A lucky niece
Many years ago, Dr C. G. Saraiya was treating the wife of Manna Dey, the famous singer. When the doctor read my name on the pin-on apron, he asked, "Are you related to the legendary Dr Motashaw?" I told him I was her niece. My daughter resides in California and when she was pregnant I had taken her to a doctor there. While we were waiting in a hall I began to read the international certificates displayed there and chanced upon my aunt’s familiar signature among the six on the document. I was really happy to read this certificate so far away from Bombay. Also, when another doctor had gone to Germany to attend an international conference he was introduced as coming "from the land of Dr Motashaw."
My aunt deserves such recognition. She has slogged all her life and maintains that she is wedded to gynecology and oncology with little time for any other activity. If she was taken to see a movie there would be a slide with her name, asking her to rush to the hospital (this was in the days before mobile phones). Invariably, she would always leave a movie halfway. I would joke, "The baby will be out by the time you give someone an appointment," to which she would respond, "No, it’s not so bad." I recall her telling me, "The day your engagement and wedding dates are fixed please write no appointments on that day of the diary." I did just that so that she would be able to attend.
Many years ago after her consultations were over we were about to leave her rooms (I assisted her sometimes) a sweeper from K. E. M. Hospital came and requested her to treat his wife. I suggested that she could see them at the K. E. M. to which she replied, "Perhaps it is urgent. If we spend so many hours with the rich and famous, we must spare a few minutes for the poor as well. He may not be able to afford another doctor." She had the rooms reopened, examined the patient and handed over medicines from the physicians’ samples.
She would operate as many patients at the K. E. M. Hospital as was humanly possible, having her lunch in the car before being driven from one hospital to another.
When I was about to deliver I suddenly developed an acute pain in the side. The houseman said he would call my aunt. I requested him not to do so as it was past midnight and she was exhausted but I guess he did, for she walked in, examined me and told my father to accompany her home so that they could both drive back together when required. When I was actually in labor she was operating at Jaslok Hospital. She finished the surgery and drove down in her operating gown so as not to waste any time.
When my daughter delivered recently, my aunt had just been operated on but she came to see them in a wheel-chair. I am both lucky and proud to be her niece.
ARMIN DUTIA MOTASHAW
Ahmedabad
armindutiamotashaw@gmail.com