by Noel Nadesan (Author)  Format: Kindle Edition

DBS Jeyaraj

A veterinary physician is generally defined as a practitioner of veterinary medicine who provides treatment and care to animals, birds and reptiles suffering from diseases or injuries. A veterinary medical practitioner, referred to as Vet in short form, is called a veterinarian and a veterinary surgeon in American and British English usages (respectively). The word veterinary is derived from the Latin word veterinae, meaning ‘working animals’.

The veterinary profession is something about which very little is known to the general reader. Very few veterinarians have written about their professional experiences. One name that comes to mind in this context is, of course, that of the English Veterinary surgeon and writer James Alfred Wight, who wrote many semi-autobiographical books under the pen name James Herriot. I am not aware of any Sri Lankan vet who has written books about his or her experiences (I’m, of course, subject to correction).

Against this backdrop, it is indeed a delightful task to write a foreword to a book consisting of anecdotal essays based on first-hand experiences of a veterinary medical practitioner who has served as a vet in the

country of his birth (Sri Lanka) as well as India and Australia. The pleasure felt is further enhanced when the writer is also a long-standing friend.

Dr Noel S. Nadesan, the author of this book, and I have been friends for more than two decades. We befriended each other when he began publishing the journal Uthayam in Australia. Several of my articles written for Colombo newspapers were regularly included in his journal. Many were also translated from English to Tamil. We recognised a commonality of interests and beliefs that led to a firm friendship over the years. We are in regular touch over telephone, e-mail and Facebook. Nadesan has also visited Toronto several times in the past, where he has many relatives. This has helped us meet in person and interact.

Nadesan, as I usually address him, possesses a deep and abiding passion and a natural flair for writing. He is a Vet by profession and a writer by vocation. Nadesan has penned several books, novels, short stories, commentaries and creative essays. Some of his writings in Tamil, his mother tongue, have also been translated into English. This book, too, was originally written only in Tamil.

As mentioned earlier, Nadesan is a veterinary physician who has worked in Sri Lanka, India and Australia. The nature and duties of his profession have provided Nadesan with a treasure trove of interesting experiences in all these countries. He has been able to observe and understand, at an “up-close and personal” level, the various degrees of affection and relationships between human beings and animals and other creatures. This insight, combined with an aptitude for correlated thinking and an ability to write creatively effortlessly, enables Nadesan to reminisce about these experiences in an engaging way. An underlying thread in these accounts is the bond between human beings and the non-human beings in their lives.

This book, amounting to an assortment of veterinary vignettes, comprises anecdotal recollections in episodic form. It ought to be emphasised that they were originally written in Tamil and have been translated into English by a friend, N. Ganeshalingam. They were first written as a series of creative essays for the “Uthayam” journal published

in Melbourne. Subsequently, some of these writings were published in Tamil as books. Recently, the published and unpublished essays were compiled into one single book titled as “Vaazhum Suvadugal” and published in Chennai, India. Thirty-seven of the fifty-three episodes in the Tamil collection have since been translated into English.

Nadesan provides a variety of anecdotes in the book, in an eminently readable form. As a young, newly appointed veterinarian in the North Central province of Sri Lanka, Nadesan had a baptism by fire when he was required to do a post-mortem on a dead elephant. The animal had been killed by poachers over a month ago and was in a state of acute decay. The Police, however, needed a post-mortem report to charge the suspected poachers in a Court of law. After an elephantine effort, Nadesan located the lethal bullet that helped the police put the poachers behind bars.

There are other episodes too that are illuminating, illustrative, informative and above all, interesting. There is the goat used as a substitute for a lawn-mower by its stingy owner, a pitiable plight of an amorous peacock kept in a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga, a Caesarean operation performed on a Hereford cow, different reactions in different incidents of dogs accidentally swallowing Migraine capsules, Marijuana pellets and a condom! One episode is about incest where a dog breeds with his mother and the “sister/daughter”. There is also the touching tale of a woman who gave up smoking because it affected the health of her beloved pet dog. Many stories relate to the experiences of a Vet with pets. Some, however, are of a personal nature too, like those relating to the feline “Queen” and canine “Sandy”. There is also an unenviable encounter with the crab.

Nadesan narrates his experiences humorously with a humane touch. They easily capture readers’ attention and interest. It is hoped that this book is received well by readers and will be followed by more such writings.

I wish Nadesan well and all success with his book!