In this touching memoir the author captures the stones and mountains of her life. There are the high peaks surrounding her birth place of Kashmir, the country side of her adulthood in West Yorkshire, and the long hikes she undertakes later in her life. Interwoven with these physical stones and mountains are metaphorical ones that she faces, ranging from the political upheaval in Kashmir to her husband's incurable progressive neurological disorder and his unjust ordeal at the hands of professional bodies. This book is about how love provides the strength to scale new heights along with one's soul mate, even after he has passed on.
The author began her medical education and training in Srinagar, Kashmir, India and later continued her training in the United Kingdom, where she earned her Fellowship from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
She works as a consultant with the NHS and serves as a Clinical Advisor for Colposcopy at NHS England. Deeply committed to women's health, she also volunteers at medical camps in developing countries. Her work in patient safety, service improvement and innovation has earned her Clinical Excellence Awards in both 2015 and 2025.
Outside her professional life, she is learning to play piano and takes long walks with her Cockapoo. Her greatest joy comes from spending time with her two sons and their families, whose love and encouragement continue to inspire her every day.
I met my dear friend, Dr. Veena Kaul, as a student at Government Medical College. She was junior to me, but I knew her for her academic excellence. At end of year prize distributions, she was always receiving merit certificates. Our deep friendship started as post graduate students; we were posted in the same unit where our guide was the outstanding Professor Dr. Girija Dhar. She was the most humane and outstanding professional in her field. Veena was married and had a two-year-old son, 'Baba', It was sometimes difficult for her to devote time to her studies at home, so at exam time she moved in with me and we revised and discussed cases together in my hostel room. Despite coming from different backgrounds, Veena and I quickly developed a close bond. We shared stories of our childhoods, traditions, and cultures. Veena's mother, a wonderful person, used to bring us delicious meals, Koftas I still can taste. I vividly remember a time when a power outage left us in darkness for few days. With no candles, we improvised, creating a makeshift diya using cooking oil and surgical cotton in a cupped plate, our determination never wavered.
Veena's husband, Dr. Bazaz, was a lovely man. A surgeon, he was my colleague at the SMHS Hospital, Srinagar. I knew him as a wonderful doctor and very supportive husband. Every day, he would bring Baba to visit Veena, and I saw lot of warmth in those moments.
After finishing her post graduation, Veena moved along with her family to the UK, and we lost touch for a while. We reconnected in 1984, when I went to Liverpool school of Tropical medicine on a British Council training programme. I visited Veena's home in Pontefract and spent an incredible two days with her and her family.
The next time I flew from Leh to Srinagar to meet Veena and her husband, but things were different. Dr. Bazaz was now in a wheelchair. Still, we had a wonderful time reconnecting with each other. The trips were wonderfully organised by Dr Girija our mentor. Despite the wheelchair we visited the sacred Baba Reshi Shrine in Gulmarg praying for a miracle. Supported on both sides, Dr. Bazaz mustered incredible inner strength to climb the steps, his determination and spirit were profoundly moving. Although it was a struggle, they seemed determined to enjoy every moment in Kashmir.
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