Name: V.Q.E: The Tale of an Indian Physician in the United Kingdom of the 1980’s
Author: Vivek Gumaste
Publisher: Notion Press
Blurb: Was Great Britain of the 1980’s a welcoming place for a young man hailing from its former colony? How did the National Health Service exploit the vulnerable physicians from a newly independent and struggling India to fulfill its needs? What were the flaming hoops that a foreign physician had to jump through to further his professional career in the UK en route to a final destination in the United States? Read about all this in a gripping, event filled narrative- VQE- an acronym for the dreaded Visa Qualifying Exam, a grueling 2-day test that all foreign physicians had to pass to practice medicine in the United States.
This dazzlingly original book does not subscribe to any set genre. It is a unique chronicle that weaves the current events of those times with the memoir of a young foreign physician in an alien land to produce a piece of work that is informative, touching at times and entertaining in parts. It captures the despair, the hopes, trepidations and travails of this young man from a financially indigent India of the 1980’s as he charts his way through the land of his colonial masters and the innumerable challenges of this tumultuous period of his life: professional setbacks in the form of exam failures, joblessness as he moves from one part of Britain to another changing cities sometimes every two weeks in search of work; a cataplexic agoraphobia as he tries to come to terms with British racism on the streets. Meanwhile in the background a host of remarkable events are being played out- Lady Diana’s wedding, inter-racial riots and the British-Argentina war over the Falkland Islands.
The author graduated from a prestigious medical school in India and has practiced medicine in 3 countries-India, UK and US. He holds numerous postgraduate qualifications- he is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCP-I), a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and has a degree in Health Care management from Harvard University
This book will be an interesting and compelling read for everyone in general and physicians in particular.
My review
V.Q.E, written by Dr. Vivek Gumaste is a memoir describing his struggle to secure a medical career at the US. The young, 26-year old physician from India decides to practice medicine at the US. But, it is not easy to get into the US as a physician because the applicant has to go through a rigorous, difficult Visa Qualifying Exam (V.Q.E).
For attending V.Q.E, he has to go to England and he thinks that it is a safe harbor for getting a temporary job and meeting his needs. So he goes to England and stayed there for over two years to clear this exam and based on his experiences during this period, he has written this memoir. One can easily relate to his ambitious nature and his struggles to overcome them midst of self-doubt and insecurity.
As soon as he lands at the UK, his struggle for accommodation, job, climate, and culture begins. For someone with a patriotic heart, the life in the UK, the country which gave you some unforgettable past with their invasion is not that easy to live with.
One thing I want to emphasize more is the racial discrimination he has been faced. The political atmosphere in Britain promotes this injustice and immigrants from Asia or Africa were subjected to racism at an extreme level. Leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Enoch Powell also used these immigrants as a tool for their political benefits. Further to this, his job at crime-dominated places like Hackney made his life even more miserable as he lived in constant fear.
Another highlight of this memoir is his narration of UK history over that period. He recollects the rise of Margaret Thatcher, Royal wedding of Princess Diana and how people welcomed that incident, the Falkland War etc. Also, he has attempted to educate the reader, the complexity of medical terms in a simple, understandable way. Because of that uniqueness, this book is a great read and time-worthy one.
This straight from the heart recollection which includes a message that whatever happens in life, be confident and patient and Victory will come eventually.
Overall it is raw, intense tale with a powerful narration which will lighten up your day with its positivity.
This is the first book in 2019, which I will give 5 stars because it worths more than that.
Rating; 5/5
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