For most patients, doctors are defined by white coats, hospital corridors and operation theatres. But beyond medicine, many doctors in Lucknow pursue passions in literature, dance, sports and social service — interests they say help them cope with stress, maintain balance and become more compassionate caregivers.PROF BK OJHA: HEALING DOESN’T END AT DISCHARGEFor KGMU chief medical superintendent and HoD neurosurgery Prof BK Ojha, patient care extends beyond treatment. A significant part of his work involves reuniting destitute patients with their families.“Many of these patients are unable to communicate. Our team works with police, NGOs and the media to trace their identities using photographs, local outreach and online searches,” he said.Sometimes, even a single clue — such as the name of a village or locality — helps locate relatives through sustained follow-up. When families cannot be traced or refuse to take patients back, rehabilitation is arranged through shelter homes.“We treat every destitute patient as someone separated from their family. Reuniting them is the biggest reward,” he said.PROF DARSHAN BAJAJ: RHYTHM, RESILIENCE AND RECOVERYRespiratory physician Prof Darshan Bajaj has built a parallel identity as a bodybuilder and dancer. A regular at KGMU’s cultural events, he has spent over three decades pursuing fitness while creating dance videos and social media content.He turned to dance and digital content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic to cope with long clinical hours and isolation. “Dance helps me de-stress and stay mentally positive after long hours,” he said.Fitness, he believes, helps him meet the physical demands of medicine, while dance allows him to express himself and connect with people beyond the hospital.“My journey blends the artistry of dance, the strength of fitness and the compassion of healing,” he added.DR ABHISHEK CHAUHAN: WHERE PRECISION MEETS PASSIONAt RMLIMS, interventional radiologist Dr Abhishek Chauhan performs minimally invasive procedures where precision is critical. Outside work, he is a national badminton champion among doctors and has also won a 40-plus category title in the city.He says the sport sharpens reflexes, improves concentration and provides a mental break. “The game keeps you focused, and that is vital in our profession. I want both doctors and the public to adopt at least one sport,” he said.He adds that attention to fitness, family and mental well-being helps doctors serve patients better.PROF AMIYA AGRAWAL: WRITING BETWEEN EMERGENCIESTrauma surgeon and KGMU Trauma Centre Medical Superintendent Prof Amiya Agrawal has balanced science with literature since his school days. Growing up in Sitapur, he attended poetry gatherings with his parents and was mentored by noted Hindi litterateurs, including the late Arun Trivedi and Pooja Trivedi.He has written over 50 poems and is the author of the KGMU Kulgeet. His work spans contemporary issues, spirituality, Veer Ras ( valour), influences and themes of national consciousness. Some devotional compositions have been featured on govt media platforms. “Medicine heals the body, but literature nurtures the mind and soul,” he said.PROF RISHI SETHI: HEALING HEARTS, EXPLORING MINDSFor KGMU Head of Cardiology Prof Rishi Sethi, medicine and literature share a common goal — understanding people. Alongside his work as an interventional cardiologist and innovator, he has emerged as a fiction writer.His novel, which has sold over 5,000 copies, explores faith, identity and self-discovery while examining the emotional and psychological dimensions of human life.Inspired by poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ahmed Faraz, and writers including Rabindranath Tagore and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Sethi says storytelling helps him connect with people beyond clinical practice. “Medicine teaches us to heal the body, while stories help us understand the mind,” he said.
