Dr. V. Parmeshvara 77th Birthday149-152 FINAL

FELICITATION FUNCTION IN HONOUR OF DR. V. PARAMESHVARA
Sri H. N. Suresh:
May I now request Dr. V. Parameshvara to please reply to the felicitation.
Reply to Citation by Dr. V. Parameshvara:
Esteemed Justice Sri Venkatachaliah, the Worthy Guests of Honour,
Members of the Felicitation Committee and Friends,
I am deeply touched by the honour and affection showered on me.
When my younger colleagues Dr. Shekhar, Dr. Srinivas Gowda, Dr.
Om Prakash, Dr. Ramesh and Dr Acharya approached me a few
weeks ago with the idea of arranging this function, I neither expected
nor dreamt that it would turn out to be a celebration of this
magnitude. Their words that it would be an emotional moment for
m e
h a r d l y
r a n g
a n y
b e l l .
I have been proved wrong. Today is the most emotionally charged
day in my life.
Dr. V. Parameshvara replying to the
felicitation
The response from those who know me well who form the felicitation committee was spontaneous. Their number is vast. This is
no ordinary committee. There are luminaries from the judiciary,
the cream of the professional cadre and personalities from different
sections of society. What
an honour that these
eminent persona-lities in
the committee are led by
Justice Venkatachaliah,
d o y e n
o f
Dr. V. Parameshvara replies to the felicitation
the judiciary and pride of
Karnataka! I am singularly honoured and beholden to all of them.
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FELICITATION FUNCTION IN HONOUR OF DR. V. PARAMESHVARA
Dr. Shekhar, Dr. Om Prakash and Dr. Srinivasa Gowda have extolled my
merit and virtues which is more in tune with their personal regard and
affection.
Likewise, Dr. Ramesh and Dr. Acharya have been
more than generous in their praise and appreciation. Mrs. Vimala
Rangachar has lent her sisterly support. My brother V. Narahari is to me
like Lakshman to Sri Ram. H. N. Suresh who is compering this programme
a great motivator, C. N. Ashok Kumar a real strength and Sri S. N.
Chandrashekhar a good support.
Adding lustre and dimension to this very special day for me, are my dear
very friends Prof. Bajaj and Prof. Lele, my extended family of Justice Rama
Jois, Justice Malimath and Justice K. A. Swami.
I hold
in great esteem Mr. Ramanuja, Prof. Venkatsubbaiah and Sri Mathoor
Krishnamurthi.
The overwhelming response, the number and contents of the articles
subscribed by my friends, peers and associates to the commemorative
volume are amazing and incredible. Many a statement made therein has
come as a surprise as I was unaware of them. Incidentally the volume is a
mirror to my life and in short has unfolded as my biography.
I owe my educational success to two caring women who themselves were
not literate.
One was my aunt Seethamma who brought me
up and the other my sister Varalaxmi. The catalyst was I.P.S. Nagappayya
from Shimoga. It was the patronage of Veerakesari Sitarama Sastry and
affection and interest of his wife Subbamma which was the touchstone of
successfully launching me into a career in medicine.
The legacy from my father was indoctrination in me the Vedas and Sanskrit
Sahithya. My immensely capable and intelligent mother constantly
hammered in me the dictum that one should never be
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FELICITATION FUNCTION IN HONOUR OF DR. V. PARAMESHVARA
dependent on others in life (Paradhina). My wife Nalini, quickly adapted to
my life and my of thinking. She is a pillar of strength. Though a highly
qualified gynaecologist she chose to remain in the background as my muse.
I am blessed by nature and society to be a man of medicine. The
word ‘doctor’ is derived from ‘dossier’ which means teacher. It is
great to be a doctor and communicator. Society has given me name, fame
and comfortable living. You have extrolled my virtues and absolved me of
deficiencies in the spirit of Hamsaksheera Nyaya..
Z [h kmZoZ gX¥e_²
‘Na hi Jnanena Sadrusham’
Nothing on earth is comparable to knowledge. Knowledge is power. The
medical profession is knowledge-based. Technological advances and
interventional procedures have taken away the human face of medicine. To
quote Denton A. Cooley—“Let us hope that physicians of the future will
maintain their position not just as students of science but also as disciples
of learning and wisdom”.
Amamo½`§ na_§ cm^_²
‘Arogyam Paramam Labham’—The Buddha
Of all the gains, the gain of health is the highest and the best. Health
is to be treated as the most precious commodity. The GDP of a
nation and a family has to be redefined and substituted by GNW— Gross
National Wellbeing, the emphasis being on the health and happiness of the
citizens.
I believe that there is always a vacancy at the top in every profession.
I am still working to reach that level. In that process and in the
journey of my professional life, I am constantly reminded of the words in
the preface to the first edition of Harrison’s Principles of Internal
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FELICITATION FUNCTION IN HONOUR OF DR. V. PARAMESHVARA
Medicine —“No greater opportunity, responsibility or obligation is given
to an individual than that of serving as a physician. In treating the suffering,
there is need for technical skill, scientific knowledge and human
understanding. The person who uses these with courage, with humility and
with wisdom will provide a unique service and will build an enduring edifice
of character. The physician should ask of destiny no more than this and be
content with no less.”
Sri H. N. Suresh:
Thank you very much Doctor. Now, it is my pleasure to invite Prof.
V. Narahari to the dais to receive bouquet from the Chief Guest.
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