Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Writing is a passion for man of many talents

T.V. Sivanandan

P.S. Shankar

GULBARGA: Writing is a passion for 70-year-old P.S. Shankar. Besides being recognised as one of the best teachers of medicine in the country, he has written 102 books, in English and Kannada, on medicine and common health problems.

A book based on his travels has a foreword by Jnanpith Award winner Shivarama Karanth.

Dr. Shankar became an author in 1952 with his first book in Kannada on a non-medical subject, "Sharanara Anubhavada Vicharagalu." Amid his busy schedule as Medical Director of Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College and Basaveshwara Teaching and General Hospital here and visiting professor at the prestigious College of Physicians and Surgeons in Mumbai, Dr. Shankar finds time to write.

Dr. Shankar is the recipient of the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award for being an eminent teacher of medicine, Gifted Teacher award from the Association of Physicians of India, Honorary Doctorate of Science from Gulbarga University, Silver Jubilee Research Award from the Medical Council of India, Soviet Land Nehru Award, Rockefeller Scholar in residence, Commonwealth Medical Fellowship, Rajyotsava Award and Best Chest Physician Award from the National Chest Institute, among others. He was the Editor of the Medicine Encyclopaedia in Kannada, "Vaidya Vishvakosha," published by Kannada University at Hampi.

His "New Medical Dictionary" published by IBH Oxford is considered one of the best medical dictionaries available in the market.

The same publisher brought out his "Manual of Clinical Methods," the fourth edition of which has been released now.

Even before AIDS reared its head in India, Dr. Shankar wrote a book on AIDS and how it can be prevented from spreading, in Kannada. His works have also been published in Telugu.

Dr. Shankar's "Recent Advances in Medicine" has been published in three editions, and along with the "Manual of Clinical Methods," is a textbook for students of medicine. So also are many of his other books such as "Principles and Management of Tuberculosis," "Teaching Technology," "Pulmonary Tuberculosis" and "Congenital Heart Disease."

Dr. Shankar is a multifaceted personality and was president of the Indian Chest Society, National College of Chest Physicians and Indian Association of Clinical Pharmacology.

At present he is vice-president of the Geriatrics Society of India. He is also a fellow of the National Academy of

Medical Sciences and is on the International Advisory Board of Examinations.

Recognising his contribution to the fields of medicine and teaching, the Union Government has nominated him to the Governing Body of the National Board of Examinations.

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