My dad, Dr. Homi Dastur, is 80 today ... and you'd never know it if you met him. He's a neurosurgeon and still operates at Jaslok Hospital, where he has been since 1974, and will until he is 83. One of the pioneering neurosurgeons in India, he set up the neurosurgery department at the KEM hospital way back in 1957. I was telling Stuart about him the other day, who placed a bet that he must be among the oldest practicing neurosurgeons in the world ... I wonder if this is true!

Growing up, I will always remember, every year we were visited by a fisherwoman, her son and husband, and we were so excited because she brought us the best catch of the season year after year. This family showed their appreciation in their own way .. as Dad had performed a free operation on their young son who had a bad tumour.
One case he will always remember is of a girl who was 21 in 1974, and had a malignant brain tumour - although dad operated on her, he didn't feel she would live long. Year after year her parents would come back for checkups with her and ask Dad if they could get her married ... although he never said no outright, his view was that she may have just a few months to live, every time. She's alive and well after 32 years, and comes to meet him every year. While he has never understood how she has survived - it is a miracle - his greatest regret is that he may have prevented her from living a normal life.

I found this link on the web - here's what a colleague says about him ... "I was also privileged to see such teachers as Drs RN Cooper, AV Baliga, SJ Mehta, RG Ginde, Homi Dastur and PK Sen examine candidates. Most of these giants possessed competence, vast experience, a deep understanding of the art and science of medicine and, at least as important, unchallengeable honesty. I have seen Dr Homi Dastur walk out of the examination hall for a brief spell after explaining to his fellow examiner that the candidate facing them was his student. He desired the other examiner to conduct his assessment without any hindrance or interference."

When I asked him what drives him today, why he still operates when he could just relax and enjoy his life - he says simply that patients still come to him for advice and he cannot let them down. Also, there is that element of trepidation and anxiety in neurosurgery, which was never in him when he was doing general surgery - which for him is a challenge - and keeps him going! His advice to any young surgeon is "never let frustration overcome you".

Even outside his profession, Dad is a very special person - he is soft-spoken, kind to a fault, is a bit of a loner - he enjoys his own company and his family. He's not outgoing, not an extrovert, although always polite, and in his special subtle manner so gentle and warm - often getting bullied by the four women (my mum, two sisters and me) in his life! A complete rationalist is my father - a claimed agnostic, verging on atheism - thank heavens for that, as we were brought up to believe in ourselves rather than follow meaningless rituals, against my poor Mum's protests.

Dad has exceedingly refined taste in music, the arts, literature - almost a purist - no Pink Floyd for him!! And yet he is the simplest man I've known - he has very few material needs - any food does, any clothes do, no fancy holidays - he even wears his father's old pants till date, and not out of any sentiment. He refuses a PC, a mobile phone and a driver, and drives himself to the hospital and back every day and can be really stubborn about many things.

My sister tells me of this really funny incident, where Dad and Mum were dropping her off to the airport when she was off to college, and she suddenly had a huge fit of laughter in the car ... Dad had no clue what was going on .. until she pointed out to him he was driving on the wrong side of the road! That's my Dad :)

We're proud of you Dad .... and thinking of you today. Special hugs! To Mum too .. who has stood by him for over 40 years.

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