ANN/THE KATHMANDU POST – Dr Nawaraj KC is not just a man of science – he is also a man of the written words. A paediatrician by profession, he has dedicated years of his life to the medical field, all the while holding a special place in his heart for literature.
It is his passion for his work and love for words, that led to the publication of his first novel, Shunya Ko Mulya, a book about the struggles of motherhood and the importance of maternal health.
In this interview with the Post’s Manushree Mahat, KC discusses his lifelong passion for literature and the need for medical literature that reflects Nepal’s healthcare landscape.
When did your reading journey begin, and how has it taken shape over the years?
Reading has been a significant part of my life ever since I was young. My father was a teacher, so I would often find magazines and novels lying around the house.
The school library also held a special place in my heart, where I fondly remember spending my early days immersed in Mahabharata and Ramayana comics.
As I grew older, I started reading the works of Bhairav Aryal and Shankar Lamichhane. My love for literature eventually led me to a career in writing.
During my school days, I often penned poems and stories, earning recognition and prizes for some of my work.
My love for books continued to grow even as I moved from Surkhet to Kathmandu for my +2 education.
I became a regular visitor to The British Council Library, where I spent my mornings and evenings surrounded by books.
I became so familiar with the library that I could almost recite the location of every book.
However, my pursuit of a medical degree led to a decline in my reading habits.
Medical textbooks dominated my life during that time. Nevertheless, I never let go of literature entirely. When I began working as a doctor, I rekindled my love for reading, although my reading preferences shifted.
These days, I find myself drawn to non-fiction and scientific research-based books that offer insights into societal change.
However, I haven’t entirely abandoned fiction, of course. I still enjoy books by Amar Neupane and Buddhisagar. Recently, I’ve also started reading all of Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s works.
You have talked about the importance of scientific books in influencing social change. Can you share your experience in translating science and humanism into your book?
I began writing my novel when I was so touched by the people I encountered that I felt like I couldn’t contain my emotions any longer. As a new doctor, my focus was initially solely on the child’s condition, going through all the procedures I had to as a paediatrician – all that my medical degree had taught me.
However, I soon began to notice the mothers who had travelled for days to seek medical help for their children. Recognising that mothers are the foundation of our society,
I realised that we can’t achieve genuine peace and prosperity unless we do everything possible to support maternal health.
Writing my book was a lengthy process involving extensive data collection. While collecting quantitative data was challenging, adding an emotional dimension to my characters to authentically portray their struggles proved to be the real difficulty.
Do you think the healthcare system is adequately represented in literature?
No, I don’t believe it is yet. Most books that medical professionals read are centred around research in communities outside of Nepal.
There are very few research-based books focusing on the healthcare situations within Nepal, which can alienate our youth.
I also think patients bring life to hospitals. They bring painful yet real stories and experiences. As doctors, we witness these hardships up close. It’s essential to bring the struggles of our local people into the spotlight.
As healthcare workers, we have the power to shed light on these human stories and drive social and policy change.
Medical literature is evolving, and I hope it continues to expand in the years to come.
Based on our discussion, it’s clear that empathy is crucial in the field of medicine. How do you view the role of our education system in nurturing these essential qualities in future doctors, and how can literature contribute to this?
One of the most important things in medicine is the principle of studying the patient’s medical history.
Empathy is closely connected to improved diagnostic skills because being a good listener enables a more precise understanding of the patient’s problems.
However, our education system has room for improvement in this regard. We should train our doctors to understand the language and experiences of local people.
Personally, I felt that my medical education was incomplete until I began to observe and connect with the stories of the people in Surkhet. To enhance our medical programmes, we need to integrate humanism into the sciences.
Until we achieve this, literature remains one of the most effective means to share the stories of our local communities.
