an interview....

[Albert Joseph <A.Joseph@jandp.com.sa>]

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	Hi friends,
	Here is an interview with DR.RAJ KUMAR, MD IN NEURO-PSYCHIATRY;
NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED FOR HIS POETIC EXCELLENCE, which appeared in India.com
of today's!  It was thoughtful and meaningful.  I wish to share with the
list for those, who have not seen it!
	Regards,
	AJ
	Excerpts of an interview with MANISHA PARIKH SRIVASTAVA conducted
through a series of meetings at Dr Kumar's residence in Lucknow and Mumbai.
	Q: FROM PENNING PRESCRIPTIONS TO POETRY WHAT REALLY INSPIRED YOU?
	A: I have never sat with a pen and paper in hand to write a poem or
prescription. When I see a patient there is no table between us, we sit face
to face on the same bench or on chairs opposite each other. There is nothing
in between. I prescribe minimum medicines or none at all.
	Poetic verses simply occur to me. It is not my personal mood but
situations and people's reactions that evoke my poetic responses. Both
psychiatry and poetry have their origin in pain. Yet my poetry will not
depress anybody. I am narrating the truth, the trueness as experienced by
the people, the way it is. I draw from the wisdom of the knowledge of the
Vedas and years of intense readings and my interactions with different
people.
	You can safely call me a street learner who loves to interact with
people and yet remain a very private person.
	I was also brought up in the traditional environment of art and
culture, though in a family of advocates I chose to differ and entered the
field of medicine. In Badaun and Bareilly, I was fortunate to be in the
company of literary luminaries like Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Fariq Gorakhpuri
and Mahadevi Verma.
	Amongst the living poets, I have the highest regard for Kafi Sahab;
he is a very genuine person.
	Q: TO WHAT EXTENT HAS OUR PAST, CULTURE AND TEXTS INSPIRED YOU? 
	A: Our scriptures have recorded evidence of the intelligence that
prevailed centuries ago. This is not only for poetry; it is equally true of
medicine. When Arjun, the mighty warrior stands in the battlefield before
the great Mahabharat battle begins, he does not want to fight, he represents
the classic case of deep depression. And whatever happened between Lord
Krishna and Arjun at the point of time is the earliest record of
psychotherapy. If that was not psychotherapy what is?
	Our medical science was very much developed but then we have always
been blind to our own potentials in our scramble for everything west.  The
seeds of what we moderns call emotional disturbance can be seen in the
"Charaka Samahita" written 600 years back where relation of the moon with
the lunatic is mentioned. Revolutionary concepts like 'Mana' in the Brain
and Mind as unknown visitor to brain' was in these ancient texts in some
form or the other. The potential of medicine systems as explained in the
'Charaka' and the 'Susruta' is yet to be realised.
	Q: You have been in practise for over a decade. WHAT ARE BROAD THE
PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE APPROACH YOU WITH? Have you observed any trends in
these problems?
	A: The level of stress has increased; the factors leading to stress
have multiplied but not changed over the decade. I have over this decade
treated patients of all ages and one of the primary reasons I have observed
for people's pain is the indifference of the present day Indians to
traditional values and obsession with materialism. Mindless
commercialisation is the reason behind most of the psychological disorders
in India.
	Material needs dominate the psyche and this demand loses so easily
to emotional satisfaction. We have cracked up institutions like joint family
and marriage because of our blatant and foolish following of the West
without appreciating and looking for meaning in what they have to offer. We
have emulated the easiest habits from the West. When will we learn to keep
our home (referring to the streets in Mumbai) clean?
	Q: HAS EMOTIONAL BONDING IN THE PEOPLE DECLINED?
	A: Emotional bonding is so healthy, unfortunately it is on a
downhill and people focus only on their material aspirations. It is painful
to observe the quality of human life, its hypocrisy and the superficial
relationships that prevail today. People are always stressed. Stress can be
healthy, if short-lived. Envy is healthy but not jealousy. Envy prompts one
to perform better or reach higher targets but jealousy will provoke negative
emotions.
	Q: SOME OF YOUR EARLIER POEMS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN ENGLISH, WHY DID
YOU SHIFT TO HINDI?
	A: My thoughts and verses are composed in English. I even dreamt in
English. Some of my earlier works are translations from English.  Writing in
the Devnagri script is an uphill task for me.
	I tell you very honestly I know neither English nor Hindi. I am an
illiterate.
	Q: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE A BOOK ON INDIRA GANDHI?
	A: I had the opportunity to meet and interact with her on several
occasions, each meeting I saw a new aspect of her personality. As a
psychiatrist it was fascinating studying her character, her personality, her
decisions and why she was the way she was!
	Q: Your book "The Unknown Indira" throws light on many lesser-known
aspects of the former Prime Minister's personality but also reflects your
admiration for her. 
	A: The book presents a multi-dimensional analysis of her character
and behaviour as a person, a mother and a leader. It does reflect my
admiration for her as a leader with a strong character with an ability to
unite masses. But it is not admiration alone; I have discussed her negative
qualities and its impact on her decision making as a leader, which affected
India's destiny.
	Q: In your opinion what were her negative qualities? 
	A: Have you read the book, Manisha? (Yes). Okay, I will quote from
the book. "Because she was such a versatile person, she insisted on doing
things her way; - in toto. This sometimes resulted in wrong decisions, which
she was very reluctant to rescind, even after she had realised her
mistake...". Her decisions to impose Emergency reflected this.
	Q: DO YOU OBSERVE ANY OF PERSONALITY TRAITS OF INDIRA GANDHI IN ANY
OF OUR CURRENT LEADERS OR POLITICIANS?
	A: Where do we have leaders or committed politicians? There is no
leader in the country behind whom the people can stand, where is the
ideology? The courts acquit politicians who should be behind bars.
	Some of Indira Gandhi's personality traits can be identified in
Sushma Swaraj. She possesses a few streaks in the political arena that could
be identified with Indira Gandhi. 
	Q: ANY PLANS TO WRITE A BOOK ON SONIA GANDHI?
	A: I would be happy to meet Sonia Gandhi as an individual. But there
is no question of ever writing a book on Sonia Gandhi.
	Q: YOU HAVE ALSO TRIED YOUR HAND AT ACTING AND SKETCHING?
	A: Yes, acting very briefly. I have performed in my son, Sharad
Raj's debut film, "Ek Thi Maria". It was a pleasure because I was working
for my son and he was the one directing me. I also enjoy sketching, it is
the manifestation of thoughts, and you can sketch as you think.
	Q: By not publishing your verses are you not restricting your reach?
	Do you plan to publish any more books? 
	A: Maybe. But all this is just beyond me. Things will happen if they
have to happen. You will see three more compilations of my Hindi verses
"Kathakavya," "Adwaeta," and "Aekant" out soon.
	EXTRACTS FROM THE BOOK 'THE UNKNOWN INDIRA' BY DR. RAJ KUMAR



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