An Interview With Dr Kishore Shah

[Guest guest]

Dr Kishore Shah is a man of many talents. He has a truly

multi-dimensional personality. He is an eminent gynecologist. He has interest

in theater. He is a good writer, with subtle satire as his hallmark. In

addition, he is good enough to be a professional cartoonist. Finally, he is a

nice man.

I had the privilege of being in his company today. We had an open conversation

on various issues. It was a pleasure talking to him.

Excerpts from my interview with Dr Shah are produced below:

Interviewer:   Dr Shah,

I feel your name says a lot about you.

Dr Shah    :   Oh, really! I have never

thought about it. Nor has anyone ever told me any such thing.

 I      :  

What does Kishore mean?

KS  :   (Appears amused) Well, Kishore means young.

I       :   Wasn't I right about your name? You are so young at heart.

KS  :   (Smiles and nods in acknowledgement)

I       :   Why do you spell your name as Kishore? Why

the ‘e’ after Kishor?

KS  :   (With a sparkle in his eyes) The ‘e’ is for

extra. I feel extra young.

I       :   That’s very interesting.

KS  :   That’s how I feel.

I       :   Do you believe in religion?

KS  :   (Shoots straightaway) Yes, I do.

I       :   Is it any particular religious philosophy?

KS  :   (Hesitates) I’d like to say something here.

It isn’t exactly a philosophy in a complex way. I

            often

chant a simple mantra – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna…… It is a message from

my 

            Guru.

I       :    (With surprise) Your Guru?

KS  :    Yes, my Guru. She is, in fact, a member of

our Egroup. Her belief is that this mantra can   

            see a man

through all circumstances.

I       :   So, you belong to a Group?

KS  :    Yes, that’s correct. This Group is comprised

of some faculty and the alumnae of our 

            college.

I       :    Tell me something about this Group.

KS  :    Nothing special....   We connect with one

another. There’re all types of persons.

I       :    Do you write for your Group?

KS  :    Yes, I do. It’s about simple things.

I       :    Do others also write?

KS  :    There are a few members who write regularly.

I’d like to particularly mention one of them.

             Whenever

mental frenzy takes over, his thoughts race off in different directions. The

last 

             time he wanted

us to believe that Mayawati is a great environmentalist and how she is  

             endowed with elephantine

intelligence. Then he wrote about buying a God. Once he told us 

             about funny things that  happened to Osama after his

death.

I       :    It sounds interesting.

KS  :    Yes. It certainly is. This man can be frighteningly weird. 

I       :    Dr Shah, thank you very much. Would you like

to say anything before I say goodbye? Any   

             last comment?

KS  :    (Turns thoughtful) It's really nothing important.

I can’t hide my feelings for our Group. 

             Members who used to

write have gradually stopped their contributions. It’s sad. I'm afraid 

             the Group will lose its

identity very soon. (Wants to say more, but stops himself and quickly 

             regains

his cheerfulness) I think that’s all. Thank you.