Bohemian Rhapsody.
I knew somewhere deep down in my mind that all is not well.I have never really been a conspiracy theorist, but for the preceding two years, my intuition was telling me to be prepared. Although I was doing the best Neurosurgery of my life, had clipped more than two dozen aneurysms, presented one of the largest series of transthoracic approaches to the thoracolumbar spine, fixed half a dozen Atlanto-axial dislocation by a very newly described technique, dissected tumors right from the belly of the spinal cord with the patient walking away on the 15th day. Was truly doing full justice to the opportunity the Lord had presented me with. There were at least 500 odd surgeries, that I had performed anonymously. I would have never recognised the patient I had operated.
Perks of being a Professor. My students would prepare and drape the patient. All I had to do was see the MRI films and just go and deliver. Purple patch, comfort zone, enjoying the fruit of starting the department back in 2003, getting the MCh. program sanctioned in 2006, and then gradually elevating the department to becoming a premier institution for neurosurgical training. I qualified and cleared all the exams to register for a PhD.My PhD was on using the fMRI to locate the center for consciousness in the human brain. I am currently working on my PhD and will defend my PhD in July 2025.
I was invited as an examiner for the MCH examination in centers across India. In the interim period,I had published about 20 papers relating to Neurosurgery.
The 'Speaking Tree' column had featured more than 120 articles of mine.
I was also appointed as honorary faculty in the first of it's kind School of Consciousness Studies- MIT University, Pune.
Life was complete with academic and extra-academic developments. My personal life, was also blessed by teaming me up with the right partner.
There was however that Bohemian element in my personality that was...... well congenital. This trait really made me dread with the mundane, stereotyped life.
Life, in my opinion is a pulsating, vibrant, adventure, where no two days could ever be the same. Life to me was all about living with a capital 'L', not just being alive with a small 'a'. I had picked up playing the saxophone and was good enough to give public performances. I was jogging about 5 kms daily. Was part of an orchestra group. Did weekend bike off roading on my Ducati. Strummed the guitar, had my youtube channel. Did annual Himalayan Treks. Perhaps had the restless legs syndrome, travel bug, drivers hands. Had driven right across France, Andora, Luxembourg, Antwerp, Germany in 2021, then again drove the Northern Lights Arctic route (2500 kms) to witness the Northern Lights in 2022, would swim and kayak with my Rottweiler on weekends in the dam adjacent to my farmhouse. All this was perhaps a bit too much for subordinates, and some colleagues. Having too much of a good time for those perenially depraved, discontented collegues turning into darker and darker shades of green.
There was an air of insubordination and rebellion within my department, lots of wrinkles on the foreheads of the management. My life was perhaps a far cry from the archetypical 'Professor'. I rode a Ducati to work, never had that solemn, grim look in my demeanor. The Bohemian curse that tagged me right through my medical career was knocking on the door again.
And then there was this very subtle nudge given by the management about the timings of my arrival and departure, which actually had no bearing on the quality and class of Neurosurgery I was doing.
The rumblings of some machinations were getting obvious. And then one fine day, I was given a tough ultimatum. Almost an euphemistic pink slip. My Deputy's relentless frivolous complaints to usurp my position, the growing resentment to my 'Live Life' philosophy all culminated in a rather abrupt resignation from my position. No farewells, sendoffs nothing. A taste of the grim reality that lies outside the comfort zone. Underneath the shining veneers of a glamorous institution lies the ugly face of sycophancy, discrimination and coterie culture.
Akin to the backstabbing of Lee Iacoca who had to exit Ford Motors despite his extraordinary capabilities, which subsequently resurrected Chrysler Motors and brought it to the forefront of the US auto industry.
I calmly stepped down, and got busy with executing my West coast to East Coast trans American road trip. It was indeed the trip of a lifetime, driving an SUV across California, Mojave, Vegas, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Tennesse, Carolina, Washington to end in New York.
One more ticked off the bucket list.
Now was back to the grind of setting up my own center for Spine Surgery. There's something glorious about being on your own. No sycophancy, no anxiety, no politics, no being pushed around to settle another's agenda. Of course its really hard work. I had to operate a case at a hospital in the suburb, but had no instruments.
I made a dash to Mumbai, bought all the requisite instruments, and performed the surgery on a young kid with a tumor the same day. Life was throwing a challenge and I had to take the bull by the horns.
The next couple of months went by in finalizing the agreements and arrangements for starting my own venture
'Spinexpertz'. I designed the logo, negotiated with the management of a boutique hospital nearby regarding the financials and got down to meeting the local doctors.
I simultaneously was working on being an influencer, and designing a 12 module workshop designed as a users manual for the Brain. It was called
'Mastering the Master'
Days were busy as I had to get my landing page designed, register my own OPC
(One person company) create separate pages for social media.
The Bohemian ways that were a curse as a full timer were now more a benediction.
Reminded me of that incredible philosophy of Henry Zacchary, that my father had gifted to me when I was in medical school.
I used to refer to it as the
'Bohemian Pledge.'
"I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon if I can. I seek opportunity – not security. I will refuse to be a kept citizen, to be humbled and dulled by having my state and nation look after me. I want to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed - never to be numbered among those weak and timid souls who have known neither victory nor defeat. I know that happiness can come only from the inside through hard constructive work and sincere positive thinking. I know that the so called pleasures of the moment should not be confused with a state of happiness. I know that I can get a measure of inner satisfaction from any job if I intelligently plan and courageously execute it. I know that, if I put forth every iota of strength that I possess – physical, mental, spiritual – towards the accomplishment of a worth while task, ere I fall exhausted by the wayside, the Unseen Hand will reach out and pull me through. Yes, I want to live dangerously, plan my procedures on the basis of calculated risk, to resolve the problems of everyday living into a measure of inner peace. I know if I know to do all this, I will know how to live and, If I know how to live, I will know how to die.”
These words still give me goosebumps.
I was working at my own pace. My center was soon up, with its own signage.
I was meeting local doctors and also attending my clinics everyday.
And then, one day, I was referred a patient with a very unusual Atlantoaxial dislocation. This was a real test.
It was a case that ideally required an insitutional backup. Needed a microscope, microdrills, and many microinstrumenrs that are very expensive.
I had already hunted and located a microscope manufacturer in Delhi. Discussed with him about the specifications I needed and he had delivered the microscope to my center.
I needed a very sophisticated micro drill with angular handpiece, diamond burrs. Luckily it was being locally manufactured by a firm with whom I had a long asoociation. I pushed hard to get one delivered at the earliest. The startup involved expenses in a couple of million rupees. But almost everything got delivered in time. My self respect was certainly much more important and could never be held ransom for just a few million rupees worth of equipment. I knew my value was worth far more than what the management could ever fathom.
The moment of reckoning had arrived. My setup was fully geared up for performing this highly delicate, complex spine surgery.
The patient was a young 25'year old girl with atlanto axial dislocation.
The surgery was scheduled and after explaining all the risks involved, I proceeded to operate on her two days ago.
Thanks to my father's blessings, my wife's undying support, and the benediction of all the patients I had operated upon, the 4 hour surgery went off like a dream.
I always listen to music whilst operating and quite ironically, as I was finishing the surgery, the sound system in the operating room was playing the immortal Queen's -
"Bohemian Rhapsody' perhaps the song of my Life. Transported me to that idyllic Lake Monteaux, in Switzerland, where stands a statue of Freddie Mercury.
Here's raising a toast to the best phase of my Life and Career. Everything that happens in life is for evolving to the next level. Some souls are autonomous, Bohemian, non-conformist, mavericks....... born free. Their souls, services and spirits can never be bought.
May their tribe increase.
Dr Deepak Ranade.
