Category: Fiction

Culture & Life · Fiction · History of Medicine · Medicine & Doctors

A riveting 1947 short story featuring India’s medical education system

Kiran KumbharLeave a comment

Popular representations of medical systems, professionals, and of illness itself, are an important source of knowledge for historians of medicine. During my research into the history of the Indian (bio)medical profession in the post-independence period, I recently came across a very interesting short story, published in a Sunday edition of the Indian Express in October… Continue reading A riveting 1947 short story featuring India’s medical education system

Fiction · Medicine & Doctors · Public health

India’s Maternal Care System, Presented via Facebook

Kiran KumbharLeave a comment

Using hypothetical Facebook conversations and some satire, I have attempted to highlight the challenges faced by India’s poor in maternal care. 1. Almost 70% of Indians live in villages, and a majority of villages have poor govt health infrastructure and unreliable electricity supply. People manage somehow, but these ‘jugaads’ are dangerous & unsustainable. Besides, the… Continue reading India’s Maternal Care System, Presented via Facebook

Fiction · Medicine & Doctors · Public health

Obstetric Violence, and Disrespect and Abuse of Women in India’s Hospitals

Kiran KumbharLeave a comment

This part-satire fictional article was published in India Medical Times on 30 jan 2016. Here is the link. Below is an excerpt: “We have this pet phrase of ‘skilled birth attendance’. Politicians and bureaucrats naively believe that getting women give birth in hospitals instead of homes satisfies the ‘skilled birth attendance’ recommendation of the World… Continue reading Obstetric Violence, and Disrespect and Abuse of Women in India’s Hospitals

Cinema & Bollywood · Culture & Life · Fiction · Politics

A Satire on India’s Porn Ban and other Censorship

Kiran KumbharLeave a comment

[Almost every government at national and state levels in India has always given in to the tempting fumes of the seductive political dope called ‘Indian culture and tradition’. But being so mindblowingly diverse, in India one woman’s culture can be another woman’s sin and one man’s tradition can be another man’s abuse. Still, each govt… Continue reading A Satire on India’s Porn Ban and other Censorship

The Ram Masjid Centre for Religious Harmony
Culture & Life · Fiction · History India South Asia · Politics · Religion

The Ram Masjid Centre for Religious Harmony

Kiran Kumbhar1 Comment

A true leader, it is said, leads her or his people to where they should be and not necessarily where they want to be. This day, the 6th of December 2015, will go down in history as one of those days when such leadership was at its most brilliant display. A day when a wise… Continue reading The Ram Masjid Centre for Religious Harmony

Culture & Life · Fiction

Diaspora Dilemma

Kiran Kumbhar4 Comments

Harsh and Kiran are young Indians and friends since school, with Harsh in a PG program in the US and Kiran working in India. This is a recent chat they had. Harsh: Bharat has made the final decision, he’s staying back here in the US. Kiran: Screw him. Traitor. I knew he wouldn’t be able… Continue reading Diaspora Dilemma