Dr. Nabat Lakhani, who firmly relocated to Hyderabad from Kolkata, gets candid with The Pioneer for our weekly segment of Hyderabond, sharing her association with the city, recalling the times of migration, and more.
SHIKHA DUGGAL
Let’s avoid discussing any hidden implications, but during our interview with Dr. Nabat Lakhani for our weekly Hyderabond feature, we discovered that she formerly relocated to Hyderabad from Kolkata with her parents to live in total comfort. Awaiting her was her new residence! A positive subliminal shift in her life that she hadn’t anticipated at such a young age.
“My association with Hyderabad is deeply personal and profound,” she tells us during our conversation. “Since class 8 when I arrived here, this energetic city has become my home away from home, if not more.” The city extended a warm welcome to her, providing her with a multitude of cultural experiences, chances, and warmth. Her favourite thing about Hyderabad is its distinct fusion of modernity and history!
“I got jitters going from my new school, which I was very nervous about because I studied in an all-girls convent in Kolkata, to a coed here. However, at that point, our principal at Niraj, Dr. Jyothi Reddy, was actually a blessing in disguise for me. She gave me unrivalled love and inspiration,” shared the obstetrician and gynecologist at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Secunderabad. God brought her another angel, Dr. Bhavani, a gynecologist and the wife of Dr. Gurava Reddy when she completed her undergraduate studies. Dr. Bhavani completely altered her idea of what she wanted to do for a living and taught her more than just medicine; to her, she was like a second mother.
The practitioner says, “There were several other wonderful people I met in my journey here in Hyderabad, including Dr. Pratibha Narayan, Shrimati Chitra Narayan (my Bharatnatyam guru), who were instrumental in my life, and some who always support me, Dr. Manjula Anagani and Dr. Chinmayee Ratha.” Even at the youthful age of 14, she had no intention of leaving her beloved Kolkata, but apparently, Hyderabad and its inhabitants disproved her.
“On the rainbow, Kolkata and Hyderabad are two distinct colours for her. Hyderabad begins its day when Kolkata is nearly half gone (she laughed out loud). This was a noticeable contrast for me when I first arrived. I have learned and can function fairly well, but I miss my Bengali language, and I have never been fond of Telugu. But I don’t think I could have returned home without the independence that Hyderabad gave me as a girl. Thus, certainly, there is salt and sugar in both towns,” says the renowned doctor from the city.
The city has consistently provided her with chances to develop, serve, and forge connections with not only the families she cares for but also with colleagues in the hospital, both junior and senior. She has forged some truly lovely relationships that she will always treasure. Actually, she also said, “With pride, Hyderabad can boast of possessing top-notch, cutting-edge health infrastructure, as well as the know-how to effectively utilise it for the benefit of its citizens’ health and that of those who travel both domestically and abroad to use it.”
According to our interviewee, women in Calcutta historically found it challenging to exercise their freedom, even among the most independent of them. However, she recalls that since moving to Hyderabad, she has driven around the entire city by herself without experiencing any problems with safety. That was the best Hyderabad could give her. This isn’t possible in Calcutta because it makes women feel uneasy.
Additionally, “Hyderabad has such a rich heritage that relatives would like to visit each one and perhaps bring back memories with a dash of paradise and Karachi bakery. To be honest, Hyderabad is more than just a city to me—it’s a sensation, a sense of community that has improved my life in ways I never would have thought possible. It has improved my overall well-being by teaching me the value of flexibility, resiliency, and accepting new experiences. I sincerely appreciate being able to live in Hyderabad.”
