Tripti Sharan - Chronicles Of A Gynaecologist

CHRONICLES OF
A GYNAECOLOGIST

CHRONICLES OF A
GYNAECOLOGIST

Tripti Sharan

First published in India 2016

2016 by Tripti Sharan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.

The stories have been inspired by real life incidents but are not truly representative of the whole sequence as it has been turned into fiction. The identity of the characters have been changed. Any resemblance to real names is purely coincidental. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author.

The content of this book is the sole expression and opinion of its author, and not of the publisher. The publisher in no manner is liable for any opinion or views expressed by the author. While best efforts have been made in preparing this book, the publisher makes no representations or warranties of any kind and assumes no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose.

The publisher believes that the content of this book does not violate any existing copyright/intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in case any source has not been duly attributed, the publisher may be notified in writing for necessary action.

BLOOMSBURY and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

E-ISBN 978 93 86141 453

Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd
Second Floor, LSC Building No.4
DDA Complex, Pocket C 6 & 7, Vasant Kunj
New Delhi 110070
www.bloomsbury.com

Created by Manipal Digital Systems.

To find out more about our authors and books visit www.bloomsbury.com. Here you will find extracts, author interviews, details of forthcoming events and the option to sign up for our newsletters.

Dedicated to my father,
Mr P K Sharan
&
To the everlasting memory of my mother
Mrs Nirmala Sharan

Muted
they suffer
a frozen stupor.
An ignored presence,
yet awaiting a future .
Some random musings,
some scrambled letters.
Does it really make
me a writer better?
-Tripti Sharan

Chronicles of a Gynaecologist underlines the travails of a woman as she tries to hold on to her balance while passing through the various phases of life, coping with the demands of society, in addition to the ones her body places upon her. Pregnancy is not only an altered physiology, but also has profound psychological consequences. Occasionally, these changing body dynamics are far reaching. The author tries to decipher the conundrum of a womans life as she pauses at each step.

The book is also a reflection of the authors journey as a doctor. The stories have been inspired by real life incidents.The author has indulged her imagination to turn it into a soul stirring fiction.It explores issues ranging from something as important and largely preventable as medical complications of pregnancies, to touching upon the rampant superstitions and myths surrounding them, to the influence of quacks and preachers on a womans psyche. It also deals with postpartum depression, things still regarded as taboo such as altered sexual orientation and intersex, as well as delves into shocking and serious eventualities such as rape, incest and perversions that threaten to tear apart the spirit of any woman. We live in the era of changing morality and social values. Every story raises a curtain and promises to be a revelation.

Some deeply entrenched beliefs, some dogmatic attitudes the stories largely speak of the trauma and struggles of women from various walks of life, the concomitant defences commonly resorted to, and not infrequently, the mounting retaliatory offences.

Women across the globe continue to suffer from pregnancy related complications. India has an astoundingly high maternal mortality rate a staggering 174 per 100,000 live births (2015).

As Mahmoud Fathalla, past president of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) said:

Women are not dying because of diseases we cannot treat. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving.

Its the time to take the wake up call. A smiling woman is the face of a vibrant society. A vibrant society is a proof that civilization is still alive. Lets shed off age-old beliefs and bias, some taboos and some trials, and spread a smile on her face.

This is most definitely not my story.

A story sits in front of me and pours out her heart. How can one, who beholds a pen, not write about her? Yet I am just a medium in His chosen plans.and I thank the Almighty for giving me the opportunity to share her tales with the world.

I thank my parents for blessing me with the sense and the sensibilities. Their selflessness sowed the seeds of empathy in my heart. Their gentleness and kindness has acted as the torch whose light I want to spread into the world.

It all started in the crowded Khan Market where I sat with the co-authors of my previous book on poems The Dewdrops a journey begins. What brew that day was not merely coffee beans, and the idea of writing stories took birth in that buzzing caf. I was most vehemently in denial, yet here I am acknowledging them for their thoughtful advice thanks Abhijit and Neeti for the push in the right direction.

When a doctor writes, what comes out is sometimes more of a prescription. I acknowledge the untiring efforts of noted author and psychiatrist, Dr Ashok Prasad, and friend and bestselling author, Alcatraz Dey, in mulling over my amateurish writings. I demanded their opinion at the most inappropriate and inconvenient moments, totally disregarding the civilities of a proper time. Its their patience that turned my erratic and sometimes disjointed thoughts into a powerful narration.

My alma mater, my medical school Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior, where it all began, the hospitals where I have worked till now, my friends and colleagues who have been my partners in this amazing journey, bear the testimony to all that I write. They are the background to all my stories. I am just a moderator. They have taught me more than my medical textbooks. They are my life and I owe them so much more.

My stories lay struggling in a folder under the weight of The Documents on my computer, till I met Deepesh Bhardwaj. He is the reason my book could jiggle out and breathe free. I could never get around to thanking him, simply because words were never enough. But then words are all that I have!

Praveen and Nitin have been nothing short of miracles to me. Bloomsbury happened because they came at the right time. I thank my publishers, Bloomsbury India, for believing in my stories and sharing my zeal. Their enthusiasm and faith kept me going even when I would nurse doubts and get jittery. Debangana, my dear editor! There have been times when I have really sympathised with her. She was the one at the receiving end of my intellectual avatar. My pen has a tendency to take U turns, flip over and leave a trail of cuts and bruises. I owe her more than a free check-up. (Though I hope she never needs that!) But seriously, they have delivered my baby.