Ek Doctor Ki Maut : A 1990 National Award Winning film for best Feature Film, Best Direction and Best Actor.
A movie that is a stark reminder of the indifferent and an apathetic attitude in the country towards unsolicited and voluntary medical research by our grassroot medical practitioners.
Allopathy is still an area which is considered to be either an exclusive bastion of the West, or of big pharma companies and hospitals. Hence, any own account unsponsored research and experimentation by thousands of grassroot doctors in the country is seen with suspicion. The more ground breaking and path breaking the result and area is, the more its authenticity and validity is questioned.
The movie’s name ‘Ek Doctor ki Maut’, is itself very suggestive and revolves around this pertinent issue. It mainly involves two characters, Dr Deepankar Rai played by Pankaj Kapoor and his wife played by Shabana Azmi, the two acting power house of Indian cinema.
Like a seasoned actor, Pankaj Kapoor convincingly plays the part of a resource less, and helpless government hospital doctor, who is madly in obsession with his research in leprosy treatment.
His flawless pronunciation and explanation of complicated medical terms with extraordinary ease…
… breaking down when he is branded as a joker and his research is declared as ‘Plain hoax’ and ‘Fraud’ by incompetent enquiry committees and medical professionals…
…. getting lost somewhere between his love for solving complex scientific problems on one hand and the harassment, oppression faced at the hands of jealous medical fraternity, on the other
makes one realize the frustrations, tribulations and the consequent health implications that such scientists face when their years of sacrifices in conducting ardent research are questioned. So much so that, the protagonist is himself forced to call his research as fake.
The movie also highlights how much the cumbersome administrative procedures and infightings straps the scientists of any time needed to prepare research papers to document their research. In the absence of these papers, not only their entire research becomes questionable, but also at the same time similar research is claimed with pride and glory in some other part of the world.
Shabana Azmi on her part does her role well of a childless and yet a loving and dedicated wife who has full faith and confidence in the potential of her husband.
Her ever ready willingness to sacrifice every happiness of her life, right from…
having a child to a house …
or even some decent standard of living as the entire salary is spent on establishing a small medical research lab at home…
to running around and travelling long distances seeking support for her husband…
so that he gets the honour and regard he deserves, makes us wonder do such wives exist anymore in today’s times.
The movie is sadly and unfortunately inspired from the life story of Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay, who pioneered IVF research in India and was responsible for the birth of India’s first, and world’s second IVF child, Kanupriya Aggarwal, alias Durga in October 1978, when Dr. Mukhopadhyay was only 47 years old.
Dr. Subhash was himself childless and worked relentlessly on this medical problem. With the voluntary support of another child less couple, he was able to get Kanupriya delivered. This was only 67 days after Dr. Robert Edwards successfully delivered world’s first IVF baby in July 1978 in Britain. Dr. Robert Edwards then went on to win the coveted Nobel Prize.
On the other hand, Dr. Mukhopadhyay was harassed in India by his own jealous medical fraternity, an indifferent bureaucracy and the generally superstitious public on ethical and moral grounds for ‘interfering with nature’ and ‘challenging God’s will’. To the extent that, Dr. Mukhopadhyay finally ended his own life in 1981 out of frustration,
… Leaving behind a suicide note that read:
“I CAN’T WAIT EVERY DAY FOR A HEART ATTACK TO KILL ME”.
… leaving behind his wife all alone, who has spent the rest of her life in anonymity, abandoned by the society at large and now bedridden with paralysis. For what fault of hers?? … For standing by her husband and believing in his potential till the last minute and not ditching him for a better life with someone else??..
What is even more ironic is that, today the broad IVF procedure that is followed the world over is the one that was developed by Dr. Mukhopadhyay and not the one developed by Dr Robert Edwards. Dr. Mukhopadhyay’s procedure was later on found to be more safe with a higher success rate.
The movie progresses slowly, but that is needed to arouse emotions and a feeling of connectedness with the characters. Although its end is not shown to be as tragic as the actual story, yet please do find time to watch the movie …
… in the honour of a doctor who pioneered IVF research in India, that went on to help millions of childless couples to have children ..
… in the honour of a doctor who did not get the due honour and recognition that he deserved..
…. in the honour of a doctor who celebrated and created life, and yet was tragically forced to end his own life …
