Lessons Learnt From Vanara, The Legend of Baali, Sugreeva and Tara

Writers like Anand Neelakantan bring a fresh perspective to the stories that have been told for ages in the same mould. You can learn only new concepts from reading such writers. Here is what I learnt from reading his latest novel `Vanara’:-

1. The greatness of Indian literature is its diversity. There is no one authentic holy book, nor a church or religious clergy insisting on one point of view. This is a tradition we should preserve with utmost care.
2. Jatayu was not the good bird projected in most versions of Ramayana.
3. Devas and Asuras practised casteism alike
4. Sugreeva always had an inferiority complex about his brother Bali. He did not mind even a heist to fulfil his ambitions. He was a meek and lazy guy.
5. Indira is a post and not an individual.
6. They are to be called Vana Naras and not Vanaras.
7. Hanuman tried to behave like a Brahmin.
8. Vana Naras believed they were born to be slaves. They never dared to go against the holy scriptures.
9. Vana Naras used secret ballot under the leadership of Tara.
10. Tara is said to be the wisest of all in Valmiki Ramayana
11. Kishkinda created by Baali was an open city for all race, tribe, caste, language or creed.
12. Ravana was not invincible as portrayed, he was imprisoned by Karthya Veerarjuna, the robber king. Karthya Veerarjuna insulted Ravana by making him stay with Sugreeva, a Vana Nara. Ravana did not touch Sugreeva even once during his stay. He, however, paid Karthya Veerarjuna, the ransom money to free Sugreeva. As we all know, Sugreeva later played a pivotal role in the slaying of Ravana.
13. Tara did have a soft corner for Sugreeva. Sugreeva was a creep who stalked his elder brother’s daughter, and his obsession for her is chilling.
14. Vana Naras celebrate a lot in their weddings despite their poverty.
15. How Sugreeva sets up Bali for a bullfight with Dundubhi much like Shakuni in Mahabharata did with the Kauravas and Pandavas.
16. Both the Devas and Asuras were jealous about Kishkinda.

Anand Neelakantan tells his stories in simple words and carries this gift to this book also. I cannot disclose everything in the book. You must read it more than once to get the hang of the story. The book is a panoply of the tales of Vana Naras, the Devas and Asuras, don’t miss out on it. It is available on Amazon at

Vanara by Anand Neelakantan

DISSENTING DIAGNOSIS BY DR ARUN GADRE AND DR ABHAY SHUKLA - A BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Dissenting Diagnosis by Dr Arun Gadre and Dr Abhay Shukla

This blog is more of a book recommendation than a book review

This book is an eye opener on the frauds that go in the healthcare industry. We cannot avoid going to a hospital but such books help us to be aware of the pitfalls in the treatment we are getting. We cannot avoid all of them.

The book is priced at a nominal Rs.399/-. It is written in simple language avoiding medical jargon to the extent possible. The book is divided into 12 logically arranged chapters each discussing the ails of the medical sector in India.

Note about the authors.

Both the authors are qualified and are not just talking through their hats.

Dr Arun Gadre is a gynaecologist.

Dr Abhay Shukla is a public health physician, with a post-graduate degree in community medicine from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Chapter 1 contains an interview with Dr Vijay Ajgaonkar, Senior Diabetologist, Mumbai – The contents of this chapter should send chill through the nerves of all `Diabetes patients’

Chapter 2 – Malpractices in Private Hospitals lists the following

1.            Malpractice during diagnosis

2.            Unnecessary Investigations.

3.            Unnecessary Procedures/Operations/ Surgeries.

4.            Commissions/ Cut Practice

5.            Lack of Regulation

6.            Inflated Bills.

7.            Making money through medicines inappropriately

Chapter 3 – The Toxic Influence of Pharmaceutical Companies.

This is spread through inducements to doctors (Doctors are taken on foreign trips by pharmaceutical companies);  Aggressive, Predatory Marketing (Doxycycline an established antibiotic that costs Rs.1 is no longer produced, instead they add a useless component like lactobacillus and sell it for Rs.5).

Chapter 4 – Health Care becomes an Industry: The Growing Influence of Corporate and Multi-specialty Hospitals

                The portion on `Commercial Demands and Target-Related Pressures on Doctors’ is well known to most of us but what is related in this space makes you cringe on the crass commercialization of the most noble profession.

Chapter 5 – Social Attitudes and Policy Content

                Patients armed with internet knowledge on symptoms, medi-claim policy which makes a patient yearn for a five star hospital treatment. The chapter also discusses about The Harmful Influence of Private Medical College.

Chapter 6 discusses Some Solutions suggested by Doctors to stem the rot in the medical field

Chapter 7 Physicians, Heal Thy System!

Chapter 8 What Rights Do I Have as a Patient In A Private Hospital?

A total of 9 each equally important rights have been discussed but the least exercised one according to me is the Right to Seek Second Opinion. Not even one Indian doctor discusses about this with the patient. In most cases, they bring about a fait accompli for the patient’s dependants.

Chapter 9 How Can I Recognise a Rational, Ethical Doctor?

You should buy and read this book just for this chapter

Chapter 10 How Should The Private Medical Sector Be Regulated?

I wish someone in the Government looks into it. Hospitals have become like star hotels each has his own rate card for treatment

Chapter 11 Moving Towards A System For Universal Health Care

Chapter 12 Joining Hands For Healing The Health Sector.