‘The Curious Adventures of a Doctor from Jaffna’ to be launched tomorrow

Friday, 6 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dr. K. Puvanendran will launch ‘The Curious Adventures of a Doctor from Jaffna’ at the BCIS auditorium (BMICH premises) tomorrow, 7 December, at 5 p.m. S.R. Nathan, former President Singapore, had this to say in his foreword: “I found his memoirs interesting and well told. He ties together personal aspects of his early growing-up years in Sri Lanka and captures what life was like graduating as a doctor and being posted for the first time out of Colombo. The rest of his years, moving out to London, then Singapore, capture how he found life as he transitioned from one life to another.”

Portrayal with finesse As the distinguished former President of Singapore has said, in doing so, Dr. Puvanendran portrays with finesse tricky situations he had to encounter, some involving very important personalities high in society, even royalty. Thus through the experiences he narrates we are able to reminisce about what it was like for him to adapt from the leisurely life in Sri Lanka in his youth to the pace of his working career and lifestyle in urban Singapore. Furthermore, he comments on his local medical practice, which will no doubt be of interest to his professional colleagues and to patients who came under his care. Recommendation It is an honour to the author to have a recommendation of the said distinguished statesman in the following words: “I would recommend this book to young and old alike for its interesting narration of times gone by in Sri Lanka, as well as experiences of the changing Singapore in Dr. Puvanendran’s adult life.” Referring to the important personalities whom he met in his life Dr. Puvanendran says: “I see them as players in the theme. “Life seemed an empty dream, the world’s just a stage, they were all mere players.” They enter the stage, play their part and then exit. And that is it.” Everyone wants to leave behind a legacy when he is gone. We all want to be remembered for something, the innermost thoughts, feelings and desires. Having that in mind this internationally known Neurologist who is more than 75 years old looked back, fruitful life, giving others as much or more than he had received. This attribute comes from being a doctor treating the diseased and suffering. Life story in three parts His life story is in three parts. The first part is his own story, and describes the vanishing old world of Ceylon that he left behind. Then the story flows into the second part, which is best described as “the perfect theme for Alice in Wonderland”. It is how he saw Singapore and Singaporeans through his looking-glasses. The third part recounts the dilemmas in the queerest and most memorable cases in his 50 years’ practice as a doctor. A sincere friend and admirer of the Author Nathan/others