Little Joys of Life
Dr Koustav Majumder, a clinical oncologist from Kolkata, finds happiness in the little joys of life
BY AATIKA H JAIN
What was your dream career, as a child?
As a child, I had no so-called dream profession, but as my father is a doctor, I was inclined towards this profession. It was in class 11 when I read human physiology in the textbook that I first dreamt of becoming a doctor.
What does a typical day look like for you? How do you unwind at the end of a tiring day?
My day starts at 9 am sharp, with OPD, which is followed by radiation therapy planning and ward rounds. Work is normally completed over by 7.30 pm, but it could go up to 11 pm. After coming home, I spend time talking to my parents and my wife and playing with my one-year-old son.
Do you have any all-time favorite movie or book which you return to time and again?
There is no specific book or movie, but I love to read Bengali stories written by Rabindranath Tagore, and I still love to read Tintin comics.
How do you spend your leisure hours?
I try to spend as much free time as I can with my family. Besides that, I enjoy watching shows by Kapil Sharma and live cricket matches.
Any favorite holiday spots?
I love the mountains, the Himalayas. When I was doing my residency at PGIME&R Chandigarh, I would go to Himachal Pradesh whenever I got one or two days of leave. Here, in West Bengal, I find Darjeeling and surrounding areas very attractive.
MY INSPIRATION IS MY FATHER. HE IS AN ANAESTHESIOLOGIST, AND HIS HONESTY AND DEDICATION TO THE MEDICAL FIELD HAVE INSPIRED ME FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY CAREER. BESIDES, EVERY DAY I AM INSPIRED BY EACH AND EVERY CANCER PATIENT, THE WAY THEY COPE WITH THEIR LIVES AND ARE FIGHTING THIS HUGE BATTLE.
Dr Koustav Majumder, Clinical Oncologist
How would you describe yourself?
I am a person who wants to see the happiness on the faces of his patients and their family members.
How do you keep fit mentally and physically?
To keep myself mentally fit, I try to laugh or make others smile at least once in a day. As I get no time for walking or going to the gym, I take the stairs (instead of the lift) wherever possible.
Are there any social initiatives that you are involved with?
My colleague and I are trying to run a trustee cancer hospital on the outskirts of my town, Kolkata, where we treat cancer patient at minimum charges.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My inspiration is my father. He is an anesthesiologist, and his honesty and dedication to the medical field have inspired me from the beginning of my career. Besides, every day I am inspired by each and every cancer patient, the way they cope with their lives and are fighting this huge battle.
Are there any personal aspirations (apart from the professional ones) which you would like to fulfil this year?
I would like to get involved in some social work, especially if I could take some educational responsibility of economically backward children
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