The Week India – July 21, 2019

14 THE WEEK • JULY 21, 2019

PLUS

Amar Bhaskar

“After my recovery, I bounced back to

normal life feeling stronger than ever. My

speech was unaffected, and I was in high

spirits, celebrating my victory,”

The Journey from Corporate

Boardrooms to Hospital Beds.

And Back.

Away from the crowds, in the tall grass that grows to

the far left of Lalbagh, two men are setting up their

tripods and cameras. Amar Bhaskar and his friend

Murali Santhanam, both senior executives with a

global tech giant, have come here to pursue a

common passion – photography. For Amar, his hobby

holds particular significance: it’s what got him through

one of the most trying times in his life.

“In 2006, I noticed a persistent ulcer on my tongue.

A routine visit to the doctor changed my life overnight:

I was diagnosed with malignant tongue carcinoma.”

“I had no vices. That’s when I realized that cancer is

the great equaliser. However, the one thing that I had

learnt from leading a unit of 2,500 people at work was

that such setbacks are a part of life, and that one

must tackle them and move on with conviction.”

But through it all, he continued to work, sometimes

from home, and pursue his passion for cricket,

carpentry, yoga, and photography.

“After my recovery, I bounced back to normal life

feeling stronger than ever. My speech was unaffected,

and I was in high spirits, celebrating my victory,” Amar

remembers.

He summarises his initial reaction as ABCDEF:

Anxious about what was going to happen

Broken and let down

Confused about what to do

Depressed and lonely

Emotional response

Fearful and blaming fate