But you didn’t have to be a VVIP rushed to the hospital in an ambulance led by police cars with flashing lights and wailing sirens to be Dr. Goyal’s patient. You could be as simple and ordinary as R. K. Laxman’s Common Man in one of the hospital’s free beds. Dr. Goyal would put the same amount of soul into treating you because everybody’s heart beats and bleeds alike, and he knew it’s the compassion he brings to the operating table that made the difference between life and death for a patient.
Dr. Goyal was a tall and familiar figure in Bombay Hospital’s corridors, distinguished by his suit and trademark bow-tie, a spring in his step, and a large and cheerful grin on his humorous face. Even though he might be bone-weary and dog-tired because his work can keep him busy till midnight. And then just after he returned home and climbed between the sheets, the phone would ring with an emergency. He would answer it himself. with the calm and reassuring voice of a doctor who gave hope and promise. Sometimes that is all a patient needs to come back from the edge of death.
He was my friend for years. And he always looked the same irrespective of his age, which could not wither him. We would meet at Breach Candy Club or Willingdon Sports Club over dinner. Our conversations were unusual. I once asked him whether it was true that once a person’s time on Earth was up, he had to depart and no doctor could rescue him.
Dr. Goyal said doctors are not in charge of anybody’s life and cannot determine if someone’s time is up. He said, “We should give it our all and not give up.”
He was a simple and humble man. Unmoved by his fame and celebrity, the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan he was honored. I could not be more comfortable with him if I tried. I took all my aches and pains to him. He was the country’s greatest cardiologist treating me for nagging coughs and persistent colds, a frozen shoulder, and debilitating backache. That was his greatness, he gave of himself, his time, and advice freely. And he greeted me with a warm hug each time. A ‘Jadoo Ki Jhappi’ like Sanjay Dutt’s in the ‘Munnabhai’ films that transform lives and comfort tortured souls.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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