Gastroenterology Desk

12/10/2025

Down the memory track

Why I Stopped Wearing Leather.

It began with a simple school lesson when I was in tenth grade at Govt. Higher Secondary school Sopore Kashmir —

There was a chapter in our English

THE BOOK OF NATURE
collection of letters written by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter, Indira Gandhi, during his years in prison.

Uncle . Mr Rafi Ahmad Masoodi beautifully explained this lesson .

Teaching his daughter from Jail Pt J.L Nehru beautifully described how even a humble pebble could tell a story — a story of endurance, transformation, and time.

He wrote of how flowing water slowly shapes a hard rock into a smooth pebble, each curve marking the patient work of nature across ages.

That imagery never left me.
It taught me to look at the world differently — to see stories hidden within ordinary things.

One morning, as I was putting on my leather shoes for hospital , the light fell on them in such a way that they seemed to speak.

I suddenly realised that they too had a story — not of fashion or craftsmanship, but of pain.
I imagined the young calf that once breathed and ran freely, its life ended for the sake of human comfort.

Its hide was tanned, polished, and turned into something we would call beautiful.
That realisation filled me with sorrow.

That day, I made a quiet decision.

I could not stop the cruelty that exists in the world, but I could refuse to take part in it.

I chose to stop wearing leather — shoes, jackets, belts, or any item that came from an animal’s suffering.
It was a small personal act, but one that brought immense peace to my heart.

So, when I slip into my non-leather shoes today, I do so with gratitude — gratitude to those who taught me empathy

The story of a pebble taught me to listen, and the story of a pair of shoes taught me to care.

04/10/2025

Contributed by Dr Arif Magrabi MBBS . MD Senior consultant Psychiatrist Author can be mailed at arifmaghribi@yahoo.com Many will think why talk of alcohol ? Well firstly both cigarette smoking and alcohol are included in drug abuse according to International classification of Diseases[I.C.D] WHO has...

20/09/2025

“Hatred is the fertile soil from which all evils on earth take root and grow. Bring love into life—it melts even iron bars.”

07/09/2025

Down the memory track

I asked one of my patients “What do you do for a living, Mr. Michel?”( name changed )

He smiled, a calm serenity in his eyes. “I’m retired now, and I’m enjoying my life.”

Curious, I leaned forward.

“What keeps you busy these days?”

“I go fishing,” he said simply.

“And how many fish do you usually catch?”
I asked, imagining a basket full of golden fish.

“Two, maybe three… sometimes four,” he replied with a gentle laugh.

I chuckled. “Then I suppose you enjoy fish and chips later?”

He shook his head, eyes twinkling.
“No, doc. I kiss the fish and let them go back into the water.”

I paused, struck by the quiet wisdom in his words.
It made me think: we often chase more—more work, more money, more success—forgetting to pause and appreciate life’s simple gifts.
Long live Mr Michel. What a great lesson you taught !
Yes, dear Reader : Life is simply a travel on a train . When stop comes we get down and mix with the dust .

01/09/2025

Dear friends : Your complete guide to common but concerning signs of bleeding
Finding blood where it doesn’t belong—whether in urine, stools, phlegm, nose, or during periods—can be frightening.
Sometimes the cause is simple and harmless. Other times, it may be an early warning sign of something more serious.
September issue of The Health Guide focuses on it
Welcome to join the family of The Health Guide and have the magazine directly in your inboxDear friends : Your complete guide to common but concerning signs of bleeding
Finding blood where it doesn’t belong—whether in urine, stools, phlegm, nose, or during periods—can be frightening.
Sometimes the cause is simple and harmless. Other times, it may be an early warning sign of something more serious.
September issue of The Health Guide focuses on it
Welcome to join the family of The Health Guide and have the magazine directly in your inbox

The Global Burden of Heart Attacks Top Preventive Strategies to Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack 1. Control High Blood PressureWhy it matters: High blood pressure damages arteries and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.How to prevent: 2. Lower Your Cholesterol LevelsWhy it matters: Excess...

31/08/2025

Blood Matters: When to Worry, When to Act

Your complete guide to common but concerning signs of bleeding

Finding blood where it doesn’t belong—whether in urine, stools, phlegm, nose, or during periods—can be frightening.
Sometimes the cause is simple and harmless. Other times, it may be an early warning sign of something more serious.
September issue of The Health Guide focuses on it
Welcome to join the family of The Health Guide and have the magazine directly in your inbox

21/08/2025

"Cherish every breath you take — life is so unpredictable. Grateful for today, hopeful for tomorrow."

12/08/2025

Why It Matters – The Global Impact of Stroke Top Strategies for Stroke Prevention 1. Control High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) 2. Manage Diabetes 3. Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels 4. Stop Smoking 5. Limit or BETTER avoid Alcohol Intake 6. Maintain a Healthy Weight 7. Stay Physically Active 8...

08/08/2025

Dear Friends The day you stop impressing others is the day you start living.

31/07/2025

Meet the Professor:

Prof. G.Q. Allaqaband. Teacher of teachers

Down the memory track , decades back Entering the Govt. Medical College Srinagar  main gate behind the wheel of his aqua coloured Fiat car, Prof. G.Q. Allaqband was a familiar sight at GMC Srinagar.  He would step out dressed in his signature small-check half-sleeve shirt, a crisp white coat invar...

30/06/2025

Dear Friends

Down the memory track

Mrs. Leena (name changed), the Endoscopy Manager, adjusted her glasses and stepped into Endoscopy Room 2 at the County Hospital, where I was performing procedures.

“Doc, you're cooking on gas—we’ll have dinner on time. Well done,” she said with a smile.

I paused, slightly puzzled.

“Yes, we started cooking on gas back in the early '90s at home,” I replied.
“One of my dearest friends Mr Azad Wani was instrumental in making that happen.” He was those days working with HPCL

She laughed. “Doc, I don’t mean when you got gas at home. I meant the list is progressing nicely—we’re running on time. We’ll get to have dinner at 1 PM.”

“Dinner at 1 PM?” I asked, now both amused and confused.

Apparently, what we refer to as lunch, some still call dinner.

Had I said the same thing decades ago during an English exam, I might not have passed.

But that’s life—full of little linguistic twists and turns that keep it interesting

22/06/2025

Dear Friends
A healthy diet feeds your good gut bacteria and starves the harmful ones — strengthening your immunity, reducing inflammation, and helping prevent disease.
Eat less . Exercise more and be happy
We come with zero and leave with zero