The Indian Journal of Medical Ethics first came out as a small newsletter, Medical Ethics, in 1993. It has now been 27 years since that modest beginning, and Satish Kulkarni, who came on board almost from the start, was an inseparable part of the journey. Dr Sunil Pandya, the Founder Editor, recalls how the initial effort was purely voluntary, with no funds from any source. Naturally, it was essential to find someone to design the journal and prepare it for electronic printing without any charge.

The first issue, all of 12 pages, emerged in August 1993, with the support of Dr Rajeshwar Singh, who generously helped with page-setting and a file ready for printing. Soon after, Satish was introduced to Dr Pandya, SKP for short, by Dr Alok Sharma, a neurosurgeon, as a person who wished to help.

On the appointed day, Satish Kulkarni reached SKP’s home in the King Edward Memorial Hospital campus. As has been the happy experience of innumerable others, it was enduring friendship at first sight. Satish suggested that SKP obtain Dr Singh’s permission to shift the journal production process to his office in Wadala. It was minutes away from the hospital and he would happily send his car to bring SKP to and from his office. He had professional expertise in page-making and, of course, there would be no charges whatsoever for his services.

Thus it came about that from November 1994, Satish became an inseparable part of the journal ─ a steadfast supporter, friend and page maker of the print issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics (the current title). As with SKP, he created indissoluble bonds with Sandhya Srinivasan and, later myself.

Satish’s involvement with the journal and its team went way beyond the simply professional. He has been an enthusiastic and emotional participant in the creation of each issue. Recently, it was decided to do the page-making in-house, and while this made him a little sad, he willingly took on the task of training one of us in the technical aspects. The quintessential “people person”, he talked with courtesy and delight to everyone who passed through his office doors, shared his pride in his family and friends – of which his business partners and office staff were an extension – and rushed to help anyone among his wide circle of friends in need.

He was proud of being an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay and was involved in setting up a fund for the families of his former teachers subsisting on the meagre pensions of those days.

Satish loved to share jokes and his favourite TED talks. He would read the articles we took to him for page-making while working on them and discuss them, often making constructive suggestions to improve them. He was an active Rotarian and a competitive bridge player who competed regularly online, during the lockdown.

His affection, cheer, warmth and care engendered in all those close to him the emotion that prompted singer Joni Mitchell to write (See: https://thinkmindful.com/the-joy-of-someones-company-joni-mitchell/) these words:

Actually, I’ve loved quite a few people, and by that I mean I really feel happy in their company. That’s pretty much it – the joy of someone’s company. That’s what I call love.

He seemed indestructible and all of us were happy in the prospect of always having him fill our lives with joy and mind our backs. Fate willed otherwise.

On the morning of November 18, without any premonitory symptom, he collapsed on to the floor and passed away. Perhaps this was an ideal death for him, but the timing was all wrong ─ it should have happened at least a couple of decades later.

Everyone connected with this journal is left poorer at the thought that we will never again see his smiling and hearty visage, experience the welcome only he was capable of giving and settle in his company to listen to him talk of cabbages and kings.

We are especially mindful of the effects of this tragedy on his devoted wife, Savitri; his beloved daughters Nandita and Namrata and their families, and others near and dear to him. We extend our sincere condolences to them.

Acknowledgement: Sincere thanks to Dr Sunil K Pandya for sharing his precious memories and the Joni Mitchell quote.
Meenakshi D’Cruz, ([email protected]), Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, INDIA