NEXT PATIENT, PLEASE: STORIES FROM THE TRENCHES OF MEDICINE Paperback – 10 March 2022

Dr. Brijeshwar Singh’s days and nights alternate between theatres; the first, of the medical kind where he carries out his complicated orthopaedic surgeries, the other, where he has nurtured his appetite for the arts to bring to Bareilly, his hometown, an indigenous theatre scene where he is the founder as well as its prime patron.Next Patient Please is his second book, with an empathetic collection of essays that reflect the ethos of this sensitive surgeon who has managed to combine his love for medicine with his passion for people. It has a vast and interesting array of characters, his own patients who are more than just flesh and bones to him, men and women who he hasn’t just treated but on many an occasion forged lifelong bonds with.The stories of these patients are varied and unique as life itself and at the end of every tale there is a bright little nugget or revelation tucked away that enriches your own understanding of human behaviour. This happens because Dr. Singh’s genuine interest in their lives and concern for their wellbeing allows them and their relatives to open up and share secrets which they would otherwise not dream to part with.What it leaves you with is the important bittersweet stuff that is not so apparent from the outside. That the doctor is as much on trial as the subjects he treats, no matter what his level of skill or experience. That being sensitive to the human condition is at times even more important than just treating the physical ailment. That your success cannot merely be measured by the operations you have aced but also by the empathy and compassion that patients perceive in your persona.At a little over 200 pages, it’s a book that you can finish in one sitting. But the stories will stay with you much after you have put it down.

The book: "Next Patient, Please" is beautifully penned down by the orthopedic-trauma surgeon, Dr. Brijeshwar Singh who is also a theatre activist, playwright, philanthropist and a humanist who has splendidly put forward the message in his book: "to be content with what thou hast recieved, and forehead, for the door of choice is not open either to thee or me."This pile of 38 real-life narratives unfolds that, how short life is! and how frail is human trust! which was evidently depicted in the story- 'Gunjan.'I had myself witnessed one of the incidents of the book (in 2019) when I went to watch the play: "Bade Bhai Saheb" at the Windermere Theatre, where the audience actually couldn't tell of how unwell the li'l lad Abhay was. It was only revealed to us spectators by Dr. Singh about his illness. The whole team got a standing ovation for their team spirit and great improvisation skills!It is truly a bliss to go through such an appreciable work of literature. 'It is not just a collection of stories, but also a series of larger-than-life tales' as rightly said by~ Waseem Barelvi."We cannot all be great but we can always attach ourselves to something that is great." And for us Bareillians, Dr. Brijeshwar Singh has always proved to be a man worthy of high praise and regard, which would inspire us all to get attached to him in someway or the other!Doc has wonderfully portrayed in his stories that, 'kindness is never wasted, even if it has no effect on the recipient! It'll come back to you anyway.'I can only thank Dr. Brijeshwar for keeping humanity and mankind as the centrepoint of his life, which in turn benefits a thousands who look upon him with eyes full of hope! He is indeed a blessing from the heavenly power, as he is for mankind and he can't help it!

This book is written by a Doctor who recalls the situations of his patients under extraordinary circumstances and how they dealt with it. The stories which are all instances are short and to the point, very clearly written in easy to understand language and he has used medical terms but only where he found it important. Its not so many medical jargons used so as to turn off the reader while reading the book.The stories do inspire positivity and confidence in ones life, it makes you wonder about how lucky each one of us are and not to crib on small things in life. This book will open up your mind as to how many people are out there who are less privileged than each one of us and it is a first hand account of a surgeon who recalls his ordeal in dealing with such patients in his day to day life.The stories could have been a bit longer, some are too short and might look incomplete, but the vision of the author I believe is to show us the other side of the grass which we always think of it as greener than us.Do read it, will change your outlook towards life and one will feel more grateful towards it.

When I first started reading this book, I was apprehensive. What kind of stories a doctor can tell? Stories of suffering, pain, and grief because he saw patients dying, crying in pain, cursing their luck and destiny or deads. But I was wrong.I started reading the book with little hope of finishing it. Story after story, I started seeing something changing inside me. These were the stories of human courage and hope. Hope - that one day they will get better. Courage - to continue or go through the most painful and mentally exhausting treatments.These were the stories of the brave souls that will give you the strength and courage you need to understand life from a bigger perspective. Pain is not always about crying and giving up; there is hope and a ray of new sunshine hidden somewhere in it, which you have to find it.Each story holds a special place in my heart, and I would like to read them again and again whenever I need to look at life with a fresh pair of eyes. I find courage through these beautiful and heart-touching stories, and I am sure that will give you and other millions of souls - the strength to face life's adversities with a big smile and never give up attitude.