The book written by Dr. Nikita Naredi "Am I just a baby vending machine?" spoke to me on a personal level. After a long wait I finally received the book in Stockholm. This book holds special value in my heart as I had worked in the ART ( Assisted Reproductive Technology) center as an Infertility Counselor for two years under the guidance of Col. Dr Nikita Naredi in the Command Hospital Pune. ART centre is run by Indian Army and provides three IVF cycles free of cost to the Army personnel. This book took me on a journey of the subfertile couples ( couples who are taking treatment to have a child) which I had seen closely and had empathised with the joys and pains of these couples.
This book also brought realisation about the plight of my own mother when she was denied the privilege of "haldi kumkum" during baby shower functions because she had given birth to five girls, why she left attending social functions and chose to focus on the upbringing of her daughters, why she cried vehemently when her first male grandchild was born as she felt relieved that my girls don't have to go through that social stigma of not giving a "ghar ka chirag".
This book also brought back my memories about Dr Nikita. I have seen her working from early morning till 5-6 in the evening in full union of head and heart in IVF center which is always occupied with patients eagerly waiting for check ups, IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination), IVF ( In Vitro Fertilization), injections, embryo transplant, ultrasound ,etc. The humongous pressure all doctors in the centre used to handle with smiles was commendable. I used to get amazed many times when I would join the doctors during tea or lunch breaks. Dr. Nikita would know everything about her staff, would enquire if everyone had eaten today, she would point out that this this jawan looked not so well so what went wrong? She would talk with me with utmost respect even being my HOD and lend all the help she could. She would give all the credit to the almighty for the successful outcome of the patients. Along with this hectic schedule she had also published some 30-35 research papers. I have also accompanied her on food distribution drive and meditation sessions on weekends and met her Guru Mohanji twice. I always wondered from where she got so much energy? How come she was so grounded? How come she was so passionate while doing everything? She has been a constant source of inspiration for me and I am sure for many others.
This book hits us to the core while it takes us on the journey of the subfirtile couple's roller coaster ride and Dr. Nikita's as well. Dr Nikita has described many cases in the book in reference to various challenges these couples face. The language of the book is very easy to understand with beautiful graphics. Readers also come to know the personality of Dr. Nikita, her value system, her belief system, her holistic knowledge and reading, her introspection, patience, faith in her Guru, her positivity. I again got many points to praise her in front of my relatives ( which I never cease to do) and to feel proud that I worked with such an inspiring individual.
The book shows us the real picture of our society, the plight of the subfertile couples, the status of women in our society especially in the rural areas as most of her patients come from rural India. The questions Dr. Nikita asks us as a society are thought provoking. Is womanhood equal to motherhood? Is that the only identity that women carry? Is the body of a women useless if she can't reproduce? Is the woman always responsible for not giving a child? Why can't a woman have social status just because she failed to give a male child? Why female child is still not accepted and doesn't get her share of respect in the society? Will our society change and give the women their due respect?
This book can be a very good guide for the medical professionals revealing how they can keep a balance between professionalism and humanism, how to work with the head and the heart in union.
This book can be a guide to the subfirtile couples while taking treatment and going through that hard journey of IUI and IVF and understand why and how to keep their anxiety in check.This book can be used by psychologists, counselors and social workers to increase their understanding of the society, what women experience and plan their sessions accordingly. This book can be read by all the women who create hell for the same gender. This book can be read by the feminist who carry a desire to bring change in our society. This book can be and should be read by the patriarchal society and understand the long lasting effects of this system.
My thank you to Dr. Nikita for writing this book where she does not hold back her introspection, her reflection about the social structure in our country, with utmost honesty describes the dilemma that a doctor goes through. Thank you for all the case studies which truly represents our society and it's complicated dynamics. I highly recommend this book which will broaden our understanding about our own society. It will not only give technical information about the treatment of infertility but also entertain, make us cry, wonder, get amazed, peep into our own life experiences, make us introspect and most importantly we (civilians) also feel proud of Indian Army that it is doing so much for the betterment of the Army personnel.
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