A Subramanyeshwar Rao is superintendent of police, Anti-Corruption Branch. He is also a qualified medical doctor. “It was during the last year of my medical course that I decided to take the civil services’ examination. I realised just being a doctor wouldn’t be enough, I would have to gain specialisation in some area of medicine, and this would require many more years,” says Rao. “In contrast, in public services one can scale to the senior most positions faster. What I saw was an assured career progress. I got through the civil services examination in 2001-2002 and very luckily was placed in Karnataka cadre,” he adds.
This switch in careers also meant that Rao was no longer allowed to practise as a doctor. “In any case, I am too busy. I wouldn’t have done justice to both fields if I were to consult and police. But, I am never away from the world of medicine. My wife is a doctor and we often discuss matters pertaining to it,” he says.
Over the years, Rao has seen the field of medicine develop a corporate culture. “A majority of doctors end up in private practices, I don’t see much of service motivation, which is necessary when you are doctor, be it in a corporate environment, a private clinic or a government hospital. In comparison, the police force allows for public service and personal improvement,” says Rao.
A Subramanyeshwar Rao, Doctor and IPS official
Ever since he was a child, Dr Ashwath Narayan C N wanted to enter the field of politics to bring about change, while his mother wanted him to pursue medicine. “When the time came for me to choose what I wanted to study, I picked medicine because it is a glorious profession through which we can cure diseases and save lives. Being a doctor is painful, yet touching,” he says.
After completing MBBS, Narayan ran a private practice in Nagarbhavi for two years before he established Padmashree Group of Institutions in 1995, offering various courses related to medicine and health care, and, five years later, Padmashree Diagnostics.
But, as the first doctor in his family, he still yearned to prevent diseases. The solution seemed to lie in chasing his childhood dream of becoming a politician, and Narayan entered mainstream politics, in 2004, when he joined BJP and contested the Malleswaram constituency. “I lost that election,” he says. “But after that I won, consecutively, in 2008 and 2013.”
Narayan shares that, having studied medicine, he feels he has an edge when it comes to implementation of plans and schemes. “Most people understand and think in terms of concepts, but I am able to comprehend technicalities. For example, most people know that the number of anganwadis have to be increased, I know why the step is beneficial, so I can ensure that childcare centres do their work effectively.”
“The literacy rate has certainly gone up during the past few decades,” Narayan continues. “But we also need to focus on better health of the general population.” Health problems, he believes, can be prevented only by simultaneously addressing related issues such as hygiene and malnutrition.
“Most Indians have a primarily carbohydrate diet. The national average protein consumption, per head, in a day is a mere 35gms, whereas it should be a minimum of 100gms,” he explains, adding that he has been trying to address the issue through awareness programmes about nutrition.
Still a doctor at heart, the MLA misses his practice. “It is unfortunate that one gets caught-up in a milieu of activities as a politician, and cannot take time out for consultations,” Narayan says. “Though the service I can do by contributing to the healthcare sector now is immense.”
All the same, he still cherishes the hope of resuming his practice in the future.
Ashwath Narayan C N, Doctor and MLA
For film lovers, Dr Shamitha Malnad needs no introduction. Her rendition of the popular song Madhura Pisumathige, Adhara Thusu Preetige from the film Birugali touched the hearts of many young lovers.
Malnad, besides being a musician, is also a dentist. It was never easy balancing both music and medicine. “I could neither miss a class, as it was a professional course, nor miss any recording. Practicals, seminars, exams, for four years those were difficult to manage. During college, I didn’t sing songs for films. Yet, music directors encouraged me by holding recordings after college hours and friends helped with study notes,” she says.
Though Malnad wanted to be a gynaecologist, she ended up earning dual graduate degrees in Dental Surgery from Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College, KIMS, Bangalore and another in Arts from Hindi Prachar Sabha, Chennai. Malnad then started a dental clinic along with a friend but often found herself away with recordings than at her chambers. “It became difficult for me to visit the clinic even once in a week. Recordings, shows and practice took up a major chunk of my time. And I didn’t quite regret it. Through music, I reach a large number of people, and spread awareness about health issues through charity programmes.” Malnad is now a playback singer, composer, anchor, and dubbing and voice artiste.
Recalling one of her most memorable concerts, she says, “In the USA, I hosted a charity show to raise funds for a Bangalore-based foundation that spreads awareness about cancer. We raised over `20 lakh. I can never forget that.”
So, does Malnad, the dentist, take a back seat? She says, “I still consult at the clinic. The minute I have a probe and mirror in my hand, I become the doctor. It is always exciting to investigate and diagnose problems. I love both the fields.”
Shamitha Malnad, Dentist, singer and voice artiste
