Dr Shirin Venkatramani, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist and senior lecturer at a medical college, recently came up with a book — Jeevansar Kathamrut. A keen seeker with strong spirituality, Dr Venkatramani practises meditation and is passionate about trekking. This book, with the help of stories from the epics and cultural scriptures gives out subtle messages which are eternally relevant, along with poignant personal experiences. Through this book, Dr Venkatramani attempts to show the way out of the avoidable psychological suffering that we experience.

This is her second book. Her first book is titled Holistic Motherhood which is a guide for the pregnant girl for total physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. 

Her books are infused with spiritual learnings to aid pregnant women and youth in general.
 Here’s more from the doctor...

Tell us about Jeevansar Kathamrut?
The human predicament is such that at some time, at some place, during some event, one is forced to introspect about the meaning of life and its experiences.

With the help of stories from the epics which are eternally relevant, and my personal experiences, I wish to show the way out of avoidable psychological suffering that we all experience. The book is a simple and quick read — but makes you pause and introspect.

What made you write the book, what triggered it and how did you go about it?
I often tell stories from the epics at home and being in a challenging profession, try to inculcate the tenets into practical life. Tanvi, my daughter-in-law requested me to write them down so that it would be a ready reference book. It felt so good coming from a daughter-in-law that I felt thoroughly inspired.

Tell us about your spiritual journey. What got you into spirituality?
My mother to whom I have dedicated this book was a Sanskrit scholar and spiritual seeker. She took me with her to all the sages right from the age of 10. At the age of 21 years, Swami Muktanand initiated me and I experienced that most definitely there is another dimension to existence than the apparently physical. My spiritual biodata is worth reading — I could even write another book! Meditation became a routine.

You are also into trekking. From being a doctor to practising meditation, to writing and trekking — how do you manage all of it?
At the age of 24 when I was a resident doctor, I contracted a near fatal disease. It took six weeks to recover during which time I read many books and my favourite author is Paul Brunton. His book Hermit in the Himalayas inspired the love and awe of the sacred mountain range. It also gave birth to the idea of walking along the river Ganga as she is revered as a mother. I decided I would create a wave of awareness about safe motherhood by walking the 2,400 km along her bank. I think a lot of doctors are into trekking. I have trekked to all the famous shrines in the Himalayas. The experience at Kailash Manas is still alive within me when I had to pass through a tunnel of boulders with ice as its floor — the gateway to death!

You have also initiated he SuPraBha (Surakshith Prasuti Bharat). Tell us more about it.
At the time when I thought of it, I could not have done it, I also wanted to marry, have children and so on. So, I decided it would have to be before I reached the age of 55 and so it was. We did it in 2006 under the aegis of FOGSI (Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India). The IMA and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghathan were our partners. We did 83 health camps in villages, 17celebrity events in cities and completed it in 108 days walking 20-25 km per day.  We walked into schools and talked at every village square. We had many adventures and joys.

Your first book — Holistic Motherhood — was a guide for pregnant women. Is this one targetted at someone?
This book will find appeal to young and old for it offers a comb to release our psychological knots before we turn bald! It is an attempt to explain high philosophical truths in story form so as to be simple and easy reading.