(18th Installment)

By Rajan Narayan

MY close friendship with Dr Vinay N Jindal, who became the longest-serving dean of the Goa Medical College & Hospital, has been the subject of much debate. An even greater controversy surrounds our break-up. I first met Dr Vinay Jindal in 1989, when I was admitted to the GMC following the savage assault on me when I was the editor of the `OHeraldo.’ I was attacked with iron rods on the spine. I was admitted to the Medicine ward under the supervision of Dr NGK Sharma. Dr Jindal had just joined the GMC as the hospital’s first neurosurgeon. Dr Jindal had completed his super-specialty in neurosurgery from the post-graduate institute of Chandigarh. Dr Jindal was called in to examine me since I was complaining about severe headaches and back pain.
Much later when we become friends he confided that he had not agreed with Dr Sharma’s diagnosis of polymyositis. Which is a muscle wasting disease. The only remedy for polymyositis is heavy doses of steroids. I met and became friendly with Dr Jindal after my return from being treated at the Bombay Jaslok Hospital. Our friendship went beyond that of a patient and doctor.
Dr Jindal was new to Goa. Like me, he was a bhaile. Perhaps we became close because both of us were perceived by niz Goenkars as outsiders. We used to spend almost every evening together over a drink or two. I still recall his then very young daughter Divya, standing on a stool to make a cup of tea for me at his then quarters at St Inez. Divya has gone on to become a radiologist.
Dr Jindal single-handedly set up the Neurosurgery department in Goa. For many years he did not have any support team and handled the department on his own. Since he was the only neurosurgeon and head injuries from accidents were very common even in those years, he was much in demand. Over a period of time, his contribution was recognized and a full-fledged Neurosurgery department was set up. The first two neurosurgeons to join him were Dr Jorson D Costa and Dr Ponraj Sundaram. Dr Ponraj had a post-graduate degree in neurosurgery and succeeded Dr Jindal as head of the department. Dr Jorson only had a post-graduate diploma and was superseded by Dr Ponraj. Both of them are very good neurosurgeons.
I BECAME close not only to Dr Jindal but his entire family. The family consisted of Manjusha, his wife, a gynaecologist. Jindal’s two children, Divya and Dweep, have also become doctors specializing in radiology and gynaecology, respectively. Dweep headed his MBBS batch but disappointed his father by choosing gynaecology though he could have secured any branch he wanted. Jindal’s father, a retired professor of mathematics, also stayed with him at their quarters. Over a period of time, Jindal moved from his quarters in St Inez to his own bungalow in the Goa Medical Employees Co-operative Society — GOMECO — in Bambolim, close to the GMC. This is the society promoted by GMC doctors on land allotted at a concessional rate by the government. The condition was that it could only be sold to other doctors in the GMC. I recall presenting him with a new mattress for his new house as he kept complaining about being bankrupt after building the house.
Jindal along with the then dean Dr BS Reddy, used to frequently visit my underground basement flat in Dona Paula. Jindal, perhaps did not feel free to drink at home in front of his parents. So much so Reddy and Jindal used to come to my basement flat at least twice a week. Very often they would bring their own bottles of Scotch gifted by grateful patients. I also used to receive bottles of Scotch frequently. Both my friends would drink happily and I used get worried about how they would get back home. Imagine the top neurosurgeon and the forensic expert meeting with an accident. There was no additional neurosurgeon who could attend to Jindal if he met with an accident going home and had a head injury.
I was also frequently invited for lunch and dinner at the Jindal residence at GOMECO.
The relationship was mutually beneficial. I was then at “Oheraldo” at the height of my power and influence as a journalist and editor. Then Jindal was offered the dean’s post which he was very reluctant to take. It was the then Chief Minister Pratapsingh Raoji Rane, who was very keen on Jindal becoming the dean of the GMC. I recall meeting Pratapsingh Rane at the budget session of the assembly. Rane asked me to persuade Jindal to accept the post of dean as he was the best candidate for the job. I convinced Jindal to take the job, confident that he would make a very good dean. Jindal was totally honest and dedicated to the medical profession.
I remember being present in the chamber of the dean when Jindal took charge. I presented him with a large image of Lord Ganesh to make his path smooth. Jindal was the youngest dean and had a term of more than ten years. He was a very popular dean as he respected the independence of the other HODs and gave them his full support. Since he enjoyed the confidence of the political leadership he was able to strengthen the infrastructure. Above all Jindal was very fair and treated not only his colleagues but even the nursing staff and the ward boys very well.
ON my part, Jindal becoming the dean, gave me full access to the Goa Medical College. Not only for myself but for all my friends. I recall that knowing my closeness to Jindal I would be approached by dozens of people for admission to the GMC. Dr Jindal always obliged me. The additional benefit was that those whom I recommended got extra special treatment. With all my health problems I was of course a frequent guest of the GMC. I would inevitably be given the private rooms. Dr Jindal would come to visit me every evening. For my wide circle of friends, I was the passport for special attention at the GMC. When I had to visit the GMC OPD Jindal would personally escort me to avoid the long queues. My immediate family consisting of my security officers, my Man Friday Ashraf, and my closest friend Chandru Mirchandani, also became good friends of Dr Jindal.
I recall that when Chandru had his third and final heart attack it was Dr Jindal who personally supervised his treatment. When Chandru died at the relatively young age of 60 years, I remember Dr Jindal coming with me to the last trip to the morgue. I was very disturbed by the manner in which they handled the body of my friend Chandru. But Jindal consoled me by pointing out that Chandru would not feel any pain. However, I still think morgue staff should treat bodies with more respect.
Thanks to Jindal I had access to every department in the GMC. All the doctors knew the close relationship I had with Jindal. They also knew that at that time I was a very powerful person. Jindal perhaps benefited as much from being my friend as I had benefited from his friendship with me.
An unfortunate incident let to the breakup of one of my closest and warmest friendships. A young busty consultant from the Microbiology department became obsessed with the dean. The pretty looking doctor embarrassed Dr Jindal whenever they met at the GMC. She would walk in and out of his cabin and openly express her admiration for him. She was unaware about any wrong impression she may be creating. When Jindal was chosen for a management course in the IIAM Ahmadabad she also took leave and joined him there. The relationship between Jindal and the “microbe” became very embarrassing for the family.
His wife, Dr Manjusha Jindal, had become a senior professor in the gynac department. Both his children Divya and Dweep were completing their MBBS degrees. Jindal’s wife and daughter came to see me at home. Being his best friend they pleaded with me to talk to him. Jindal’s birthday happens to be on July 5, the day after my birthday. I recall that Manju and Divya presented him with a new mobile phone so that they could get hold of his old phone to check the messages he may have exchanged with his girlfriend.
I INVITED Dr Jindal for a drink at the International Centre Goa. I told Jindal that his relationship was causing a lot of embarrassment for his family. Not only to his wife but to his children who were students in the GMC. Men being men, Jindal insisted that the relationship was one-sided and the lady in question was throwing herself at him. That he did not have the heart to tell her off. Which is strictly not true because I don’t think any man, even if he is married, can resist the attentions of a younger pretty women. Anyway, Jindal promised to actively discouraged the women, but he was very angry with his wife and his daughter. Angry with them for approaching me. The anger was with his wife going to a third person over an internal family matter. But then perhaps he did not realise that his family had no choice. It was not the relationship itself but the gossip in the corridors of the GMC. All the doctors and the staff of the GMC were fully aware of it of the special relationship. Jindal did break off the relationship with the microbiologist.
But this matter also put an end to my friendship with him. It is my experience that if you get involved in an issue involving a family, no matter how well intentioned, you will always loose out. The family will come together and turn its back on the “outsider.” Personally, I have no regrets, as I think I was doing the right thing and have a soft corner of affection for Dr Manjusha. Years have passed but I will confess here that I still miss my friendship with Dr Vinay Jindal, particularly now since I have become a senior patient and dependent more than ever before on old friendships, even those which have become cold.