduced me to Girija Raghavan the dynamic editor of the Ladies Special magazine. She not only published some of my short stories but also encouraged me to write on a variety of topics. Kizhambur the editor of the iconic Tami monthly Kalaimagal also encouraged me by publishing many of my articles and stories in his magazine”.

JB found himself deluged with requests from other magazines too. He became a prolific writer of essays on a variety of topics including food, short stories, commentaries on literary works, book reviews and travelogues. His keen observation of people and deep understanding of the topics he covered were evident in his writings. He is also blessed with a phenomenal memory. His writings are in simple Tamil with a touch of humour.

When I asked him how he is able to write with authority on so many diverse topics, he said,”I read a lot. I am capable of reading three or four books simultaneously. Every room in my home has some book or the other I am reading at a time. Most of my reading and writing happen only in the nights. I am a late bird. My short stories are based on the experiences of thousands of patients I have met over the years and also my own experiences”.

It was Azhagiasinger of Naveena Vritchum who initiated him into the world of speakers on Tamil literature by inviting him to participate in a panel discussion on the award winning writer Jayakanthan. Soon Kizhambur and others started inviting him as a speaker at literary meetings organized by them. JB as a speaker had arrived. In the meanwhile, persuaded by friends he decided to publish his first book consisting of a collection of his essays. Titled Appavin Diary, with a foreword by the popular writer Asokamithran, the book was launched at a function attended by hundreds of friends. “This was in 2016,” he says. “My father was alive at that time and attended the function. He was delighted beyond words when he was recognised and his role in his children’s lives was appreciated.”

Since then he has brought out eight more books. He had turned a prolific writer by reducing the time he spent on his medical practice but he has won scores of prizes and awards for his articles and stories. “I consider the prize I got for my story in the Ki Va Ja memorial short story contest conducted by Kalaimagal and the prize I got for my story in the short story competition by Ilakkia Peetham as special” he said.

JB has already got an outline for a novel he is working on. Hopefully it will come out before the end of 2022. Even the small screen has been drawing on JB’s talents over the years. He is regularly invited by popular TV channels to talk about his expertise as a specialist in Dermatology and Neurology. JB has come a full circle from being a well-known medical doctor to now a rising star in the world of Tamil literature. He is truly an inspiration for many other talented professionals to explore their passion for writing or any other creative pursuits while being successful in their respective professions!

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