IN A NUTSHELL Author's NoteI have the pleasure of reviewing the Book “My Journey with Community Medicine” as a testimonial to the achievements of Dr M K Sudarshan over the years in his active professional life. The book acts as a powerful instrument of motivation to the students of Community Medicine
By Professor (Dr) Tanushree Mondal *
Editor – APCRI Journal
Professor of Community Medicine, RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, India
Book Review
MY JOURNEY WITH COMMUNITY MEDICINE: A MEMOIR
MY JOURNEY WITH COMMUNITY MEDICINE: A MEMOIR Author Dr M.K. Sudarshan Publisher: Maiya Publishing Year of Publication: 2025 Pages: 120 Price: PaperBack (India Sales): Rs.450 (incl GST) eBook (India Sales): Rs. 100 eBook (Outside India Sales): $5 ISBN No.: 978-93-93194-63-3
I have the pleasure of reviewing the Book, “My Journey with Community Medicine”. The book is a testimonial to the achievements of Dr M K Sudarshan over the years in his active professional life.
The book has 12 chapters spread over 120 pages. The first chapter delves upon his childhood. The next 2 chapters are concentrated on his MBBS and MD days. The Fourth chapter delves into his experience as a faculty in a medical college from April 1981 to October 2014. The fifth chapter describes his incremental interest in Rabies, and how it culminated into several State, National and International ventures and experiences is depicted along with colourful pictures in the other two chapters namely, the sixth and the seventh respectively. Chapter no. 8 states his vital role in the containment period of Covid-19 and his state level experiences in the State of Karnataka.
The book in itself has a neat cover, with vibrant colours with the photo of the author. In a few place, there are spelling mistakes that can be corrected in the following editions, but the grammar and the syntax are well done with proper alignment.
The ninth chapter deserves a special mention, enumerated as “My Mentors”. It is an interesting read in itself, with the pictures of his Mentors, but how these mentors shaped his life, how they were instrumental in his own being, could have been drawn in a more detailed way. This will in fact, render it as a useful textbook for all the teachers out there who are running their “Student Mentorship programme” in their respective colleges under the NMC guidelines. In this connection, a special mention is felt regarding the incorporation of emotional quotient (EQ) which is becoming very important in today’s world.
The final message section underscores professional achievement and staying happy and content in life while pursuing one’s own career.
The book is in itself is a snapshot of the living legend, however, the Summary Section may be forsaken as this would distract the attention of the readers and they would go only through the Summary segment without reading the details inside the book. There can be a section on takeaway messages out of the chapters.
Testimonials may be put in a single place as there is a chapter 12 dedicated for it solely. A special mention may be made to women at the workplace.
Moreover, since it is meant for students of Community Medicine, a special mention of what needs to be done in the future may be incorporated. At the same time, the goal of the national action plan for rabies elimination (NAPRE) needing a flagship may be duly emphasized.
The effort in bringing up such a book in such a compiled fashion and in a comprehensive way is truly laudable. Future plans in bringing out more books highlighting various aspects of his life can be thought of. In a nutshell, the book acts as a powerful instrument of motivation to the students of Community Medicine.
REFERENCE
https://maiyapublishing.com/product/my-journey-with-community-medicine-paper-back-within-india/
* PROF (DR) TANUSHREE MONDAL profile: MD, FAIMER (CMC-L), ACME (JIPMER), MAPC (IGNOU), PhD Professor, Deptt. of Community Medicine, R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata Former Deputy Director of Medical Education, GoWB Former State Public Information Officer (SPIO) under Right to Information Act, for GoWB Former MEU Coordinator, CC Member, GCP Trainer Co-Investigator, NMHS -Phase II Megacity Survey (NIMHANS) Member, Penal & Ethics Committee, West Bengal Medical Council Member, Health Recruitment Board, GoWB Editor, Association of Prevention & Control of Rabies in India