A DOCTOR’S HEART FOR ART
Striking a fine balance between passion and profession
Though we generally tend to visualize doctors in their roles as healthcare experts, it is at times surprising and perhaps soothing to find someone from the medical profession who is so passionately involved in the field of arts. Badulla General Hospital Consultant Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Ruchira Nadeera is one such amazing arts lover who is passionate about painting, photography and lyric writing. After all everything in life is an art. On the other hand, Ruchira is no stranger to the world of arts and music. He is married to award-winning songstress Uresha Ravihari.
I wrote my first song ‘Kandulak Nodutuwa Dasin Obage’ for Harshana Dissanayake
WHEN DID THE ARTISTE WITHIN RUCHIRA NADEERA BEGIN TO SURFACE?
I was drawn towards drawing and painting from my early childhood when I initially studied at Weluvana College in Colombo 9 and later at Ananda College, Colombo since I got through my scholarship exam. But my artistic flair sharpened at the Jethawanaramaya Daham Pasala where I took part in several art and poetry competitions winning top prizes. I was the head prefect there and took part in cricket and soccer too while at school. I did bio science for my ALS and later at the Medical Faculty I was able to engage in various arts related activities that I was so passionate about. Though my leisure time was a bit constrained since my appointment as a doctor, I always found time to listen to music, watch movies and dramas. I did a bit of photography at this time but was not professionally updated then.
LIFE AFTER MARRYING URESHA?
Honestly my passion for the arts was recharged and in fact intensified after meeting Uresha. I had to accompany her to various places where I met several popular arts world personalities of whom I had been an ardent fan in the good old days. Getting to know them in real life was indeed a privilege. Later we became good friends.
YOU OPENED A NEW CHAPTER AS A LYRICIST?
I wrote my first song ‘Kandulak Nodutuwa Dasin Obage’ for Harshana Dissanayake and it was set to tune by Darshana Wickramatunga. It’s about a father. I started getting good feedback for the song since it was uploaded on youtube. Then the second one was for Uresha. Suresh Maliyadda did the music and melody for this song titled ‘Paata Thiyala Aadare Mage Jeewithe’. In fact I liked to write a song for a melody when Suresh had sent this for Uresha. I wrote the words, but Suresh knew about the lyricist only on the day of the recording. My third song ‘Sanda Nathi Rae Tharu Pinimal Ahasa Pura’ was also sung by Uresha to the tunes of Tisara Bandara who created a beautiful slow melody. I have written more songs that will probably surface in the future.
YOUR PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY?
Well, that interest was aroused due to my profession I believe. I chose forensic medicine since I was fascinated by it. It’s a different sphere in the medical profession that many don’t venture. As a medical professional specializing in forensic medicine, we are required to cater to the health ministry and the legal authorities. Our expert opinion on many issues becomes a decisive factor in court cases. In fact it is we who bridge the medical and legal domains. Therefore we have to do our own illustrations and retain even minute details of incidents related to sudden deaths, murders, accidents, sexual or domestic violence. We visit crime scenes for on the spot inspections. Here we have to be very precise because the cases related to the incidents might be taken up in courts after several years. My ability to draw was a plus point but I thought photography would also be vital. I followed a one year diploma course on photography at the Kelaniya University and emerged the second place winning a silver medal too. My appetite for artistic photography started growing within me after this. I now conduct lectures on photography for my juniors too.
YOUR PROFESSION INVOLVES A WIDE AREA THAT MANY ARE NOT AWARE OF?
Many assume that our job is to only conduct post-mortems. It is just one part. The job responsibilities are so extensive. Even if I am transferred to any part of the country I have to take along with me files of cases that I handled. Giving evidence in the form of expert opinion in court cases is another major responsibility, and this one aspect I personally like most about my job. Getting into this profession comes with sheer dedication, commitment and passion. We might be deprived of private practice or other benefits, but the job satisfaction that we derive is priceless. Documentation is the key factor in our job.
CAN YOU RECALL SOME LANDMARK INCIDENTS THAT YOU HANDLED ESPECIALLY AS THE CONSULTANT JUDICIAL MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE BADULLA HOSPITAL?
There are quite a few landmark cases that I instantly remember. I handled the post mortem of the Saindamarudu suicide bomb victim during the Easter Sunday attack and also assisted in the Batticaloa post mortems during that period. But the most recent, was the Passara bus tragedy that killed 14 people a few days ago. I came home from Badulla on Friday night since we had planned a family trip on Saturday morning. We were almost ready to leave home when I was alerted that a bus had plunged down a precipice in Passara and a few were feared dead. I immediately cancelled the trip and drove up to Passara, coordinating with my team doctors, the law enforcement officers and others on my way. It was a grueling process because it was a weekend and we generally worked half strength on weekends. Besides this factor, the Passara hospital where the 13 bodies of victims lay was a small hospital with limited facilities. I had to see that the bodies were moved to Badulla for the post mortems. But PCR tests had to be carried out prior to that. By the time I reached there around 1 pm, almost everything was in place as I managed them while on my way and after the PCR tests were negative by 6 pm, I and my team of doctors worked with dedication to release all the bodies after post mortems by 1.30 am the following day.
I am grateful to my team of doctors Dr. Amila Wijesinghe, Dr. Dhanuka Fernando, Dr. Nayomi Pushphamali and Dr. Nilan Suranga from the Diyatalawa Base Hospital who rendered their fullest support in this mission. Some of my doctors who were not rostered that day volunteered and joined me giving us the strength to fulfil this mission.
I am also indebted to the invaluable support given by the Director of Provincial General Hospital, Badulla in addition to the local politicians of the area.