The Return [of the prodigal son]

Some of you already know the news. For those who do not know, I leave the Tufts Medical Center and the Tufts School of Medicine for the wondrous unknown that is the world. I’m headed back to India , enroute to {a journey across} south east Asia. From that point on, I will put the “world is my oyster” cliché to the test. It's been 9 long years for me in the US with the best friends, family and colleagues that one could ask. As the almost-immortal bard Jim Morrison told us many years ago, "There are things known and things unknown and in between are the doors". As I leave through a door, I follow his advice (and also mix metaphors with song lyrics)  - I will keep my eyes on the road but not forget the forest for the trees.

I'm now blogging at denishmoorthy.org. I may duplicate posts on this site. If not, you know where to find me.

What would you do if you got $500?

Tyler Cower, a practical economist, believes that money to individuals makes more sense than through foreign aid (read government bureaucracy). To back this up claim, Tyler will send one Indian $500 and five others $100 each through Western Union. This is in alignment with the principles he writes about in his new book, Discover Your Inner Economist. Those aforementioned principles are:

1. Cash is often the best form of aid.
2. Give to those who are not expecting it.
3. Don't require the recipients to do anything costly to get the money.

Why India?
To no surprise, he loves the country! In his words, "been to India twice and both times I have been received with the utmost hospitality and enthusiasm. I loved the food, the music, the diversity, and the more-than-occasional chaos. Most of all I loved how the people engaged me so directly, and how every moment was so full of human drama and stories."

What do you do?
Find a deserving Indian, and follow instructions on his blog

NOW!

Maybe I should become a writer...

Thanks to Dr Sood, my mentor in Endocrinology from AIIMS (that's the much venerated, much hollowed...oops... hallowed "All India Institute of Medical Sciences" in New Delhi, where I whittled away a significant portion of my productive life!), I have been invited to co-author yet another chapter on iodine. Super! After one book (look for No.5 in the National Health Programme Series - yes, yes, I am relegated to a number!), and a couple of chapters in the "Big Book" (which made me famous among the 30 odd people who actually bought the book), I am now embarking on another chapter, this time documenting the endocrine effects of salt iodination. I aim to use high faultin' words and phrases like plasma inorganic iodine and radioiodine kinetics to show that I can slang with the best of 'em! In my iodine tinted world, I am a fabled warrior, armed with nothing more than my wits and an unending supply of iodine replete salt, which I tend to throw over my left shoulder (uh, or is it my right?).

J K Rowling, you had better watch out... wait... isn't she finished with writing? Awright, Stephen King, keep an eye on your rearview mirror, 'coz I am gaining on you!
Teaser trailer: My next book will be set in the land of vitamin B12!

PS: Didja notice the subtle pun in "embarking on another chapter"... nope? no worries - thank you, come again!

Oye, friends...

I spent the evening with Amar, he of the Joslin Clinic fame. We didn't do anything spectacular - dined at Rami's in Brookline, watched a movie at Fenway, and talked... mostly talked. That felt nice. It was good to talk to someone who knew where i came from, where i was going... kosh, wither thou? it's been too long . The reason why they did not base inspirational movie scripts on our (Amar and mine) friendship in the med school days was because we weren't particularly close. We knew each other, and of each other, and I was always the "different" (read weird) kid who hung out with the engineers. But ever since my move to Beantown, we have hung out more often than in all of our medical days! And enjoyed hanging out. Amar used to travel across town to meet up. He trekked across every Sunday (almost!) to watch the NFL on my TV, patiently explaining to me that the "reason why they do not go for an offensive game on the fourth down is because they want to play it safe", and more answers to other asinine questions of mine... i still say that the offensive linemen should pull down the quarterback's pants while he is throwing, which sneaky strategy will work to a team's psychological advantage... Our times together involved talking about life, sports, molecular diabetology, and at some point, we watch a movie! good times...
These thought ran through my head when I was talking to my friend J about.... friends... with whom we are in touch... and i was telling her that my first response to a "need to talk" is to dial India! Why is that? Is it that it is a hardwired response? With the time difference, it can get difficult, but i cling to it (in a good way!)... As much as i love talking to folks back home, I also have close friends here that I can talk to just as easily, and I do talk to them... And my mentors are my best friends!! sharing my times of sadness and joy, of failure and success, of paradise lost and paradise regained, I am here now...
Hurrah for Amar!

Wow, it's been a long time...

A flavour of soon-to-be-released stories...
1) Vitamin B12 kicks ass!
2) Adventures of Moving Out - A Remote Story
3) Ajanta - the Journey of a 2nd century B.C. to the 21st century
4) Delhi Roundup
5) Aah... to be with family and friends again!
6) Bike Angel
7) Back in Boston *sigh*

"It's all coming back to me now..."

...Or is it that I am going back?
A bit of both...
My next post will be after a trip across a few seas, if not all the seven!
Boston-Mumbai-Lonavla-Aurangabad-Mumbai-Delhi-Bangalore-Vellore-Bangalore-Boston...whew!!!