WARD 5 KEM
Dr R D BAPAT
The book, Ward- 5 KEM, is a philosophical, honest and sincere account of Dr R D Bapat’s life in Ward 5 KEM Hospital, written in a simple language from the bottom of his heart. It unfolds some of his memorable experiences, as narrated by him in a typical way only which he can, touching directly the reader’s heart. Apart from his academic achievements and innovations and interesting challenging cases, it also chronicles his association with various people from different walks of his life; he came across during his glorious years in ward 5 at KEM.
Since the time he came to Mumbai from Madhya Pranth (Central Provinces and Berar) as he likes to call, Dr Bapat has over four decades of sustained association with KEM Hospital. Ward 5 has been his abode (karmabhumi) for over last forty years. In fact next year, he will be completing fifty years of his association with Seth G S Medical College. Besides his must be the only family to have had three generations studying at Seth G S Medical College.
This ward has been a witness to his rise from resident to the Head of Department of General Surgery and Surgical Gastroenterology to Vice Chancellor of the MUHS.
He has devoted his entire life to KEM. In fact dedication and devotion are synonymous with RDB as he is popularly known. Such is his love for KEM and teaching that even today he still teaches both UG and PG students regularly, in spite of his busy schedule.
Ward 5 KEM has been an integral part of Dr Bapat’s life. Hence it is no wonder that he chose to write Ward 5 KEM, immortalizing an unpretentious ward on the first floor of KEM hospital. The Marathi edition has created a record by publishing 10 reprints in 2 years. English edition of the Ward 5 KEM was released on 23rd August, 2008.
The speakers on the occasion:
Dr Chetan Kantharia critically analyzed the book, and spoke of historical perspective of persona of Dr R D Bapat Sir in the book.
Dr Prakash Kothari stressed it is because of Dr R D Bapat he could clear his MBBS and touched upon the need of Sex Education as an important aspect to tackle HIV and Family Planning.
Dr Mukund Joshi, Dr Bapat’s associate and first friend in Mumbai for 52 years, reaccounted episodes of the association through Ruia College, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital.
Dr Manu Kothari, is his imminent style regaled the audience from medical philosophy, how this book fills the void of 4 ‘V’- Voltaire, Vivekanand, Vinobabhave and Volley ball missing in life of today’s medical students and doctors.
Madam Supriya Sule, Hon Member of Rajya Sabha, spoke fondly about Ravi Kaka and association with her father Mr. Sharad Pawar.
Dr Praful Desai touched upon in his presidential speech the change from clinical medicine to technological medicine and repented the loss of human touch to medicine and stressed the need of introspection in Medical Ethics.